TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo Rockets are back in MAC action this week looking for their sixth straight win when they travel to West Division foe Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 14 (2:00 p.m./ESPN+).

Toledo (5-1, 2-0 MAC) is coming off a 41-24 non-conference victory at UMass on Oct. 7. The Rockets had to rally from a 21-17 halftime deficit, outscoring the Minutemen 24-3 in the final 30 minutes. 

It was the final non-conference game for Toledo, which will now play six MAC games over the remainder of its schedule. Toledo is 2-0 in MAC play, a full game ahead of four teams with 1-1 records in the West Division.

Quarterback Dequan Finn rushed for a career-high 172 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to lead Toledo to its victory over UMass. Finn's rushing output was the most ever by a Rocket quarterback in a single game and established the career mark for rushing yards by a Toledo QB with 1,690. He also completed 15-of-23 passes for 139 yards and two TDs, both to Jerjuan Newton. 

Junior Peny Boone added to the rushing attack with 129 yards and two TDs.  As a team, the Rockets rushed for 375 yards, the most rushing yards in a single game since totaling 436 at Colorado State on Sept. 21, 2019.

The UMass victory gave Head Coach Jason Candle his 59th career win, passing Tom Amstutz (58 wins from 2001-08) for second on Toledo's all-time list. Gary Pinkel is the all-time leader with 73 wins from 1991-2000.

Ball State (1-5, 0-2 MAC) is coming off a 24-10 loss at Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals played a tough non-conference schedule with losses to Kentucky, Georgia and Georgia Southern, as well as its lone victory over Indiana State.

Toledo vs. Ball State
Saturday, Oct. 14 - 2:00 p.m.
Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, Ind.

• TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (5-1, 2-0 MAC)
    Ball State (1-5, 0-2 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads, 26-21-1. The Rockets won in Toledo last year, 28-21.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 59-33 (8th year) at Toledo, same overall. 5-2 vs. Ball State.
    Mike Neu, 34-53 (8th year) at BSU, 88-98 overall (14th year). 2-5 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN+
    Play by Play: Jason Ross Jr. 
   Analyst:  Tyoka Jackson

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 12:30 p.m.
   Play by Play: Mark Beier
    Analyst: Jack Mewhort
    Sidelines: Mike Robinson

• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast on UTRockets.com. 

• X/TWITTER: 
    @ToledoFB: Regular updates on UT Football, live updates on Game Day.

• TICKETS: 
    Online at UTRockets.com/tix, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or at the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena.

Notes From the Launch Pad
    • Toledo's win over UMass makes it 5-1 for the first time since 2017. It is also the first time the Rockets have won five straight since the 2017 season when they also won five in a row. The last time UT won six consecutive games was 2015 when it opened up with a 7-0 mark.
    • The Rockets rushed for 375 yards vs. UMass, the most rushing yards in a single game since totaling 436 at Colorado State on Sept. 21, 2019.
    • Toledo leads the MAC in scoring offense (40.8), total offense (473.2), passing yards (224.5) and rushing offense (248.67). The Rockets are No. 3 in the nation in rushing.
    • Toledo is No. 1 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (two in six games) and is tied for 16th in sacks (3.17/game).
    • Junior Peny Boone leads the MAC with 644 yards rushing and is 14th in the country in rushing yards per game (107.3). He leads the league and is seventh in yards per carry (7.58). He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his past four games and is the only runner in the MAC to surpass 100 yards four times in 2023.
    • Jerjuan Newton had two TD receptions vs. UMass, giving him nine for the season, which leads the MAC and is tied for first in the country with LSU's Brian Thomas. He has caught at least one scoring pass in all six games this season.
    • Dequan Finn threw for 139 yards vs. UMass, giving him 5,516 for his career, moving him into eighth place on UT's career list.