TOLEDO, Ohio – Junior Tucker Gleason threw for 318 yards and freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan made three field goals as the Toledo Rockets came through with a 30-20 Homecoming victory over defending MAC champion Miami before a crowd of 25,027 fans in the Glass Bowl on Saturday.

In a rematch of last year's MAC Championship Game, as well as the league's least two league title winners, Toledo outplayed the RedHawks in all phases of the game. The Rockets racked up 396 yards of total offense while holding Miami to just 350 yards. On special teams, Toledo blocked a punt and returned another for 33 yards, fielded a late onside kick, while Cunanan made field goals of 47 and 48 yards.

"I'm really proud of our football team. To open up conference play against a very good team, a team that makes you earn everything that they give up," said Head Coach Jason Candle, who won his 69th game as Toledo's head coach, just four shy of Gary Pinkel's record of 73. "They (Miami) are good defensively, have good quarterback play and really sound at the kicking game, as well. We had a blocked punt today, got outstanding play from our kicker and we got a recovered onside kick, so I'm really pleased with our special teams. Our defense did a really good job in key moments and kept getting key stops during the game. Offensively, we were able to build a little bit of lead early using efficient plays. I'm proud of our guys for playing all 60 minutes and hanging in there, keeping all 10 toes down for the entire game all to beat a good team."
 

Toledo (4-1, 1-0 MAC) scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, and the RedHawks never got within a touchdown the rest of the way. Miami (1-4, 0-1 MAC) did not find the end zone until the end of the third quarter to cut the Rocket lead to 23-13. The two teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter before safety Braden Awls settled the issue with a late interception.

Gleason completed 27-of-38 passes, including TD passes to seniors Jerjuan Newton and Anthony Torres. Newton set career bests in receptions (8) and receiving yards (127). Senior defensive tackle Darius Alexander was dominant up front, setting career highs in tackles (7), tackles for loss (3.0) and sacks (2.0).

First Quarter

• Toledo scored on its opening drive that was set up by a 32-yard punt return by Bryson Hammer to the Miami 37-yard line. Tucker Gleason picked up his own fumble on fourth-and-one and dove into the end zone for the score.
• The Rockets' next touchdown was set up by a blocked punt by Avery Smith. UT recovered on the Miami 18-yard line and scored three plays later on a six-yard TD pass from Tucker Gleason to Jerjuan Newton to make it 14-0 with 5:56 left in the quarter.
• Miami cut the lead to 14-3 on a 26-yard field goal following an 11-play, 68-yard drive.

Second Quarter

• Toledo increased the lead to 17-3 on a 21-yard field by Dyan Cunanan with 5:52 left in the half.
• Miami answered moments later with a 35-yard field goal to make it 17-6.
• Cunanan kicked a season-best 48-yard field goal with three seconds left that gave Toledo a 20-6 advantage heading to the locker room.

Third Quarter

• Cunanan made it three in a row when he hit a 47-yarder on Toledo's first drive to pad the lead to 23-6.
• Miami cut the lead to 23-13 with a nine-yard TD pass from Brett Gabbert to Kevin Davis with 24 seconds left in the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

• Gleason found a wide-open Torres for a one-yard touchdown toss on third-and-goal to restore a three-score Rocket lead at 30-13.
• Miami completed a 75-yard scoring drive with a three-yard touchdown pass from Gabbert to Javon Tracy to cut the deficit to 30-20 with 5:46 to play.
• Toledo recovered an onside kick but went three-and-out, giving Miami another possession with 5:21 to play.
• Miami reached the Rocket 10-yard line, before Braden Awls jumped a route and secured an interception to seal the game.

• The crowd of 25,027 was the largest in the Glass Bowl since 25,361 fans filled the stadium on Sept. 14, 2019 vs. Murray State. It was the largest for a Homecoming game since 30,147 saw Toledo defeat Bowling Green, 42-35, on Oct. 15, 2016.
• Junior QB Tucker Gleason completed 27-of-38 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. His career high for passing yards is 329.
• Jerjuan Newton caught eight passes for 127 yards, both career highs. His previous best was 125 yards vs. Kent State in Oct. 15, 2022 and seven receptions vs. Ball State on Nov. 8, 2022.
• Newton moved past Mel Long, Jr (1997-2000), Don Fair (1969-71), Jon'Vea Johnson (2015-18) and Corey Jones (2013-16) into ninth place in career receiving yards with 2,252.
• Newton's first quarter TD reception gives him five for the season and 26 for his career, moving him past Eric Page and Lance Moore into sole possession of second place on Toledo's all-time list. Cody Thompson (2014-18) is Toledo's all-time leader with 30.
• Senior tight end Anthony Torres caught his career-best fifth touchdown pass of the season
• Senior Darius Alexander finished with career highs in three categories: seven tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He also added a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
• Sophomore Braden Awls secured his third interception of the season, which already ties last season's high for Toledo set by Maxen Hook.
• Freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan connected on field goals of 21, 48 and 47 yards without a miss. It was the first time a Toledo kicker made three field goals in a game since Luke Pawlak went 3-for-3 at Illinois on Sept. 2, 2023.
• Cunanan's season-long 48-yard field goal was the longest by a Rocket since Thomas Cluckey hit a 50-yarder at Central Michigan on Oct. 16, 2021.
• Head Coach Jason Candle moves his all-time record to 69-36. He needs five more wins to pass Gary Pinkel (73-37-3 from 1991-2000) as Toledo's all-time leader.
• Toledo is now 66-28 in Homecoming games, including 12-4 vs. Miami.
• This was Miami's first appearance in the Glass Bowl since 2011, a 49-28 Toledo victory.

Up Next

The Rockets travel to Buffalo next Saturday for a noon kickoff vs. the Bulls on ESPNU.