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Nasir Bowers
Bree Bee
Nasir Bowers' fourth-quarter interception set up a go-ahead score in Toledo's 29-28 victory at Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
29
Winner Toledo TOL 6-3 , 3-2
28
Eastern Mich. EMU 5-4 , 2-3
Winner
Toledo TOL
6-3 , 3-2
29
Final
28
Eastern Mich. EMU
5-4 , 2-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TOL Toledo 0 7 0 22 29
EMU Eastern Mich. 7 3 9 9 28

Game Recap: Football |

Fourth-Quarter Rally Propels Toledo to 29-28 Victory at Eastern Michigan

Rockets’ sixth win gives them bowl eligibility for 15th consecutive season

YPSILANTI, Mich. - Tucker Gleason threw for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and Avery Smith broke up EMU's two-point conversion attempt on the game's final play to lift Toledo to a 29-28 victory at Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Rynearson Stadium.

The victory moved the Rockets' record to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in league play. Toledo also earned bowl eligibility for a 15th consecutive season, the eighth-longest streak in the country.

"It was a really resilient victory by our football team today," said Head Coach Jason Candle. "I'm really proud of their effort. Some guys stepped up in some hard moments and did some really good things. It wasn't the usual suspects contributing, which makes me proud as a football coach. Our guys are showing serious attention to detail in how they practice and are seizing their moments when they're called upon in games. That's the sign of a really good program."

Toledo took a 29-22 lead with 1:56 remaining on Thomas Sziros' 25-yard touchdown reception on a 4th-and-1 play. After both teams traded three-and-outs, the Eagles went 82 yards in the final minute and scored on a 36-yard Hail Mary to Terry Lockett with no time remaining. Smith then broke up the Eagles' two-point conversion attempt in the end zone to give the Rockets the victory.

Toledo trailed 19-7 entering the fourth quarter before three big plays put the Rockets in front, 22-19. Gleason connected with Anthony Torres on a 78-yard touchdown to make it a 19-14 game with 12:55 remaining. On the Eagles' ensuring possession, Nasir Bowers intercepted Cole Snyder and returned the ball 23 yards to EMU's 27-yard line. Two plays later, Gleason found Junior Vandeross II for a 25-yard touchdown with just under 10 minutes to play.

Eastern Michigan (5-4, 2-3 MAC) finished the game with a slight 433-418 edge in total yards. The Rockets totaled 167 yards on the ground and 251 in the air.  

First Quarter
  • Toledo's defense stood tall and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for most of the first quarter after the Rockets turned it over on their first two possessions of the game.
  • EMU took a 7-0 lead with 1:39 remaining in the first quarter on Cole Snyder's six-yard touchdown pass to Markus Allen.
Second Quarter
  • Tucker Gleason scored on a three-yard keeper up the middle to cap off a seven-play, 54-yard drive to even the score at 7-7.
  • EMU regained the lead with a 45-yard field goal from Jesus Gomez just over four minutes later. The game was then delayed 27 minutes due to a medical timeout.
  • Toledo had a chance to tie the game at 10-10 with 1:55 remaining in the half, but Dylan Cunanan's 45-yard field-goal attempt missed to the right.
Third Quarter
  • The Eagles increased their lead to 13-7 on the opening possession of the second half on Gomez's 32-yard field goal with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter.
  • Toledo fell behind 19-7 following Joey Mattord's one-yard scoring plunge with 1:28 to play.
Fourth Quarter
  • The Rockets climbed to within 19-14 with 12:55 left when Gleason lofted a pass to a wide-open Anthony Torres for a career-long 78-yard touchdown reception.
  • Nasir Bowers intercepted the Eagles' Snyder on the next possession to give UT the ball at EMU's 27-yard line.
  • Two plays later Gleason connected with Junior Vandeross III for a 25-yard scoring toss. Gleason's two-point conversion to Jerjuan Newton gave the Rockets a 22-19 Rocket advantage.
  • The Eagles knotted the score at 22-22 with 7:08 left on Gomez's 28-yard field goal.
  • Gleason connected on his third scoring pass of the quarter when Thomas Zsiros took a short pass in the flat to the end zone for a 29-22 lead with 1:56 remaining.
  • EMU scored on a Hail Mary with no time remaining, but Avery Smith broke up the Eagles' two-point attempt in the end zone.
Up Next
The Rockets return home to the Glass Bowl to host Central Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Kick-off time at the Glass Bowl is set for 7:00 p.m.

Toledo Post-Game Notes
  • Toledo now leads its all-time series vs. EMU by 39-13 margin. The Rockets have won 22 of the last 25 games in the series as well as eight of the last nine meetings in Ypsilanti.
  • Tucker Gleason completed 18-of-34 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the fourth time this season he has thrown for a career-high three TDs. He also ran for a score for the fourth time in his last five games.
  • Gleason and Anthony Torres also registered their longest pass and reception of their Rocket careers, respectively. It was Toledo's longest touchdown pass since Dequan Finn's 90-yard touchdown to Matt Landers in the 2021 Bahamas Bowl.
  • Sevaughn Clark led the Rockets with a season-high 78 yards on 10 carries. His previous best was 48 yards vs. Northern Illinois (Oct. 19).
  • Thomas Zsiros' touchdown reception was the second of his Rocket career.
  • Toledo was led defensively by Daniel Bolden with a season-high 12 tackles. Braden Awls tallied a career-high 10 tackles, and Maxen Hook notched 10 tackles. It was the fifth time this season Hook notched double-digit stops.
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