BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Toledo Rockets fell 26-21 to Western Kentucky after the Hilltoppers scored the final 16 points in the second half and stopped a pair of red-zone opportunities at Houchens-Smith stadium Saturday night.

The Rockets (3-1) took a 21-10 lead in the third quarter after a Tucker Gleason touchdown pass to Anthony Torres before lightning paused play for 75 minutes. After the delay, a safety followed by two rushing touchdowns by WKU quarterback Caden Veltkamp in a span of 10:23 gave the Hilltoppers (3-1) the lead with 5:16 left to play. The Rockets got within the 10-yard line on two different drives for the go-ahead touchdown, but were unable to score.

Gleason completed 19-of-33 passes for 200 yards and two passing TDs. Gleason was also Toledo's leading rusher for 56 yards on 12 carries. Senior Jacquez Stuart caught three passes for 93 yards while classmate Anthony Torres caught three passes for 27 yards and two scores.

Toledo's defense was led by senior Daniel Bolden with nine tackles and one TFL. Senior Maxen Hook came up with two turnovers – a fumble recovery and a interception while junior Emmanuel McNeil-Warren added seven tackles and an interception.

"Last week we did a really good job of staying (in the moment) for 60 minutes and not self-inflicting, but I thought a couple of times today we self-inficted in some tough moments," said Head Coach Jason Candle. "This was a highest of highs and lowest of low type of thing. We have to grow from this just like we have to grow from some of the mistakes we had last week. Credit to Western Kentucky, they forced a couple of tough turnovers on us, and it was a tough environment on the road."

First Quarter

• Toledo stopped WKU's first drive when Maxen Hook picked off a pass in the end zone
• The Rockets were stopped on downs on when Tucker Gleason's scramble came up one yard short on fourth-and-five at the WKU 16-yard line.

Second Quarter

• Toledo marched down the field, moving 63 yards on 10 plays and scoring on a one-yard run by Tucker Gleason to take a 7-0 lead.
• The Rockets made it 14-0 on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Gleason to tight end Anthony Torres with 2:30 left in the half.
• Western Kentucky struck back quickly, as quarterback Caden Veltkamp hit Kesean Johnson for a 44-yard TD bomb to cut the lead to 14-7 at halftime.

• WKU took advantage of an early Toledo miscue, recovering a fumble on the UT 22-yard line and converting it into a 39-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-10.
• Toledo increased its lead to 21-10 on a seven-yard scoring pass from Gleason to Torres with 8:13 to play.
• Played was delayed immediately following Toledo's touchdown due to lightning.
• Play resumed at 9:20 p.m.
• WKU forced a fumble and recovered on the UT 29-yard line. However, two plays later junior safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren picked off a long pass in the end zone.
• WKU pinned Toledo on the one-yard line on a 51-yard punt, then stopped Connor Walendzak for a two-yard loss for a safety, trimming the margin to 21-12.

Fourth Quarter

• The Hilltoppers cut the lead to 21-19 on a seven-yard TD run by Veltkamp with 10:43 left.
• After a three-and-out, Veltkamp then scored on a three-yard run to give WKU a 26-21 lead with 5:16 left to play.
• Toledo got to the WKU nine-yard line on its next drive, but the Hilltoppers held with a sack and an interception.
• On the next play, Toledo forced a fumble and Maxen Hook recovered to give the Rockets the ball on the WKU 19-yard line with 47 seconds left.
• Toledo got as close as the WKU four on the final drive, but two penalties followed by an interception sealed the game.

• Toledo's defense put in another strong performance, holding WKU to 315 yards of total offense, including just 30 yards in the first quarter and 117 in the first half.
• The Rockets intercepted two passes in the end zone, Maxen Hook in the first quarter and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the third quarter.
• Senior tight end Anthony Torres snagged a career-high two touchdown passes. He has four touchdown on the season.
• Senior running back Jacquez Stuart caught three passes for 93 yards, both career highs.
• Hook's first quarter interception was his first this season and sixth of his career.
• Tucker Gleason rushed for his first touchdown since Nov. 25, 2022 when he scored vs. Western Michigan. He now has four for his career.
• Sophomore Connor Walendzak rushed for a career-high 36 yards on 11 carries.
• Redshirt freshman Bryson Hammer registered a career-best 43-yard punt return in the second half.
• The game experienced a lightning delay of 1:15 in the third quarter. The game was stopped at 8:05 p.m. CT and resumed at 9:20.

Up Next

      The Rockets have a bye next week before returning to the Glass Bowl on Oct. 5 to face defending MAC Champion Miami in the annual Homecoming Game.