Bree Bee
Linebacker Daniel Bolden delivered a standout performance against Ohio on Wednesday, amassing a total of eight tackles, including an impressive 1.5 tackles for loss, showcasing his defensive prowess on the field.
24
Winner
Ohio
OHI
8-3 , 6-1
7
Toledo
TOL
7-4 , 4-3
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 24 | |
| TOL Toledo | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Game Recap: Football | 11/20/2024 11:03:00 PM
Toledo’s hopes for third straight MAC Championship Game appearance derailed by Bobcats
Next Game:
at Akron
11/26/2024 | 7:00 PM
ESPN2/ESPN+
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo surrendered 24 second-half points as Ohio rallied to defeat the Rockets 24-7 in a crucial Mid-American Conference battle at the Glass Bowl Wednesday night. The Rockets initially led 7-0 at halftime but Ohio (8-3, 6-1 MAC) dominated the final 30 minutes of play, moving into a tie for first place in the MAC alongside Miami. With the loss, Toledo (7-4, 4-3 MAC) has been officially eliminated from contention for its third consecutive MAC Championship Game appearance.
“Very disappointing outcome. Hats off to Ohio for a hard-fought, 60-minute game,” said Head Coach Jason Candle. “Disappointing on our end. For a 15-minute stretch in the second half, we were really inefficient offensively. We turned the ball over and let a couple of explosive runs get away from us. It just kind of avalanched on us a little bit. We don’t have a lot of time to sit and dwell on it. It’s a quick turnaround for us to play in six days. Tough pill to swallow but we’ve got to rebound.”
Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason completed 9-of-17 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown, finding tight end Anthony Torres for a key score. Meanwhile, junior running back Willie Shaw made a notable return to the backfield, leading Toledo with 30 yards on six carries. Senior receiver Jerjuan Newton also contributed significantly, finishing the game with four catches for a team-high 45 yards.
Defensively, senior linebacker Maxen Hook had a standout night with a career-high 16 tackles, along with a crucial goal-line interception that highlighted his defensive capabilities. Senior Daniel Bolden played a pivotal role as well, contributing eight tackles and leading Toledo with 1.5 tackles for loss across the game.
Ohio outgained Toledo in total yards 367-212, with a significant advantage on the ground, amassing 238 rushing yards compared to Toledo’s mere 39.
First Quarter
- The teams exchanged punts throughout the quarter, with neither team coming close to scoring.
Second Quarter
- Toledo got on the scoreboard first on a 23-yard pass from Tucker Gleason to tight end Anthony Torres with just over ten minutes remaining in the half.
- Ohio managed to enter Toledo territory twice but was stifled and forced to punt on both occasions.
Third Quarter
- After an exchange of turnovers, including Maxen Hook’s interception with Ohio at the Toledo five-yard-line, Ohio tied the game at 7-7 with a one-yard keeper by quarterback Parker Navarro, capping a seven-play, 45-yard drive.
Fourth Quarter
- Navarro scored again on a fourth-and-two situation, this time taking it into the end zone, giving Ohio a 14-7 lead early in the final quarter.
- Following a Toledo punt, Ohio extended their lead to 21-7 on an eight-play, 60-yard drive culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Tyus with just over eight minutes remaining.
- Ohio then capitalized on a Toledo turnover on downs, closing the game with a 24-yard field goal to finalize the score.
Up Next
The Rockets will travel to face Akron on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Post Game Notes
- With the loss, Toledo drops to 4-3 in MAC play, marking the end of their hopes for the MAC Championship Game.
- Senior Jerjuan Newton caught four passes for 45 yards, achieving a career-best 56 receptions for the season, moving past Donta’ Greene and Corey Jones to rank seventh on Toledo’s all-time receptions list.
- Maxen Hook recorded a career-high 16 tackles in the game while also snagging his seventh career interception.
- Anthony Torres notched his seventh touchdown reception of the season.
- Willie Shaw III led the Rockets with 30 rushing yards, marking his first appearance since the Western Kentucky game on September 21.
What key lessons did Daniel Bolden reflect on from the season now that Toledo is eliminated from MAC Championship contention?
**Interview with Daniel Bolden, Senior Linebacker for Toledo Rockets**
**Interviewer, Bree Bee:** Thanks for joining us today, Daniel. Tough loss last night against Ohio. Can you walk us through the second half of the game?
**Daniel Bolden:** Thanks for having me. Yeah, it was a rough second half for us. We started strong, but Ohio adjusted well. We had some defensive breakdowns that allowed them to exploit big plays. It was frustrating to watch it slip away like that after having the lead at halftime.
**Bree Bee:** You personally had a solid performance, leading the team with 1.5 tackles for loss. Did you feel like you were able to make an impact despite the loss?
**Daniel Bolden:** I appreciate that. I always aim to contribute wherever I can, and it felt good to be disruptive in the backfield. But ultimately, personal stats don’t mean much if we can’t pull out the win. I’d trade all my tackles for a victory any day.
**Bree Bee:** Coach Candle mentioned the team was “inefficient offensively” during a crucial 15-minute stretch. How do you think the defense reacted to that struggle?
**Daniel Bolden:** Defensively, we need to step up when the offense struggles. It’s our job to keep the game close and give them opportunities to reset. When they were having trouble moving the ball, we needed to hold the line better than we did. We could’ve made it easier for them to regain their rhythm.
**Bree Bee:** Looking forward, what do you believe the team needs to focus on to prepare for the upcoming game against Akron?
**Daniel Bolden:** We need to tighten up our communication and execution on defense. That’s crucial. Offensively, we’ve got to be more efficient and avoid turnovers. It’s a short week, so we need to learn from this quickly, focus on the fundamentals, and come out stronger next game.
**Bree Bee:** With Toledo officially eliminated from the MAC Championship contention, how are you and the team approaching the last couple of games of the season?
**Daniel Bolden:** It’s disappointing, but we have to keep our heads up. We still have two games left, and we owe it to ourselves and our fans to finish strong. We want to carry forward the lessons from this season and build for the future. It’s all about pride and playing for each other now.
**Bree Bee:** Thanks for your insights, Daniel. Best of luck in the next game at Akron!
**Daniel Bolden:** Thank you! I appreciate it. We’ll be ready!
