TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo scored 14 unanswered points and shut out the San Jose State in the fourth quarter to come away with a 21-17 victory at the Glass Bowl on Saturday.
The Rockets trailed the Spartans 17-7 midway through the third quarter when junior quarterback Dequan Finn scampered for an 18-yard touchdown to put the Rockets within three, 17-14. Five minutes later, senior cornerback Chris McDonald returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.
The Rockets’ defense took control in the fourth quarter, holding San Jose State to just 43 yards of offense in the final 15 minutes to seal the victory.
“I’m really proud of our football team and the resolve we showed throughout the game,” said Head Coach Jason Candle. “Credit to San Jose State. They put together a very good plan coming in and dictated the pace and the tempo of the game throughout the first half. I thought getting that touchdown at the end of the second quarter was really big since we were going to get the ball coming out in the second half. I really thought our team played a poised second half.”
Finn rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown while completing 13-of-23 passes for 92 yards and a 15-yard TD to junior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton in the second quarter. Junior running back Peny Boone ran for a career-high 123 yards on 13 carries, 80 of which came in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Willie Shaw III added a career-high 52 yards.
McDonald and junior cornerback Quinyon Mitchell wreaked havoc for the Spartans’ aerial attack all night, accounting for six of Toledo’s eight pass breakups on the night. Mitchell led the Rockets with four breakups while McDonald had two. Senior defensive tackle Judge Culpepper collected two of UT’s five sacks, and junior outside linebacker D’Andre Ragin had 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior safety Zachary Ford led Toledo with nine tackles.
Toledo possessed a staggering advantage on the ground, rushing for a season-high 229 yards while holding San Jose State to just 40 rushing yards on 29 attempts.
First Quarter
San Jose State missed an opportunity to score when its 35-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright at the 1:31 mark.
Second Quarter
San Jose State broke the scoreless tie with a 37-yard field by Kyler Halvorsen midway through the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Spartans capitalized on a recovered on-side kick at the UT 36-yard line with a 20-yard touchdown by tight end Dominick Mazotti from Chevan Corddeiro to make it 10-0.
The Rockets ended the half with an 18-play, 98-yard drive to cut the lead to 10-7 at halftime. Dequan Finn finished the drive with a 15-yard TD pass to Jerjuan Newton with 11 seconds left in the half.
Third Quarter
San Jose State extended its lead to 17-7 on a 15-yard TD run by Kairee Robinson that was set up by an interception on the UT 35-yard line.
Toledo countered with a diving 18-yard TD run by Finn to cut the lead to 17-14 with 6:14 left in the quarter.
Toledo took its first lead of the game, 21-17 on a 25-yard pick six by Chris McDonald.
Fourth Quarter
The Rockets’ defense stole the show in the fourth quarter, holding the Spartans to negative yardage on their first two offensive drives in the quarter.
San Jose State marched into Toledo territory on its final drive of the game, but D’Andre Ragin and Jeremiah Peters came through with a clutch third-down sack to force a 4th-and-18 for SJSU that all but ended the game.
After San Jose State punted with 1:56 left, the Rockets ran out the clock to seal the win.
Up Next
The Rockets host Western Michigan in the MAC opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1:30 p.m