Avery Smith breaks up 2-point conversion attempt at the horn to attain bowl eligibility for Toledo.
It wasn’t the ideal shift at The Factory for Eastern Michigan. The Eagles squandered a 12-point fourth quarter lead, but they weren’t done yet. However, the odds were stacked against the home team, possessing the ball from the Toledo 36-yard line in the waning seconds of the ballgame.
Quarterback Cole Snyder dropped back without duress shifting him around the pocket. He launched a skyball with perfectly arced across the grey turf with a landing spot in the green end zone. When it reached its destination, wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. jumped as high as he could amidst a sea of green helmets and blue helmets. He caught it. Eastern Michigan completed the Hail Mary on the final play of regulation.
But it wasn’t a game-winning Hail Mary, as the Eagles still needed to kick the tying extra point. Eastern Michigan was not content forcing overtime. It wanted more.
Toledo cornerback Avery Smith ensured the Eagles’ greed for a regulation victory would not pay its dividends. Snyder looked to his left Lockett tried to box out Smith. While Snyder’s throw went toward the breadbasket of his target, Smith’s left hand disrupted the ball’s trajectory. It landed on the “E” in Eastern, signifying a 29-28 victory for the visiting Rockets.
Smith’s clutch pass breakup solidified a double-digit comeback victory for Toledo which handed the program its sixth win for the 14th consecutive season, excluding the 2020 COVID-19-affected year where the Rockets played just six contests.
Toledo never led until the fourth quarter when Tucker Gleason sparked the offense with three long touchdown deliveries. He connected with a wide open Anthony Torres, and the tight end finished the 78-yard catch-and-run to slice the deficit to 19-14. Then on the ensuing possession, Gleason hit Junior Vandeross III for the 25-yard go-ahead touchdown, catapulting Toledo in front, 22-19, with 9:51 to go.
The quarterback’s fourth quarter heroics weren’t over yet. After Jesus Gomez tied the contest at 22 apiece, Gleason went for the jugular. On a 4th and 1 from the 25, Toledo sent the offense on the field after missing its only field goal attempt all afternoon. Eastern Michigan stacked the box in preparation for run, but Gleason faked the handoff. The quarterback then rolled out right where he fired a bullet to Thomas Zsiros. The receiver tightroped down the sideline for a 25-yard touchdown, handing Toledo a 7-point lead with 1:56 remaining.
After a slow start, Gleason finished spectacularly in a 251-yard, 3-touchdown performance to keep the Rockets afloat in a crowded MAC title race. Toledo’s offense also saw notable production from the ground game, which well exceeded its season average with 167 rushing yards on 5.2 per carry. Sevaughn Clark stepped into the lead back role and the senior Georgia transfer attained a career-high 78 yards on 10 attempts.
Eastern Michigan barely one-upped Toledo’s offensive production, out-gaining the Rockets, 433-418. However, the Eagles’ offensive success was primarily concentrated in the first three quarters, prior to the team losing the final frame 22-9. Snyder, who threw for 265 and rushed for 65, opened the scoring effort with a short touchdown pass to Markus Allen in the first quarter. Then, Eastern Michigan built its lead as great as 12 points in the late third on a Joey Mattord rushing touchdown. However, the Eagles missed a critical 2-point conversion following Mattord’s score, which proved fatal in a one-point defeat.
In the second quarter, the game experienced a near-30 minute delay due to an unfortunate circumstance. Toledo outside linebacker Jeremiah Peters collapsed while standing on the sideline, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital in an ambulance. Peters regained consciousness before he was placed in the ambulance.
The Rockets won the emotional game after watching the scary situation unfold on the sideline. Toledo (6-3, 3-2 MAC) is now bowl eligible for the 15th consecutive season, holding the longest streak in the MAC. The Rockets take a brief respite with a bye week before making their midweek MACtion debut against Central Michigan on Nov. 12.
Eastern Michigan (5-4, 2-3 MAC) remains in search of bowl eligibility after dropping two consecutive matchups where it held a fourth quarter lead. The Eagles are granted three more opportunities, but all three are against opponents with winning records. Next up is a trip to Ohio in a Wednesday night matchup on Nov. 13.