Toledo, OH (Sports Network) - The Toledo Rockets ran back two interceptions for
touchdowns in the fourth quarter as they held on for a 50-35 win over the
Central Michigan Chippewas in a Mid-American Conference clash at the Glass
Bowl.
Terrance Owens completed 23-of-33 passes for Toledo with zero touchdowns and an
interception, but he added 66 yards and a pair of scores rushing for Toledo
(5-1, 3-0 MAC), which has won five straight after losing its opener to Arizona.
David Fluellen gained 100 yards rushing and a touchdown on 21 carries, and
Bernard Reedy hauled in 10 catches for 92 yards.
For CMU (2-3, 0-2), Ryan Radcliff was stellar for most of the game, going 28-
of-44 passing for 327 yards and four touchdowns, but he also tossed those two
costly interceptions late in the contest. Zurlon Tipton rushed for 67 yards and
a score, while Cody Wilson (108 yards), Titus Davis (97 yards, TD), and
Courtney Williams (59 yards, two TDs) all had big days receiving. The Chippewas
have lost back-to-back games.
Toledo struck first early in the opening quarter on a 33-yard field goal from
Jeremiah Detmer, but CMU responded less than five minutes later on an 11-yard
touchdown rush from Tipton to take a 7-3 lead.
The Rockets responded on their ensuing possession with a 13-play, 76-yard
drive, punctuated by a one-yard touchdown run from Fluellen to retake the lead,
10-7.
The Chippewas regained the advantage, 14-10, early in the second quarter
following a 23-yard touchdown pass from Radcliff to Davis. They added to that
lead just over two minutes later when Radcliff hooked up with Deon Butler for a
seven-yard score.
Toledo cut its deficit to just four, 21-17, with 13 second remaining in the
first half when Owens rushed in an 11-yard score.
Early in the third quarter, the Rockets got the momentum swing they were
looking for when Bernard Reedy returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown to
retake the lead, 24-21. They added to that advantage a few minutes later on a
one-yard touchdown run from Owens.
CMU cut its deficit to three, 31-28, towards the end of the third quarter on a
three-yard touchdown pass from Radcliff to Williams.
Toledo started to pull away in the fourth quarter. Detmer connected on a 40-
yard field goal at the 11:17 mark, and on the Chippewas' next possession, Mark
Singer intercepted Radcliff and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. Following
a failed two-point conversion attempt, the Rockets led, 40-28.
The Chippewas would not go quietly however. They put together 15-play, 80-yard
drive, which ended with another Radcliff-to-Williams scoring hookup (seven
yards) with just over three minutes left in regulation to make it a 40-35 game.
Detmer kicked a 28-yard field goal with just under a minute remaining, and as
CMU tried to march down the field to tie the game on its next possession,
Radcliff threw another pick-six, this time to Jermaine Robinson, as Toledo
survived.
CMU converted just 4-of-13 third down attempts, while Toledo was a much more
efficient 7-of-17.
GAME NOTES:
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