No. 24 Rockets to host Kent State in Homecoming Game

October 8, 2015 | Athletics, Events
By Paul Helgren



Nationally ranked and off to their best start in 14 years, the Toledo Rockets will put their perfect record on the line vs. Kent State in front of a Homecoming crowd in the Glass Bowl Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3 p.m.

The No. 24 Rockets (4-0, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) are coming off a 24-10 victory at Ball State Oct. 3. UT’s defense was dominant once again, holding the Cardinals to 262 yards of total offense and one touchdown on a 51-yard pass play. BSU’s running game was stymied by UT, which allowed just 26 yards in 30 attempts. In the past two games, Toledo’s rock-solid ‘D’ has allowed just 12 yards on 54 attempts.

Sophomore Terry Swanson rushed for 139 yards vs. Ball State.

Sophomore Terry Swanson rushed for 139 yards vs. Ball State.

Sophomore running back Terry Swanson led the offense with a season-high 139 yards on 24 attempts. Senior quarterback Phillip Ely shook off two early interceptions to complete 16 of 22 passes.

Toledo has not allowed a sack in 140 passing attempts this season, one of only two teams in the country that can make that claim. The other is Air Force.

Running back Kareem Hunt (hamstring) did not play vs. BSU and has missed the last two games. His status for the Kent State is undetermined.

The performance vs. the Cardinals vaulted Toledo into the Top 25 for the first time since 2012. The Rockets are ranked No. 24 in the AP media poll.

Kent State (2-3, 1-0 MAC) is coming off a 20-14 home victory over Miami Saturday. The Golden Flashes led 20-0 before allowing two scores late in the fourth quarter. Like Toledo, Kent State has been strong on defense this year, ranking No. 1 in the MAC in total defense, allowing just 258 yards per contest. KSU could conceivably be 4-1, with narrow defeats at Minnesota (10-7) and Marshall (36-29 on 2OT) on its resumé.

Toledo leads the series with Kent State, 24-21. The two teams have played only four times since 1994 (the MAC went to division play in 1997), with UT holding a 3-1 edge, including a 30-20 margin in Kent last year.

UT is 18-5 at home vs. Kent State. The Golden Flashes have not won in Toledo since 1977, a losing streak of 10 games.

The game will be carried by ESPN3.

Click to access the login or register cheese