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Toledo Uses A Persistent Running Attack To Rocket Past Sacramento State Hornets, 20-17

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Football

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The University of Toledo football team is coming home from California with their seventh win of the season after defeating Sacramento State 20-17 on Wednesday at Hornet Stadium.

The Rockets (7-2, 4-1 MAC) overcame a slow start behind stifling defense and a persistent running attack, flipping a 10-7 halftime deficit into a 17-10 lead by the end of the third quarter and kicked the deciding field goal in the fourth. Toledo remained tied with Western Michigan and Buffalo for second place in the MAC standings with three games remaining.

Toledo's running back duo of CJ Miller and Autavius Ison paced the Rockets' rushing attack with dual 100-yard rushing games. Miller finished with 135 yards on 27 carries while Ison finished with 101 yards on 15 carries. John Alan Richter was 9-of-17 passing for 60 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown toss to Anthony Simpson.

The Rockets' defense was stubborn all night, with 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and four pass breakups as a team. Nine different players registered tackles for loss, with Nathaniel Chandler and Zach Johnson each recording 1.5. Toledo held Sacramento State to just eight yards rushing and 224 yards of total offense. Andrew Zock had a strip sack which Chandler recovered for his fourth forced fumble of the season. Isaac Zay led Toledo with 11 total tackles, including eight solo stops.

How It Happened

  • On Sacramento State's first offensive possession, an Andrew Zock strip sack and Nathaniel Chandler recovery gave Toledo the football at the Sacramento State 32-yard line. 
  • Five plays later, John Alan Richter connected with Anthony Simpson on an 18-yard touchdown pass. 
  • The Hornets responded with a 38-yard field goal, which came after a 59-yard pass completion on a ball that was tipped off a Rocket defender. 
  • Sacramento State took a 10-7 lead after a 10-play, 43-yard drive ended with a 2-yard TD pass. 
  • Toledo punter Markus Meincke pinned the Hornets down inside their own 5-yard line early in the second half to flip the field. The Rockets took over at their own 48-yard line on the next possession and were able to tie the score at 10 on a 34-yard field goal by Reice Griffith. CJ Miller had 42 rushing yards on the drive. 
  • The Rockets took control of the game on the next series, going 70 yards in seven plays for a go-ahead touchdown. Autavius Ison reached the end zone on a 19-yard run. 
  • Toledo then made it a two-score game on its first possession of the fourth quarter, driving seven plays for 34 yards for a 40-yard Reice Griffith field goal, taking a 20-10 lead with 7:51 left.
  • The Hornets cut it to a three-point game with 2:20 left on a Jamar Curtis rushing TD.
  • Toledo got a first down to force Sac State to use its timeouts, giving the ball back with 55 seconds left and the ball on the 17-yard line. Sac State could only get as far as its own 26.

Game Notes

  • Anthony Simpson became the ninth Rocket to have a touchdown reception this season. 
  • Simpson only had one catch this season prior to his 18-yard TD reception in the first quarter. 
  • Toledo limited Sacramento State running back Isaiah Ene to one yard on 12 carries. In a 31-10 win over Kent State last week, Ene had 107 yards and two TDs.
  • The Rockets limited Sacramento State to eight rushing yards, the fewest for a Rocket opponent since Arkansas State was held to negative-14 on Sept. 26, 2015.
  • For the second time this season, the Rockets had two running backs rush for 100 yards, as CJ Miller (135) and Autavius Ison (101) both topped the century mark. Miller and Connor Walendzak were dual 100-yard rushers at Ball State in Week 5. Before this season, Toledo last had two running backs rush for 100 yards in 2018.
  • Toledo has now won five consecutive MAC road games dating to last season. Toledo's last MAC road game will be at Ohio to finish the regular season.

Up Next
Toledo returns home to take on Massachusetts on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Glass Bowl. The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network and can be heard on the Rocket Radio Network.