MAC Football: Toledo Secure First Ten-Win Season Since 2017

The defending MAC champions required some last-minute heroics on Tuesday night in order to pick up a rivalry win over Bowling Green. 

Trailing 31-25 with just under two minutes to play, receiver Jacquez Stewart caught a pass from Dequan Finn and sprinted 59 yards down the sideline for the tying score. The PAT would put the Rockets ahead 32-31. 

The Toledo defense would hold the Falcons to negative seven yards on the ensuing possession, closing out the win. 

With the victory, the Rockets improve to a 10-1 record. It's the first time that Toledo has achieved double-digit wins in season since they finished the 2017 season 11-3. That was in Jason Candle's second full season leading the program. 

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It's the fourth time since 2000 that Toledo has won at least ten games in a season.

Since Candle was named the program's full-time head coach prior to the 2016 season, Toledo has won the MAC twice: 2017 and 2022. The Rockets clinched a return trip to the MAC title game earlier this month and will play the winner of the East Division at Ford Field in Detroit on December 2.

Candle is 63-33 as the coach of the Rockets with a 2-4 record in bowl games. Toledo has been .500 or better in each season under Candle. 2020 was the only season in which Candle did not win at least six games, compiling a 4-2 record in the shortened campaign.

Tuesday's win was also Toledo's 44th all-time against BGSU in the Battle of I-75. The Rockets have one regular season game remaining at Central Michigan on November 24.