Associated Press Photo
TOLEDO, Ohio (Sports Network) - Jordan Haden intercepted Munchie Legaux's pass with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Rockets, as Toledo upset the No. 21 Cincinnati Bearcats, 29-23, at the Glass Bowl.
Jeremiah Detmer was a perfect 5-for-5 kicking field goals. After Toledo (7-1) ate up nearly eight minutes of the fourth-quarter clock, Detmer's 25-yard kick with 42 seconds to play accounted for the final margin, giving the Rockets their seventh straight victory.
Terrance Owens completed 13-of-24 passes for 126 yards and ran for another 50 on 14 carries for Toledo. Bernard Reedy paced all receivers with five catches for 72 yards and David Fluellen added 161 yards on 25 carries for the Rockets.
Legaux struggled to get into a rhythm, completing just 15-of-36 passes for 227 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He added 66 yards rushing and a score on nine carries for Cincinnati (5-1).
Ralph Abernathy rushed for 98 yards on just nine carries, while George Winn ran for 86 yards in the setback.
Leading 16-13 at halftime, Toledo opened the second half with the ball and added three more to its advantage.
The Rockets rushed their way into Cincinnati territory thanks to a 16-yard run by Owens and a 17-yard sprint by Fluellen. After taking a sack on first down, Owens ran two consecutive times to move Toledo to the Bearcats' 23. Fluellen then took two carries for a total of 21 yards down to the 2-yard line, but Toledo couldn't pick up another yard and was forced to settle for Detmer's 20-yard kick.
After an exchange of punts, Cincinnati took its first lead of the game. From their own 30, Legaux completed passes of 33 yards to Kebrell Thompkins and 12 yards to Chris Moore before throwing a 25-yard strike to Damon Julian for a touchdown to give the Bearcats a 20-19 lead.
However, their lead was short-lived, as Reedy returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown to put Toledo back on top 26-20.
Trying to catch Cincinnati off guard, Toledo attempted an onside kick but the Bearcats recovered and started at their own 47. However, Cincinnati squandered the opportunity and was forced to go three-and-out, punting away with just 50 seconds to play in the third.
The Bearcats capitalized on their next touch after Toledo picked up just one first down and was forced to punt. From its own 32, Cincinnati crossed midfield following Legaux's 22-yard completion to Alex Chisum. Abernathy rushed to the Rockets' 24 on a 6-yard run to set up Tony Miliano for a 41-yard field goal to make it a three-point game.
However, after punting on its next possession, Cincinnati did not see the ball again until there was 42 seconds left in the game. Toledo ran off a 15-play, 59-yard drive that led to Detmer's 25-yard game-sealing kick. Owens completed a 14-yard pass to Reedy and then a 7-yard pass to Alonzo Russell to move to the Bearcats' 37. Toledo then ran nine rushing plays until Detmer kicked the field goal to put them up 29-23.
Toledo built an advantage early, scoring the first 13 points of the game.
After forcing Cincinnati three-and-out on its first possession, Toledo took over at its own 45. On 3rd-and-6, Owens completed a 22-yard pass to Reedy, which set up a Detmer 43-yard field goal.
The Rockets added seven more shortly thereafter. The Bearcats moved to the Toledo 40 on a 7-yard run by Winn, but on the next play Legaux's pass was intercepted by Jermaine Robinson, who returned it 75 yards for a score.
The Bearcats picked up 40 yards on their next touch, but once again their drive stalled and were forced to punt away. Toledo took over on its own 13 and after Owens ran nine yards to pick up a first down, he completed a 34-yard strike to Reedy. Owens rushed for 15 more yards to move Toledo to the Bearcats' 29 and set Detmer up for 42-yard field goal.
On the ensuing possession, Cincinnati's offense finally got on the board following a 52-yard run by Abernathy to the Rockets' 3-yard line. Two plays later, Legaux rushed into the end zone to make it a one-score game.
Cincinnati pulled within three after forcing a turnover on the Rockets' next touch. Toledo's Cassius McDowell ran for 13 yards on 3rd-and-2 but he fumbled on the play and Brandon Mills of Cincinnati recovered. Legaux rushed for 25 yards on second down to move the Bearcats to the opponent 23, but he threw three straight incompletions. Miliano salvaged the drive with a 40-yard field goal.
Toledo got the three points back just over three minutes later. On the first play of the drive, David Fluellen broke off a 44-yard run into Cincinnati territory before Owens completed a 14-yard pass to Russell, putting the Rockets on the Bearcats' 26. Detmer booted at 47-yard field goal following an Owens sack to give Toledo a 16-10 lead.
The Bearcats reduced the advantage to three after Legaux found Travis Kelce for a 46-yard completion. The play set Cincinnati up on the Toledo 23, but they only picked up three more yards and Miliano's kick from 37 yards out made it 16-13 at halftime.