MUNCIE, Ind. — There are several idioms in sports that explain the bottom line: a win is a win and just win baby.
Both are apt expressions to describe Toledo’s mettlesome 13-6 victory at Ball State on Saturday in cold, gray, uninspiring conditions when the Rockets were nowhere near their best. Sometimes it’s best to simply get the win and get the heck out of town.
UT preserved its undefeated Mid-American Conference record (3-0) and set up the MAC game of the year next week at Miami. The Rockets will have to play better to beat the Red Hawks, but this season is beginning to take shape as the year Toledo changed the narratives and consistently found ways to win.
There could easily be multiple losses on the schedule. Instead, here’s UT, more than halfway through the season, at 6-1, making a game-changing play against San Jose State, turning around its fortunes against Western Michigan, Dallas Gant sealing the win against Northern Illinois with a shoe-string tackle, and Peny Boone getting redemption at Ball State.
Here are three things we learned about the Rockets on Saturday.
1. Even on an off day, the offensive line can be relied upon
After the game, head coach Jason Candle pooh-poohed the offensive line’s performance. Maybe Toledo didn’t execute with the efficiency it had in recent weeks or score as many points, but the line still helped manufacture 210 rushing yards and 4.6 yards per carry against one of the top rush defenses in the country.
In the fourth quarter during the game’s biggest moments, Toledo rode its horse, Peny Boone, and the nation’s third-leading rusher rewarded them for it. He had 109 yards in the second half, with 91 coming in the fourth quarter.
Eight of Toledo’s 23 first downs also came in the fourth quarter as the Rockets averaged 7.6 yards per play and converted three of five third-down opportunities.
2. The defense can win a game
Part of the narrative after Toledo lost a season-opening heartbreaker to Illinois was about the defense, once again, allowing a late score to lose a game. Then they made a winning play against San Jose State, and again against Western Michigan, and again against Northern Illinois, and again against Ball State.
The Rockets have struggled to stop the run this season, but the defense has undoubtedly been involved in important stops that helped win games.
Ball State didn’t stand a chance on his final possession, gaining two yards and turning it over on an interception. The Cardinals had 38 passing yards all game, the fewest UT’s allowed since 2000. In the fourth quarter, they had three first downs, 52 total yards, and were a combined 1 of 4 on third and fourth down.
3. The offensive line may have suffered a problematic injury
Right tackle David Nwaogwugwu suffered a knee injury and did not return on Saturday. He played 34 snaps and graded out as UT’s best lineman and the fourth overall on offense, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Temple/Rutgers transfer has been a force all season and helped solidify the offensive line as perhaps the best unit on the team. Redshirt sophomore Garrett Schwiebert replaced Nwaogwugwu, playing 43 snaps. In spot duty, he graded out subpar, but Schwiebert has been named by Mike Hallett as one of the team’s top young linemen.
Schwiebert has taken snaps against Texas Southern, Western Michigan, and Northern Illinois, so he’s ready for the moment if he starts at Miami. And he played in 10 games last season.
The Patrick Henry graduate was a first-team All-Ohio selection in 2019 and the Division VII co-lineman of the year that same season.
First Published October 15, 2023, 1:49 p.m.
