Turnovers aren’t the only issue plaguing Toledo’s losses.
Dating to last season’s Mid-American Conference championship game, the Rockets have stalled after halftime. In five losses, UT has scored a grand total of 39 points.
“We’ve got to come out better,” Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason said after UT was outscored 19-7 in the second half at Western Kentucky.
The main culprit has been an inability to move the football down the field. A combination of factors have contributed — shaky quarterback play, turnovers, and positive adjustments from opponents. (During their five victories this season, the Rockets have outscored opponents 71-38.)
And only one loss is an outlier. Miami, Wyoming, Western Kentucky, and Bowling Green are quality opponents. Buffalo less so.
The Rockets have eight second-half turnovers in the five losses. Twenty-one of the 32 possessions have ended with a turnover or a punt. The QBs are 57 of 94 for 744 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. And those numbers are enhanced by John Alan Richter’s performance at Buffalo and the final minute of the BGSU game.
Without those four possessions, the numbers are downgraded significantly — 37 of 65 for 481 yards with two TDs and four interceptions.
“I was trying to get a spark going,” Richter said. “That’s just what my goal was.”
Head coach Jason Candle prides himself on explosive plays, and UT has managed to strike downfield, even in defeat. Twenty-one of their 57 completions went for more than 10 yards. Too often, however, if those passes didn’t result in a touchdown, the Rockets stalled.
“Winning a college football game is one of the hardest things to do,” Gleason said, “and that doesn’t matter who the opponent is.”
Matchup: Toledo (5-3) at Eastern Michigan (5-3).
When: Saturday, noon.
TV: ESPNU
Follow along: Updates and analysis will be published throughout the game at toledoblade.com.
Watch: Our Rocket Rundown video series looking ahead to the game can be viewed here.
Another key statistical metric for Candle is third-down conversions. The numbers in Toledo’s five most recent losses are not good. In the second half, the Rockets are a woeful 14 for 38 (36.8 percent). That rate ranks 100th nationally for the 2024 season.
“Conversion downs have been a strength of ours here, and today they were not,” Candle said after the Buffalo game.
Third-down struggles have developed into a season-long trend, as Toledo ranks 92nd in the country, converting just 38 percent of its third downs.
“You can’t win games if you go three-and-out,” Gleason said.
On Saturday, the Rockets will face an Eastern Michigan team that forces turnovers at a high rate, has outscored opponents 130-100 in the second half, and has a top-50 third-down defense.
There’s nothing like tackling your demons head-on.
“If you look back in January and February and what your team talks about or where you want to be at, you want to be playing meaningful games in November,” Candle said, “and that’s what’s staring us in the face right now. So I’ve got to have a great week, do a good job of crossing T's and dotting I's on the [game] plan, and go put our best foot forward.”
Especially after halftime.
First Published October 31, 2024, 6:26 p.m.
