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Bringing home the bacon

Toledo creates upset against SEC foe Arkansas

Photo Courtesy of UT Athletics

Senior Alonzo Russell (left) and junior Corey Jones celebrate together after the final whistle in Saturday's 16-12 upset against No. 18 Arkansas.

Marcus Dodson, Sports Editor

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The University of Toledo’s football team made school history when they defeated the No. 18-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks 16-12 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on Saturday.

With the win, it marks the first success of four attempts that the Rockets have defeated a Southeastern Conference team. This was also the first win over a Top 25 non-conference opponent on the road and the first win over a Top 25 team since a 29-23 win over No. 18-ranked Cincinnati in 2012.

“[This was] a great cultural win for our football program,” said UT Head Football Coach Matt Campbell. “I’m really proud of how our kids were able to play 60 minutes of football.”

UT was led behind the right arm of senior Phillip Ely, who threw for 21-of-38 passing for 237 yards and a touchdown against a stout Arkansas defense. Junior running backs Marc Remy and Damion Jones-Moore combined to rush for 103 yards with the absences of junior Kareem Hunt due to suspension and sophomore Terry Swanson due to a foot injury suffered in week one.

Toledo defense was as tough as it gets facing the Razorbacks. UT allowed just 3.3 yards per rush on 31 attempts and held Arkansas from scoring a touchdown in five red zone trips.

“We took a step forward,” Campbell said. “We’ve been in some games a lot like that one before and haven’t had the ability to win those games and a lot of that was self-inflected.”

Junior linebacker Jaylen Coleman led the defense with a career-high 13 tackles. Senior defensive back Cheatham Norrils had eight tackles and three pass breakups, including two on the final Arkansas’ possession. Junior DB DeJuan Rogers also had a career night with a best 11 tackles and his first interception of the season that came in the end zone that stopped a Razorback drive during the third quarter.

Toledo did give up 412 passing yards to Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen but Campbell is okay with that and is just part of his ‘bend don’t break’ coaching philosophy.

The Rockets jumped on the scoreboard first in the contest, scoring on a five-yard touchdown pass from Ely to junior wide out Corey Jones. UT would try to go for two on the drive but Cody Thompson’s pass was intercepted, giving UT a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

On Toledo’s next drive they had yet another opportunity to put points on the board but freshman kicker Jameson Vest’s 26-yard field goal was blocked. Arkansas would take advantage of the change in momentum, driving 88 yards in eight plays to take a 7-6 with 7:53 left in the half.

With just 2:50 left to go in the half, the Rockets would get a chance to regain the lead. The Rockets drove 45 yards in nine plays before being stopped at the Arkansas 21-yard line and had to settle for a 38-yard field goal, made by Vest giving Toledo a 9-7 halftime lead.

UT kept Arkansas running back Alex Collins in check, holding him to just 30 yards on eight carriers, 21 of which came on one play.

The defense would show up in the second half as well with a big turnover on the Razorbacks’ first possession of the third quarter. Rogers would pick of Allen in the end zone on a third-and-seven from the seven-yard line for yet another red zone stop for the Rockets.

On the ensuing procession, UT marched 80 yards on 10 plays to extend the lead 16-7. Jones-Moore finished off the drive with an 11-yard scamper with 5:09 left to play in the third.

Arkansas would answer the score with a 22-play 73- yard drive taking 10:39 of possession before getting stuffed at the Toledo 8 and being forced to settle for a field goal. Cole Hedlund’s 25-yard field goal cut the lead 16-10 with just over nine minutes left in the game.

After a Toledo punt, the Razorbacks would start their drive from their own 28-yard line with 7:05 left in the game, needing a touchdown to potentially win or force overtime pending the extra point.

The Razorbacks would cover 65 yards in 12 plays before getting stuffed at the Toledo seven on fourth and goal.

The Rockets would run the ball three straight times to force UA to use up their timeouts. Campbell elected to take an intentional safety, making the score 16-12 with 52 seconds showing on the clock.

Allen completed three passes on the final drive to move Arkansas down to the Toledo 16-yard line but would be shut out of the end zone from the red zone for the fifth and final time of the night.

“There’s still a lot of work left to do with this football team and we have a big game coming up,” Campbell said.

UT will return home to take on Iowa State on Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Glass Bowl.

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Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919.
Bringing home the bacon