University of Toledo loses heartbreaking game to BYU

The University of Toledo football team lost to Brigham Young University in a 55-53 shootout in Provo, Utah on Friday night. The loss resulted in the Rockets’ record falling to 3-1.

“This was certainly a hard-fought loss for our football team,” head coach Jason Candle said. “BYU made one more play than we did tonight and they deserved to win the football game.”

The Rockets outgained the Cougars 692-586 in total offensive yards. UT also led in first downs with 33, compared to BYU’s 26.

Fourth-year quarterback Logan Woodside shined through the loss as he threw for 505 yards and 2 touchdowns. Out of Woodside’s 38 passes, 30 of them were catches.

“I just thought that we had a bunch of good play calls,” Woodside said, “and just try to read what the defense was doing, and took what they gave me, and I think I did that for the most part.”

Second-year wide receiver Jon’Vea Johnson set personal bests in receptions and touchdowns, with nine and three respectively. Of those nine receptions, Johnson caught a total of 182 yards. Fourth-year running back Kareem Hunt ran 146 yards and one touchdown.

It did not take long for the scoring to start. BYU scored on their first play from a scrimmage off of a 75-yard pass thrown by fourth year quarterback Taysom Hill to third-year wide receiver Jonah Trinnaman to make the score 7-0.

UT answered next with a 75-yard drive capped off by an eight yard run by third-year running back Terry Swanson to tie the game at seven with 12:23 left in the first quarter.

BYU struck back on a 72-yard drive, ending with a one yard touchdown run from Jamaal Williams with 4:24 left in the first quarter to take the lead at 14-7.

On UT’s next possession, Woodside’s pass was deflected, intercepted and returned to the 13-yard line. BYU capitalized with a two yard touchdown run from Williams, making the score 21-7 with 47 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Rockets cut the lead to 21-14 on 74-yard touchdown pass from Woodside to Johnson, with 31 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Rocket defense showed up in the second quarter, forcing the BYU offense into back-to-back three and outs. Toledo tied the game back up at 21 points with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Woodside to fourth-year wide receiver Corey Jones with 7:45 left in the first half.

Toledo scored on their first drive of the second half, marching down the field 83 yards and scoring off of another touchdown pass from Woodside to Johnson, giving the Rockets a 28-21 lead.

BYU scored right back with a 45-yard touchdown run from Williams, tying the game at 28 points, with 10:18 left in the third quarter.

UT gained a 28-yard field goal from second-year kicker Jameson Vest, making the score 31-28 at 8:17 in the third quarter. BYU roared on a 62-yard run from Williams to take the lead at 35-31 with 5:01 left in the third quarter.

Woodside hit Johnson for their third touchdown of the night, a 15- yard pass with less than a minute in the quarter, resulting in a 38-35 Rocket lead.

Both teams exchanged scores to start the fourth quarter, a 17-yard touchdown run by second-year Squally Canada for BYU and a 78-yard touchdown pass from Woodside to second-year wide receiver Cody Thompson, resulting in the score of 45-42.

Williams scored his fifth touchdown of the game, a 14-yard touchdown run with 3:00 left in the game, making the score 52-45.

Toledo responded with a seven-yard score with 1:11 left. Candle opted to go for two. Woodside fumbled the snap but was unable to find Roberts in the end zone to give UT a 53-52 lead.

BYU used up the clock on its final possession, moving 71 yards in eight plays before Almond finished it off with the game-winning field goal.

“As a team, I think that we fought really hard for 60 minutes,” third year linebacker Ja’Wuan Woodley said. “We just tried to do what we do and make a play, a stop, in any ways possible. I’m proud of everybody in that locker room that fought hard for 60 minutes.”

The Rockets will open up Mid-American Conference play next Saturday at Eastern Michigan at 3:00 PM.