Toledo, OH (Best E Casino) - Tom Brandstater threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-28 passing, and rushed for another score, to lead No. 25 Fresno State past Toledo, 55-54, in double overtime.
Both teams scored in the first overtime -- a one-yard rush by Toledo's Aaron Opelt and a seven-yard TD reception by Fresno's Isaac Kinter -- to send the game into another extra frame.
In the second OT, Brandstater then took the snap up the middle on a quarterback sneak and into the end zone for a 55-48 lead. Though, John Allen caught a three-yard TD pass for Toledo to potentially send the game to a third overtime. Brazenly, the Rockets decided to go for the two-point conversion to put an end to the game.
On the conversion, Opelt dropped back, avoided the rush, and saw Robin Bailey in the middle of the end zone. The throw was batted down by Nico Herron and Fresno State held on for the win.
Marlon Moore had five receptions for 79 yards and a score and Bear Pascoe caught five balls for 31 yards and a TD for Fresno State (2-1). Ryan Mathews had 18 carries for 87 yards and Anthony Harding had nine touches for 86 yards and a score.
Opelt finished 22-of-41 with three touchdown passes and ran for another for Toledo (1-2). Allen caught eight passes for 93 yards and two scores in defeat. Stephen Williams had six catches for 114 yards and a score. Morgan Williams had 23 carries for 142 yards and found the end zone once. DaJuane Collins had 15 carries for 138 yards and crossed the goal line twice.
Toledo's first drive resulted in a Nick Moore fumble that Ben Jacobs returned 29 yards for a Fresno State score just 34 seconds into the game.
Two possessions later, Collins rushed 26 yards to pay dirt to knot the game up at 7-7. The score capped a 58-yard drive that culminated at the 7:34 mark of the first.
A.J. Jefferson, though, took the ensuing kickoff 73 yards to the Toledo 21. Harding caught a five-yard pass and Mathews hauled in a 16-yard TD reception to make it 14-7, in favor of Fresno State, with 6:37 left in the opening frame.
Kevin Goessling nailed a 35-yarder to make it a 10-point game 5:17 into the second quarter.
Toledo then traveled 57 yards on a drive that saw Opelt hit Allen for a 14- yard score that made it 17-14 with 6:37 left in the half.
Collins ran in a two-yard score to close out the first half and send Toledo into the break ahead 21-17.
Both schools traded field goals and it was 24-20, Toledo, with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
Fresno State then got the ball at its own 38. Brandstater found Seyi Ajirotutu for a 47-yard completion which led to a four-yard TD catch by Pascoe that gave the Bulldogs a 27-24 lead with 6:44 to go in the third.
Harding broke a 30-yard TD run with 20 seconds remaining to send Fresno State into the final stanza sporting a 34-24 advantage.
Morgan Williams ran in a four-yard TD to close out a drive that bridged the final couple of seconds in the third to the fourth quarter. The score brought the differential to just 34-31 with 12:54 left in the game.
However, Fresno State answered with a 60-yard scoring drive that saw Brandstater throw into triple coverage for Kinter. Kinter tipped the ball up into the air right around the goal line and Marlon Moore, perfectly stationed, grabbed the carom and ran into the end zone for a 10-point Fresno State lead.
Toledo punted on its next possession, but forced Fresno State to do the same. The Rockets' ensuing 88-yard drive, highlighted by a 44-yard Opelt-to-Stephen Williams TD reception, brought the margin within 41-38 with 3:07 left to play.
The Rockets then crafted an onside kick and got the ball at their own 43 with 3:06 showing on the clock. Toledo meandered its way downfield and a 19- yard reception by Allen gave the school a 1st-and-10 on the Bulldogs' 15-yard line. A timeout stopped the clock with 1:07 left in regulation. After a few botched pass plays, Toledo found itself with a 4th-and-10, though Alex Steigerwald nailed the 33-yard kick to tie the game up at 41-41 with 15 ticks left.
Chastin West returned the kick to the Toledo 48-yard line, and an 11-yard reception by Ajirotutu set up the 58-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide right -- though it appeared to have the distance.
Game Notes
Steigerwald has now made 20 straight field goals dating back to 2006, which is a new MAC record...Saturday's setback was the first of three straight home games for the Rockets, a team that fell to FSU in the only other meeting between the programs, 44-14, back in 2005.
