The 89th edition of the Battle of I-75 lived up to it’s hype.

For the first time in 30 years, BGSU football (4-4, 3-1 MAC) beat the Toledo Rockets (5-3, 2-2 MAC) at the Glass Bowl.

A win for Bowling Green that puts the Falcons back to .500 on the year, and 3-1 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. BGSU football head coach Scot Loeffler has earned his third win against Toledo

“I am happy for everyone associated with Bowling Green, all the way from the President all the way down to the faculty, the students and obviously our great fans,” said Loeffler. “This is a great game [The rivalry with Toledo] and we are honored to be part of it. It is a classic.

After blowing an 18-point lead in last year’s rivalry matchup and struggling with consistency this season, the Orange and Brown produced one of the most complete performances in the Loeffler era.

“I thought we played a football game similar to weeks one, two and three. I thought we played team football – great defense, really good offensive football today. We made our kicks – we closed the deal and finished the game, which was great.”

On the opening snap, BG sacked Tucker Gleason senior outside linebacker Avi McGary, leading to a quick three and out for the Rockets.

In the first BG offensive possession, the Orange and Brown went 45 yards in five plays, getting on the board first from a five-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Terion Stewart. An extra point from junior placekicker Zach Long was good, 7-0 Falcons.

Toledo found their rhythm in their next drive, with three straight plays going for 10-plus yards. Gleason connected with senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton for 34 yards to bring the Rockets to the Falcons 4-yard line.

Gleason found Newton again, this time in the end zone for Toledo’s first touchdown of the afternoon, tying the game up 7-7 after an extra point conversion from freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan.

Both teams faced quick threes and outs, as a short punt from Toledo’s Emilio Duran gave the Orange and Brown the ball at their 41-yard line, close to midfield.

After a Stewart rush that went for 35 yards, Bazelak connected with junior wide-receiver Rahkeem Smith for 16 yards, putting the Falcons down to the 5-yard line of Toledo. On the next play, a shuffle pass from Bazelak found the hands of junior tight end Harold Fannin Jr for a touchdown, 14-7 Falcons.

On the Rockets’ next possession, on a third and six with 49 seconds left in the first quarter, Gleason created another explosive play, finding Newton again for 22 yards.

As the first quarter came to a close the Rockets faced a third-and-11 in BG territory.

The Rockets cut into Bowling Green’s lead with a 54-yard  field goal by Cunanan to make it 14-10, which ended up being the second-longest field goal in program history for Toledo.

As Bazelak and the Falcon offense retook the field, the run game for the Orange and Brown continued to dominate. The Falcons went nine plays for 79 yards, adding another touchdown to extend their lead 21-10. With a goal-line pass from Bazelak to senior tight end Levi Gazarek, for his first collegiate touchdown.

Toledo’s offensive came back on the field with some patience, despite being down two scores and slowly picking up yardage and moving the ball down the field. Gleason converted a fourth and three by using his legs to pick up a first down into Bowling Green territory, then used his speed once again with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, cutting BG’s lead to just four, 21-17. Capping off a drive that went 14 plays for 75 yards and was nearly six minutes long.

One of the biggest moments and plays of the game, and one of the most enormous moments of the season for the Falcons came with just one minute left in the second quarter, senior cornerback Jordan Oladokun intercepted a pass from Gleason, taking it 61 yards to the house for a pick-six, extending the lead 28-17 just before halftime.

With under one minute to go and no timeouts, the Rockets marched down to the field with a 26-yard bomb from Gleason to junior wide receiver Junior Vandeross III to put them on the BG 12-yard line.

The Rockets made it a one-score game going into the break, a 27-yard field goal from Cunanan as time expired made it 28-20 Falcons.

In the third quarter, Toledo picked up the pressure on the defensive front, senior defensive end D’Andre Ragin sacked Bazelak on the opening drive of the second half for the Falcons on a third and 15, forcing BG to punt. 

The Rockets would strike quickly in their first possession of the second half, with a 64-yard touchdown strike from Gleason to Newton for his second of the day. Toledo failed a two-point conversion attempt, making it 28-26 BG.

Bazelak and the Falcons responded with an explosive play of their own, finding Smith for 34 yards to get into Toledo territory. After a couple of incompletes and a stop on third and 15, Long converted a 47-yard field goal with five minutes left to go in the third quarter, extending the Falcons lead to 31-26.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Long would make another field goal, this time from 35 yards out, making it an eight-point game, 34-26.

In Toledo’s next drive, Oladokun picked off Gleason for the second time, for BG’s second turnover of the game.

Both teams exchange punts back and forth, once Bazelak and the offense took the field again they drained five minutes off the clock, adding another touchdown rom a 19-yard jet sweep from Smith, finishing off the Rockets 41-26.

In a game where both offenses shined, the Falcons put up 402 total yards while the Rockets recorded 422.

The Orange and Brown only had 187 total passing yards compared to Toledo’s 320, but the Falcons dominated the run-game, outrushing the Rockets 215 to 102 total yards.

The Falcons also won the turnover battle thanks to two interceptions from Oladokun, and BG only committed two penalties for 25 yards while Toledo had five for 40.

With the loss, the Rockets fall to 5-3 on the year and 2-2 in MAC play.

A win that will excite the BG fanbase, and increase the confidence of team as the season progresses, but will be a short celebration according to Loeffler.

“24-hour rule. I don’t like giving anyone off tomorrow but we are going to,” said Loeffler. We’re gonna take tomorrow off and we are going to be back, and we are gonna grind, and do what we do. We’ll hit the ground Monday ready to rock and roll.

To ensure the Orange and Brown keeps their foot on the gas, Loeffler will make sure he keeps his team on track.

“I may not be a fun person to be around on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” said Loeffler. I’ve fortunate to be around a lot of really good coaches, where after a win like this, it was hell.”

The Falcons are back in action in 10 days, taking on the Central Michigan Chippewas, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with kick-off set for 7:30 p.m.