TOLEDO, Ohio — The University of Toledo used big plays and a big-time offense Saturday night to hand Maine a 45-3 loss in a nonconference football game.
Toledo, from the Mid-American Conference, scored on touchdown passes of 85, 21, 64 and 89 yards, and returned a blocked punt 27 yards for a score.
The Rockets scored 21 unanswered third-quarter points.
“We didn’t execute very well but credit goes to them,” said Maine Coach Joe Harasymiak. “They did a great job. To keep up with a team like that you have to play mistake-free and we didn’t do that.”
The Rockets (2-0) compiled 516 yards, dominated special teams and appear poised to make a run at the league title. Another bowl bid seems likely for Toledo, which has been to five bowls since 2010.
Maine’s loss was a far cry from its opener, a 24-21 setback at Connecticut. This time Maine had trouble putting together drives and failed to capitalize on the Rockets’ few mistakes.
“They have a very challenging offense and we knew that coming in,” Harasymiak said. “After playing UConn in week one, we knew this would be totally different.”
Maine’s highlight was its opening drive that resulted in a Patrick Leonard field goal. Maine never threatened again.
Dan Collins of the Black Bears completed 9 of 25 passes for 65 yards and Dari Davis-Ray ran for 67 yards. Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga had 10 tackles, Jeremy Salmon recovered a fumble and Sterling Sheffield had an interception.
Maine had 170 yards rushing and 235 total yards.
Logan Woodside completed just 13 passes for Toledo but they went for 329 yards and four touchdowns, the longest an 89-yard strike to Jon’Vea Johnson late in the third quarter.
“They have some great wideouts on the outside and had some one-on-one matchups that we didn’t win,” Harasymiak said.
Cody Thompson caught a 64-yard touchdown pass and Ronnie Jones returned a blocked punt 27 yards for other scores.
Toledo took a 17-3 lead into halftime, mainly on two long touchdowns.
Corey Jones caught an 85-yard TD pass from Woodside on Toledo’s first drive and Thompson’s catch came on Toledo’s last drive of the half.
Maine’s opening drive, which came in a pouring rain, was its best. After marching 68 yards in 15 plays, Leonard was good on a 29-yard field goal. The drive was kept alive several times by Collins, with pinpoint passes or, in one case, a nifty 16-yard scramble. He also recovered a fumble to keep the seven-minute drive going.
“We came out and ran the ball pretty well,” Harasymiak said. “We executed well, made no mistakes and were solid. As the game went on, I think Toledo’s athleticism showed up a little bit more, especially up front.”
Collins said Maine did itself in after the opening drive.
“We came out with a lot of energy,” he said. “We ran the ball well and did well on first down. Most of the stuff after that, in the second quarter, we had way too many issues, penalties and not being disciplined. We did it to ourselves.”
Maine’s best opportunity to score again came when it recovered a fumble and had a first down at Toledo’s 35, but couldn’t get closer.
James DeMartini of Maine punted 11 times, averaging 40 yards, putting one inside the Toledo 2.
Send questions/comments to the editors.