Toledo falls to Missouri 38-23

Penalties, turnovers, and red zone struggles kept the Toledo Rockets down in a 38-23 loss to the Missouri Tigers.

The Rockets suffer their second loss of the year, despite a much-improved performance in all aspects of the game. David Fluellen racked up 211 yards of offense. Bernard Reedy also cracked over 100 yards thanks to 83 kick-return yards. Terrance Owens threw 26-41 for 262 yards and a score to Alonzo Russell. The defense had 4 clutch sacks and actually held the Tigers to fewer yards than the Rockets managed.

But the mistakes killed Toledo. Owens was guilty of 3 interceptions, and all three were on his shoulders: a hurried pass at the end of the 1st half, a ball that slipped as he was being pressured, and a play-action pass that targeted no one with a Midnight Blue helmet. Reedy, and Russell, the two offensive weapons in the passing game, had a few too many drops. The Rockets as a whole were guilty of nine penalties for 55 yards, including crucial false starts that turned 3rd and 1s into 3rd and 14s, and a fourth down rush in the 4th quarter by David Fluellan that was nullified by a block in the back. The penalties hearken back to the Ohio State game in 2011, but the 3 picks brings Owens' decision making into question.

Toledo will finally leave the clutches of SEC country to open the Glass Bowl, but their opponent in Week 3 will be FCS opponent Eastern Washington, the same Eagles that beat up Oregon State in Week 1.