Toledo shuts out UMass 24-0 to maintain MAC title momentum

The Toledo Rockets (8-2, 5-1 MAC) won their Wednesday night contest over the visiting UMass Minutemen (5-5, 2-4 MAC) in convincing fashion, building up an early lead and stifling the visitors in a shutout effort at the Glass Bowl.

The 0-fer was a historic one for Toledo, becoming part of a package with a 60-0 blanking of FCS Morgan State in 2025 to give the Rockets their first seasons with back-to-back shutouts since 1993-94.

Halfback Connor Walendzak, fresh from rehabbing an injury, burst free for a 69-yard rushing touchdown on third-and-one to open up the scoring account at 7-0 with 4:20 to go in the first quarter, and the Rockets never relented from there.

Reice Griffin's 27-yard field goal to start the second quarter extended the lead to 10-0 before a mistake by the Minutemen offense broke the game wide open.

UMass offensive lineman Jaxon King was called for holding on a first-and-10 after crossing into Toledo territory at the 34-yard line, forcing a first-and-20. Backup QB Logan Inagawa dropped back to pass on the newly-minted first-and-20 effort and quickly found himself under pressure by Andrew Zock. Inagawa threw the ball as he got hit in the pocket, and the ball floated into the hands of Toledo safety Nicholas Thompson, who returned the ball all the way back for a 62-yard pick-six.

Four drives later, Walendzak found the endzone once again, this time on a nifty 17-yard reception from John Alan Richter to put the game at 24-0 at the halftime break– a score which would stay up until the end of the fourth quarter.

Toledo posted 436 yards of total offense as a team, with Walendzak featuring on the strength of 117 rushing yards, 41 receiving yards and two total touchdowns (one each rushing and receiving.) Adjatay Dabbs also continued his strong run of form, with a team-leading seven receptions and 144 of the team's 197 passing yards. John Alan Richter completed 13-of-22 passes, with one touchdown.

The Rockets defense also had a banner night, limiting UMass to 188 total yards, 3-of-15 on third down attempts and 1-of-4 on fourth downs.

Linebacker Julian Fox and EDGE rusher Andrew Zock paced the attack, each notching 3.5 tackles-for-loss. Fox led the team with eight total tackles and six solo stops, while Zock had six tackles and a team-leading two sacks. Donovan Watkins had two pass break-ups.

UMass suffered a number of important injuries during the game which will impact their chase for a postseason berth. QB Pop Watson III re-aggravated an ankle injury suffered earlier in the season on the first drive of the contest, while cornerback TJ Magee also left the game late with a leg injury.

The Minutemen were already down starting receiver Joseph Griffin Jr. and starting cornerback Isaiah Reed prior to tonight, and now face the prospect of needing to win their next two games without as many as four of their biggest contributors.

Second-string QB Logan Inagawa led the offense in relief from the first quarter onwards, finishing 10-of-27 for 99 yards and an interception, while leading in rushing with 40 yards. Curtis Kimmons IV had 11 carries for 33 yards. Tight end Reece Adkins led in receptions (five) and had 33 yards, while true freshman receiver Drew Alsup led in yards (35) on two receptions.

Linebacker Timmy Hinspeter led the UMass defense with 12 tackles (including a TFL) on the night, with six different Minutemen pulling down a TFL apiece. The Depaepe brothers, Andrew and William, each had a sack to lead the team.

Toledo now finds themselves in a four-way tie at the top of the MAC standings at a 5-1 record. They hold a win over Western Michigan, but also a loss to Buffalo– both teams they're tied with. The Rockets will play Ohio, the other 5-1 team, in the final week of the season.

A rivalry game with Bowling Green is next up on the schedule, with kickoff set for Friday, November 20th.

UMass must win out to get their first-ever postseason berth due to two FCS wins in non-conference play– but if they split the next two games, can still claim the program's first-ever non-losing record at 6-6. They set a program record for wins in a season (five) at the FBS level last week vs. Ball State.

The Minutemen will host 1-9 Akron next Wednesday night.