2025 MAC Football Week 14 Game Recap: Toledo Rockets 21, Central Michigan Chippewas 3

For three quarters, Saturday’s game between the Toledo Rockets (8-4, 6-2 MAC) and the Central Michigan Chippewas (7-5, 6-2 MAC) was one of less-than-ideal conditions, field position and small opportunities.

The fourth quarter, however, is when the Rockets would find those necessary plays to change the tide of the game, escaping with the 21-3 victory against Central Michigan.

The first half was defined by defense; Toledo went three-and-out on their first drive of the game, while Central went 11 plays for 89 yards, but was stopped on fourth-and-goal when Andre Fuller stopped Tommy McIntosh short of the goal line on a pass to the flats. Neither team had a chance to score again until the 11:30 mark of the second quarter, when Dylan Cunanan’s 29-yard kick was blocked by Dakota Cochran to keep the score at 0-0.

Central would claim the lead with 41 seconds remaining in the first half on a 28-yard field goal from Cade Graham, going up 3-0.

On their last possession of the first half, Toledo opted to try and set up for a field goal, but crucially, Tucker Gleason was injured on a second-and-10 rush up the middle. This forced redshirt freshman Kalieb Osborne into action, and he would get sacked for a 12-yard loss to end the period.

Defense looked dominant once again in the third quarter, with both teams forced to punt on their first possession. However, Toledo would opt to gamble on their next possession, going for it on fourth-and-eight from the CMU 25-yard line down 3-0. Osborne would get brought down by Michael Heldman for a four-yard sack on the broken play, gifting Central the ball back.

The Chippewas were put in a bad position after an eight-yard sack by Doran Ray Jr. to start the next drive, but converted a circus throw-and-catch on third-and-15 to get into Toledo territory thanks to a 36-yard reception by Tyson Davis. The drive would go for naught, however, as Langston Lewis ran out of bounds on his own short of the sticks on fourth-and-three to turn the ball back over.

That’s when Toledo found their break.

On third-and-eight from their own 43-yard line, Kalieb Osborne scrambled left and tossed a floater to running back Chip Trayanum. Trayanum, crossing the defense from left to right on the angle drag route, evaded the first tackler, then ran into the backfield umpire as another defender tried bringing him down. Trayanum used the opportunity to reclaim his balance, spin out of the way of several incoming defenders, then triumphantly cut from right to left en route to a 57-yard rushing touchdown to give Toledo their first lead of the day with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Central’s struggles with execution— an issue which squandered several of their first half drives— would haunt them once again to enter the fourth quarter, as a procedural penalty for illegal formation wiped away a highlight-reel 30-yard reception by Langston Lewis in Toledo’s redzone to force a replay of the down. Three plays later, CMU would attempt a trick play with Lewis as a passer on the reverse run, but Toledo was all over the play, pulling the would-be thrower down for an eight-yard loss.

Running back Kenji Christian would cash in the turnover for a touchdown six plays later— aided in part by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Central after the previous play— allowing Toledo to extend their lead to 14-3 with 8:43 remaining.

Central wouldn’t threaten again after that, tossing an interception and committing a turnover-on-downs on their next two drives before Trayanum scored his second touchdown of the afternoon to seal the contest.

A last-gasp drive would get to the Toledo four-yard line, but it was too late regardless for the hosting Chippewas, who would drop their first home contest of 2025 in the bitter, snowy conditions.

Kalieb Osborne turned out to be a difference-maker upon his entry into the game for Toledo, finishing 5-of-7 for 108 yards and a touchdown, while also contributing 52 yards— though he did suffer a lost fumble late in the game. Osbourne replaced Tucker Gleason (9-of-17, 98 pass yards; 31 rush yards), who left the game with an injury late in the second quarter.

Chip Trayanum was the star for the Rockets on a blustery afternoon, carrying the ball 16 times for 98 yards and a touchdown, while also hauling in three receptions for 65 yards— including his 57-yard scamper in the third quarter. Kenji Christian (seven rushes, 28 yards, one score) also contributed.

Central’s defense— and the conditions— largely contained Toledo’s talented receiving corps, with Junior Vandeross, the nation’s leader in touchdown receptions, notching four catches for 71 yards. Terrell Crosby Jr. had three catches for 20 yards and Trayvon Rudolph had two catches for 16 yards.

Linebacker Chris D’Appolonia led the team in tackles (10), while K’Von Sherman led the team in tackles-for-loss and sacks (two of each.) Emmanuel McNeil-Warren had a diving interception along the sideline late to go with six tackles.

For Central, the offense struggled in leverage situations, finishing four-of-12 on third-downs and 0-of-3 on fourth-downs on the afternoon. Two of those failed fourth-down conversions were in opposing territory and short by a yard or less, worsening the blow.

Joe Labas finished 19-of-30 for 242 yards and an interception, being depended on more than usual down the stretch. Brock Townsend led the CMU rushers with 68 yards on 14 carries, while Nahree Biggins carried the ball eight times for 43 yards. Tommy McIntosh (six catches, 83 yards) and Langston Lewis (six catches, 71 yards) led the Chippewas in receiving.

Defensively, Jordan Kwiatkowski showed out in his last game at Kelly/Short Stadium, with 12 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass break-up. Michael Heldman was a one-man wrecking crew as well, with all three of his tackles behind the line of scrimmage (three TFLs, one sack.)

Toledo needed Ball State to upset Miami in the other Saturday noon game in order to advance to the MAC title game, but will stay home due to related tiebreakers. They finish the regular season 8-4, and await their bowl assignment. Saturday’s result marks the 14th time in the last 16 contests Toledo has beaten Central.

Central finishes their first year under new head coach Matt Drinkall at 7-5. Their chance at the MAC title game evaporated on Friday due to Ohio’s win over Buffalo, but they at least get to look ahead to their bowl assignment— the program’s first since 2021.