Post-Game Notes vs. Arkansas State
Arkansas State at TOLEDO
Sept. 26, 2015
Toledo, OH (Glass Bowl)
Post-Game Notes
With tonight’s victory, the Rockets improve to 17-3 at home under fourth-year head coach Matt Campbell.
Toledo improves to 3-0 on the year and is now sporting a six-game winning streak, dating back to last season. It’s the second-longest unbeaten stretch under the direction of Coach Campbell. The Rockets won eight-straight contests during the 2012 season.
Toledo wraps up non-league play with a perfect 3-0 record. The last time the Rockets went undefeated in non-league action occurred in 2001 when they went 3-0. UT is also 3-0 for the first time since 2005.
Toledo finished with a season-best six sacks and forced a season-high five turnovers. They were credited with three interceptions and two fumbles forced. UT limited ASU to minus-14 yards rushing, the third-lowest mark in school history. The school record is minus-109 against Northern Illinois on Nov. 11, 1967. The Rockets also limited ASU to 2-of-13 on third downs.
UT posted a commanding 477-209 edge in total offense and held an astounding 38:37-21:23 advantage in time of possession.
Junior RB Damion Jones-Moore registered a two-yard TD run on the game’s opening drive. Jones-Moore has now scored a rushing TD in each of the last five games, dating back to last season. He made his second career start and finished with a game-high 18 carries for 64 yards.
Senior SS Rolan Milligan made his first career start for the Rockets and was credited a 36-yard interception return for a score in the first quarter. Milligan finished with two stops.
Freshman PK Jameson Vest was a perfect 3-of-3 on field-goal attempts, converting a 31-yarder in the first period, a 23-yarder in the second and a season-high 44-yarder in the third quarter. Vest is now 7-of-9 on the season. His previous best effort was a 42-yard field goal against Iowa State last Saturday, Sept. 19. Vest has now converted a field goal in each of the first three games this season.
Senior QB Phillip Ely completed 25-of-52 passes for 308 yards. Ely’s 52 pass attempts is a career high, surpassing his previous best effort of 38 attempts vs. Arkansas on Sept. 12. He also topped the 300 yards passing for the second time in his collegiate career. Ely’s career high is 337 passing yards against New Hampshire on Aug. 30, 2014.
Sophomore RB Terry Swanson saw his most extensive action of the season and carried the ball 17 times for a game-high 71 yards and two scores. Swanson was credited with a 3-yard TD run in the second quarter and a one-yard scoring plunge in the fourth. Tonight marked his third career multi-score effort and first of the season.
Junior LB Jaylen Coleman paced the UT defense for a third-straight week with six tackles. Coleman was also credited with first career interception in the third period.
Sophomore WR Cody Thompson hauled in a collegiate-best five catches for 112 yards. Thompson came into tonight’s game with seven career receptions for 88 yards.
Senior S Chaz Whittaker recorded an interception in the second period. It was his first official INT this fall and fifth overall as a Rocket. Whittaker finished with three stops.
Senior WR Kishon Wilcher was credited with a forced fumble in the first period.
Junior DL Treyvon Hester registered a forced fumble in the second quarter. Hester totaled four tackles in tonight’s non-league finale.
Senior DL Orion Jones was credited with a collegiate best 3.0 sacks. The last time a Rocket had three sacks was Junior Sylvestre against Bowling Green on Oct. 26, 2013.
Junior P Nick Ellis pinned ASU inside the 20-yard line on three occasions. Ellis averaged 35.2 yards on five kicks.
Junior DE John Stepec registered his first career sack in the fourth quarter. Stepec finished with five tackles, the second-highest total on the team.
Senior DE Keenen Gibbs posted a quarterback sack in the fourth quarter and a fumble forced.
Toledo opened the game with a six play, 71-yard drive that culminated with a two-yard TD run by junior RB Damion Jones-Moore. The Rockets have now scored in their opening drive in two of the first three games this season. UT freshman PK Jameson Vest booted a 30-yard field goal in the opening possession against Iowa State last Saturday, Sept. 19.
