Toledo Athletics
Toledo will try to make it two in a row at home when Morgan State visits the Glass Bowl on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m., ESPN+).
The Rockets (1-1) are fresh off a dominant 45-21 win over Western Kentucky in last week’s home opener. In front of more than 24,000 fans, Toledo jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the game was even three minutes old and never looked back, building a 45-7 cushion before cruising through the fourth quarter.
Senior running back Chip Trayanum powered the offense with a career-best 163 rushing yards on just 14 carries. He found the end zone twice on the ground—including a 75-yard burst—and added his first career touchdown catch. Wideout Junior Vandeross III also came up big, hauling in five passes for 122 yards and a score.
The defense more than did its part, silencing a WKU passing attack that came in averaging 400 yards per game. The Hilltoppers managed only 59 yards on the ground, turned it over twice, and saw quarterback Maverick McIvor sacked twice by the Rockets’ front.
The victory gave Jason Candle his 74th career win, moving him past Gary Pinkel as the program’s all-time wins leader.
Now comes Morgan State (0-2), a team still searching for its first win under fourth-year head coach Damon Wilson. The Bears opened the season with a 38-21 loss at South Alabama, then dropped a tight rivalry matchup with Towson, 27-22. Running back Jason Collins Jr., the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year and Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, is their headliner. Collins ran for 134 yards and two scores against Towson and is the clear focal point of their offense. Quarterback Kobe Muasau, who won the job out of camp, showed flashes last week with 214 passing yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Morgan is anchored by linebacker Erick Hunter, the MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and a Buchanan Award watch list selection. He ranks sixth on the program’s all-time tackles list and has the ability to change a game on his own.
Saturday’s contest is the first-ever meeting between the two schools. It also doubles as a “Gold Out” at the Glass Bowl. Toledo enters with plenty of momentum and a remarkable track record against FCS opponents: the Rockets are 29-1 all-time, with 24 straight wins.
For Candle and company, the game offers a chance to fine-tune things before MAC play begins. For Morgan State, it’s another opportunity to measure themselves against an FBS opponent while trying to end a drought that stretches back to their last winning season in 2009.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+, with local coverage beginning at 2:30 on the Rocket Radio Network.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
