Three takeaways from Toledo's win over Bowling Green

Toledo quarterback Eli Peters threw for three touchdowns against Bowling Green on Saturday at the Glass Bowl.

BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

Toledo quarterback Eli Peters threw for three touchdowns against Bowling Green on Saturday at the Glass Bowl.

The University of Toledo kept the Battle of I-75 trophy for the ninth consecutive season with a 52-36 win Saturday against Bowling Green at the Glass Bowl. The Rockets jumped out to an early 17-0 lead and pulled away late in what was a tightly contested battle throughout. 

Here are three takeaways from Toledo’s win: 

1. Peters fills in admirably: Sophomore Eli Peters played mistake-free football in his first career start and threw for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Thrust into action after starter Mitch Guadagni suffered a concussion the week before at Fresno State, Peters was in firm control of the offense.

2. Special teams come up big again: Toledo got a big boost early in the game when starting tight end Reggie Gilliam blocked a punt from Bowling Green’s Grant Tinnerman. That gave Toledo a short field they capitalized on with a touchdown on the way to a 17-0 lead. The Rockets also blocked a BG field goal that would have tied the score at 24 at halftime. Diontae Johnson returned a punt and a kickoff for a score, but both were called back by penalties.

3. Defensive miscues stand out: Bowling Green running back Andrew Clair exposed the defense on several plays, including touchdown runs of 15 and 60 yards where he went untouched. Then he came out of the backfield unguarded and raced 61 yards on a scoring reception. The big plays haunted the Rockets once again, and they allowed 192 rushing yards to a normally pedestrian rushing attack.