Eastern Michigan fell to Toledo 29-28 after Rockets defenseman Avery Smith broke up a pass on a 2-point conversion attempt on the final play of the game.
Toledo (6-3, 3-2), which erased a 12-point deficit in the second half, became bowl eligible for the 15th straight season. The Rockets have won 22 of the last 25 games against Eastern Michigan (5-4, 2-3).
Toledo called a timeout with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter to set up a play on fourth-and-1 at the EMU 25-yard line. Gleason rolled to his right and threw from short to tight end Thomas Zsiros, who raced to the end zone. Officials on the field ruled him out at the 2, but the on-field call was overturned and ruled a touchdown to make the score 29-22.
Toledo DE D’Andre Ragin sacked Cole Snyder first and then back-to-back incompletions led to a punt on fourth-and-20 with 1:25 to go. Toledo also went three-and-out, and EMU took over at the 18-yard line with 1:00 left and no timeouts.
EMU picked up three first downs to reach the Toledo 36-yard line with seven seconds left. Snyder’s heave into the end zone was caught by Terry Lockett Jr. as time expired to get within a point.
EMU lined up to go for the 2-point conversion, leading to a timeout for Toledo. The EMU offense came back on the field and Snyder’s throw to Lockett was knocked out of his hands by Smith.
Snyder finished with 265 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception for EMU Saturday.
Eastern Michigan will take on Ohio on Nov. 13.
SCARY MOMENT
Toledo LB Jeremiah Peters collapsed on the sideline after an EMU field goal. He was helped into an ambulance and ESPN later reported that he was stable and alert and continued to undergo tests at a nearby hospital.
