If MACtion is supposed to be chaotic, goofy, and allergic to logic, someone forgot to tell Toledo’s defense. Because Wednesday night in Oxford? The Rockets pulled up to Yager Stadium and treated Miami’s offense like it owed them money. A 24–3 final doesn’t even fully capture the chokehold Toledo put on the RedHawks, a performance so suffocating it felt like the entire game was played inside a weighted blanket.
Miami came in 5–5, still alive for a MAC East push, still clinging to bowl hopes, still believing midweek magic could tilt their way. Instead, they ran into a Toledo unit that is currently handing out existential crises like free samples. Six sacks. Three picks. Ninety-seven yards allowed in the first half. This wasn’t bend-don’t-break — this was bend-don’t-breathe.
And just like that, we’ve got a five-team logjam for second place in the MAC. November football, baby.
If you tuned in expecting fireworks in the opening quarter, you probably regretted skipping NBA League Pass. Neither team scored, but don’t let the 0–0 fool you — the energy was pure “both of us forgot our homework.” Miami actually had the early momentum thanks to a pair of interceptions from Eli Coppess and Eli Blakey, who were basically running a pop-up shop for takeaway souvenirs. One pick in the end zone, another deep in their own territory. Early on, it felt like Miami’s defense was keeping them in a game their offense was playing on airplane mode.
But Toledo wasn’t rattled. They took the punches, recalibrated, then made Miami pay for giving them extra possessions.
Midway through the second quarter, the Rockets snapped the scoring drought with a no-nonsense, 46-yard touchdown drive capped by Chip Trayanum — a man built like the gym itself — bulldozing in from three yards out. Ball security? Good. Leverage? Great. Momentum? Changing.
Then came the moment everything swung.
With time draining in the half, Toledo’s Bryson Hammer turned a routine punt into the football equivalent of tossing gasoline on a campfire. He caught it, hit the throttle, and 54 yards later the Rockets were gift-wrapped field position inside the Miami six after a penalty added insult to injury.
That was all Tucker Gleason needed. One play. One strike to tight end Jacob Petersen. Suddenly it was 14–0, and Miami looked like someone unplugged their controller.
The whole thing took seconds but effectively cracked the game open. You could almost hear Toledo’s sideline saying, “Oh, so that’s how we’re playing tonight.”
Any hope of a Miami comeback evaporated as soon as the second half kicked off.
First drive: Gleason dropped back and hit Ryder Treadway over the middle for a 24-yard touchdown. Clean pocket, clean route, clean execution. Toledo now up 21–0, and the mood inside Yager could’ve powered a therapy session.
Then, because the Rockets apparently hadn’t maxed out their defensive flex, Braden Awls — who leads the MAC in picking off quarterbacks for sport — jumped a Miami throw and set up another Toledo score, this time a 36-yard field goal to stretch it to 24–0.
Ballgame. Go ahead and warm up the bus.
Credit to the RedHawks: they didn’t fully fold. D’Shawntae Jones converted a pair of gutsy 4th-and-1 plays to give Miami a pulse, and Dom Dzioban drilled a 26-yard field goal to erase the shutout. That kick was his 11th straight — the man is borderline automatic at this point, 15-for-17 on the season.
Kam Perry led all Miami receivers with 69 yards, and Malcolm McCain was everywhere defensively, stacking up eight tackles and a forced fumble in a career night. Miami forced three turnovers, tied their season high, and the defense genuinely gave them chances.
But the offense just couldn’t come along for the ride. Two fourth-quarter drives pushed deep into Toledo territory, both fizzled. No touchdowns. No sustained rhythm. Too many sacks. Too many negative plays. Too much Toledo.
The RedHawks finished with just 222 total yards. When the MACtion dust settled, it felt like Miami brought a knife to a laser tag match.
The Rockets weren’t explosive — they were methodical and merciless. Gleason finished with two touchdown passes and joined rare Toledo company, climbing to fifth all-time in career TD throws (53).
Trayanum extended his streak to seven straight games with a rushing touchdown, finishing with 96 yards on 21 carries. Just a smooth 4.5 yards per attempt against a respectable Miami front.
Junior Vandeross III continued his climb up Toledo’s record books with six catches, pushing him to seventh all-time in career receptions. Treadway added four catches and a touchdown in his own right.
But the real celebrities of the night wore numbers associated with linebackers and safeties. D’Appolonia. Sherman. Bowers. Awls. Smith.
Six sacks. Three picks. Under 100 yards allowed in the first half.
If defenses got NIL money for destruction, Toledo’s unit would be all driving matching G-Wagons by Thursday.
Every game has a hinge. A moment where momentum stopped being a suggestion and became a legal requirement.
This one was Hammer’s punt return.
Without it, maybe Miami goes into half down just 7–0, tight game, plenty to script. But that return — and Miami’s penalty — created a cheat code scoring drive. One throw, seven seconds, and the Rockets walked into the locker room feeling like they’d solved the whole equation.
From that moment on, Toledo dictated everything. Miami was stuck playing uphill in roller skates.
Not a busy stat sheet — just efficient devastation.
For Toledo: The 16th-straight bowl berth is officially locked in. That streak is the sixth-longest in the country, and it doesn’t feel like they’re done climbing. At 6–4 and now tied for second in the MAC, they’re lurking right behind Western Michigan with November chaos on the horizon. As Head Coach Jason Candle put it, they’re “playing meaningful games in November.” And that’s where legends — or heartburn — are made.
For Miami: The season isn’t sunk, but the margin for error is gone. Sitting at 5–5, the RedHawks need one more win for bowl eligibility, and the visit to Buffalo next Wednesday suddenly feels enormous. The defense is doing enough. The offense needs to find a spark. Preferably before MACtion eats them alive.
Toledo didn’t just win — they imposed their will. Miami didn’t just lose — they ran into a defense currently moonlighting as a demolition crew.
If you love offense, this wasn’t your game. If you love violence disguised as football, you probably saved it to your DVR.
Next up: Toledo hosts Ball State. Miami heads to Buffalo. November MACtion is officially in its villain arc.
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