Toledo did all of its scoring before halftime and let its defense do the rest, shutting out Massachusetts 24-0 on Wednesday night at the Glass Bowl to stay in a four-way tie atop the Mid-American Conference, the University of Toledo’s athletics department reported.
The Rockets (8-2, 5-1 MAC) scored in the first quarter on Connor Walendzak’s 69-yard touchdown run, then exploded for 17 more points in the second quarter, according to Toledo athletics. The win keeps Toledo tied with Buffalo, Ohio and Western Michigan for first place in the MAC standings with two weeks to play.
The scoring sequence was quick and complete. Walendzak broke free for the 69-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat formation, capping a five-play, 90-yard drive, Toledo athletics reported. A 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter made it 10-0, and Nicholas Thompson’s 62-yard interception return for a touchdown pushed the lead to 17-0. Walendzak scored his second touchdown late in the first half on a 17-yard pass from John Alan Richter, and the 24-0 halftime score stood through a scoreless second half, according to Toledo athletics.
Walendzak delivered the performance in his return from injury, running for a career-high 117 yards on 14 carries and catching three passes for 41 yards, Toledo athletics reported. He is up to 11 total touchdowns in eight games this season and has scored multiple touchdowns three times. CJ Miller added 83 rushing yards on 15 carries, Adjatay Dabbs caught seven passes for a season-high 144 yards, and Richter completed 13 of 22 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, according to Toledo athletics.
The defense was the story of the night. Massachusetts never reached the red zone, Toledo athletics reported, and the Rockets totaled 10 tackles for loss — the second consecutive week in double digits — along with three sacks. Julian Fox led Toledo with eight tackles, including a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, and Andrew Zock added six tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries, according to Toledo athletics. Toledo held Massachusetts to 3 of 15 on third down and 1 of 4 on fourth down.
Against the run, the dominance has become a trend: Massachusetts managed 67 yards on 28 attempts, and Toledo has allowed just 75 rushing yards on 59 carries over its last two games, Toledo athletics reported. In all, Toledo outgained Massachusetts 436-188, the Associated Press reported.
Massachusetts (5-5, 2-4 MAC) lost starting quarterback William “Pop” Watson III to a lower-body injury on the third play of the game, the University of Massachusetts’ athletics department reported. Backup Logan Inagawa completed 10 of 27 passes for 99 yards with an interception, according to Massachusetts athletics.
The shutout carries a bit of history: Toledo has now posted shutouts in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1992-93, having blanked Morgan State 60-0 on Sept. 13, 2025, according to Toledo athletics’ game notes.
The MAC race is the bigger picture. Four teams — Toledo, Buffalo, Ohio and Western Michigan — sit at 5-1 in league play with two weeks left, and the Rockets control their own path to the conference championship game if they keep winning. Toledo’s other northwest Ohio programs are rolling too: Toledo’s volleyball team topped Bowling Green in four sets Saturday to close the regular season, and No. 9 Findlay routed Tiffin 30-7 to improve to 10-1.
What happens next is the game Toledo circles every year: the Rockets close their home schedule Friday, Nov. 20, when they host archrival Bowling Green in the 91st edition of the Battle of I-75 at the Glass Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., with the game televised nationally on ESPN2, Toledo athletics reported.