Gary Pinkel last won on Toledo’s home field came on November 22, 2000. It was a Wednesday night conference match-up against Bowling Green. That drought ended Saturday afternoon as Pinkel’s No. 24 Missouri Tigers (2-0) managed to keep Toledo (1-1) at a distance, winning 49-24.
A quick glance at the box score would suggest this was a pretty even contest between the SEC and MAC schools, but Missouri built up a 35-7 lead on the Rockets midway through the third quarter. Missouri was well on their way to a victory on the rare SEC road trip to a MAC school. Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk passed or 325 yards and five touchdowns in the win. Mauk also added a touchdown run and 36 rushing yards to his stat line, just for good measure.
Bud Sasser was Missouri’s leading receiver with five receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown, but four different players caught a touchdown pass from Mauk in this one. Toledo got a big game from their running back, Kareem Hunt. Hunt rushed for a game-high 148 yards and three touchdowns, but Missouri’s offense had done its job early enough to limit the damage ultimately done by Hunt and the Rockets.
Missouri will return home net weekend for a match-up with UCF. The Knights had a bye week this weekend after losing in the final seconds against Penn State in Ireland in week one. UCF has named Justin Holman the new starting quarterback for next weekend’s game. Holman gave the UCF offense a spark against Penn State in last weekend’s game. UCF is one of the favorites in the American Athletic Conference this season.
Toledo will take on the preseason AAC favorite, Cincinnati, next weekend. The Rockets will take to the road to play at Cincinnati on Friday night. Due to some bizarre scheduling, this will actually be Cincinnati’s season opener.
