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By Karl Rofkar To the fans outside before the game, Iowa State looked to be a make-or-break event for the struggling University of Toledo Rockets. Indeed, the Rockets had been blasted for nearly 50 points a game in the first 3 weeks of the season, and injuries were piling up. After signs of improvement each week, the Rockets still fell in what ended up being blow-out final scores. Coming into last Saturday, the fans were beginning to wonder if the team had ANY wins in its near future. In talking with players and coaches the previous week, the words said the Rockets were staying positive, working hard, and were going after a win against Iowa State. The words were right, but something didn't feel right. The faces, the tone of voice, something said they weren't at all sure of themselves. But in true Midnight Blue and Gold fashion, they got through their 24-hour period after that Kansas game and got down to business during practice. Toledo opened up the game trading body blows with the Cyclones, trailing by only 4, 28-24, with over 8 minutes left in the game. Toledo was held short of a first down at their own 35, needing 8 yards for the first down to keep a drive alive. Fans throughout the stadium had a sinking feeling, and sure enough, the fake punt was on, coming up 5 yards short and giving the Cyclones the ball at the Toledo 39. A few plays later the Rockets found themselves looking down an 11 point hole with 5:25 left on the clock. It looked pretty hopeless at this point, the Rockets needing at least 2 scores to tie the game or go ahead. The stands began to empty on the fake punt play, and the fans that were left were treated to some old time Toledo Rockets magic. Jalen Parmele took the ensuing kickoff at his own 18 yard line and headed up the right sideline. He kept going straight ahead, picking his steps, the small holes ahead of him, speeding up and slowing down, for about 30 yards when he finally broke into the open and headed for the south endzone. Coach Amstutz elected to go for 2 to close it to 3 point game, but the play failed. The kick return took 17 seconds to cover that 82 yards, and suddently the Good Guys were right back in it. One sensed an urgency from the players, and hope jumped back into the picture as Big Mo came and sat on the Toledo side of the field. The Rockets defense held ISU deep in their own end and forced a punt with about 3:30 left on the clock. There was indeed hope. On the ensuing snap, the ball shot low at the punter's feet, and squirted through. While he tried to pick it up (instead of kicking it out of bounds), Greg Hay dove and slapped the ball to the east sideline where it bounced into the endzone. By the time it got to the goal line, Hay had regained his feet and covered the ball in the endzone for another Rocket touchdown. Score: 36-35 Toledo. Toledo was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the celebration that erupted and that 15 yards was assessed on the kickoff. Again the Rockets went for 2, and again failed, giving ISU one last gasp with 3:22 to play. ISU got a 30 yard return to set up shop on their own 48 with 3:16 left and needing only a field goal to dash the hopes of the players and few thousand remaining faithful. ISU got one first down, then another, finally being stopped at the Toledo 21, a near chip shot of a field goal attempt. ISU let the clock wind down to 14 seconds before calling timeout. When they returned, Amstutz called a timeout to ice the kicker who had made 5 of 5 attempts the previous week in a stunning win over Iowa. Or to further motivate his defense. Whichever it was, it worked. Greg Hay shot up the middle, Maurice Hill cut in from the side, both getting a hand on the kick and sending the ball spinning sideways helplessly fall wide left. The Rockets had secured their first win of the season and with it, perhaps learned how to win. So was this big? Iowa State fell to 1-3 on the season with the loss, and one might question the quality of the opponent, even though ISU is a member of BCS conference Big 12. You sure couldn't tell that to any of the players. The celebration in the locker room seemed louder and last longer than any in recent memory. One fan said he could hear the fight song coming from the locker room clear out on the 15 yard line, and I have no doubt it?s true. I had the chance to talk with players and Coach Amstutz a couple days later at the weekly press conference and asked each of them how important this game was for the team. Barry Church: "It was very, very important. Coming into the game, a couple people were doubting us, but we believed in ourselves and knew if we just go out there and played Rocket football we could come away with the victory. And after the game, morale was high, as we were just on top of world. That?s going to carry on to this week?s practice and hopefully morale is still high and we go out with Western Michigan and have a good game." Jalen Parmele: "Oh yeah. We came into this game, I think we were determined. Pregame, in the locker room, everbody was ready to go and riled up, came out and played our game." Greg Hay: "We made sure we got a W, whatever it took to take care of this game, cause we needed this game bad." Of the talk of it being a "do or die" kind of game: "I think so. All week in practice, everybody was saying 'do what it takes to win the game, just do whatever it takes, find a way, and we found a way.' Everybody just did their job, and some more than that." Coach Amstutz: "The players mean it. They understand, they believe in our program, they know the success we've had, they know they're working hard in practice to give themselves a chance to win. Football starts with enthusiasm and determination, and I think that was the difference in the ballgame." So now what? The game is over, the elation has worn down a bit, scrapes and bruises have begun to heal. After such an emotional win, the Rockets have to get ready to face the Western Michigan Broncos Saturday in the Glass Bowl for their 2nd MAC game. Toledo can?t afford to fall to 0-2 in MAC play if it hopes to play for the championship in December. Will the emotions of this ISU game carry over in a positive way, as Greg Hay hopes? Is there a risk of being TOO UP and falling flat next week? Certainly it's something that concerns coaches, and Amstutz is no different. Asked how to reign in the enthusiasm and get refocused, he laughed and said "at 3:30 they'll be yelled at like they've never won a game in their life." When told that one of the players said "they'll run us hard this week, make us wish we were at home," he said, "yes, we'll get back to working hard in practice and that will help get us refocused on Western Michigan." There's a long way to go for this team. The ugly start was aggravated by a lot of injuries, and some players have been lost for the season. Some freshmen have been asked to step up and play, one of them a walk-on who has performed admirably. But the Rockets have 6 home games in the next 7 weeks, and the Glass Bowl has very much been a place to get healthy. With a few injured players back, continued development of the young players, and a lot of hard work and a little luck, this could very well turn out to be a nice year for the Rockets. The winning started Saturday. Now it?s time for the building to begin for the stretch run. Have a question or comment for Karl? Email |