ROCKETS DEFEAT CYCLONES

September 23, 2007 - Considering the football Rockets' numerous injuries and lack of success this season, it was about time that something good happened.

With UT's offense struggling to move the ball in the second half, and trailing 28-24, Tom Amstutz decided to try a fake punt at the Toledo 36. Punter Brett Kern took off running, but only gained three yards and Iowa State took over at the Rockets' 39. It took ISU less than three minutes to score and open up an eleven point lead.

While some would question going for a fake punt with less than eight minutes remaining in a tight game, Tom Amstutz said that he just got impatient for something to happen for the Rockets. "You can just blame me on that one," he said. "I wanted a first down. He (Kern) got through the first group of guys. If I had a punter with some speed I think we'd have it."

It looked bleak as Toledo prepared to receive the kickoff with 5:25 remaining in the game. Jalen Parmele received the kick at the 18 and broke through two waves of tacklers before sprinting down the sideline for a touchdown. A bad snap to quarterback Aaron Opelt stopped UT's try for two points, and the Rockets trailed 35-30 with 5:08 on the game clock.

On the next series, Iowa State punter Mike Brandtner got a bad snap, as the ball skipped past him and was eventually was recovered in the end-zone by safety Greg Hay. The two-point conversion failed but Toledo finally had some luck on its side, and a 36-35 lead with 3:22 remaining.

The Cyclones responded with a 30-yard punt return, and nine plays later lined up for a 38-yard field goal attempt for the win. When kicker Bret Culbertson's attempt went wide left, it was the end of UT's losing streak and finally a victory for the Rockets.

"We have been doing our job and trying to get better each day," Amstutz said. "There have been some rough times, but it's still been good. They still believed. As a coach, that's all you can ask. They gave everything they had on the field, and they deserved to have something good happen to them."

Toledo was out-gained by 100 yards in the game, and was on the losing side of almost every statistic. But they won by a single point, and maybe that's all they needed to face a tough Western Michigan team with renewed confidence, knowing that good things can happen.