ROCKETS OVERWHELM NEW HAMPSHIRE IN OPENER

Toledo needed this. A fast start against a good opponent in the Glass Bowl to prepare for a string of three straight difficult games against Ohio State, Boise State and Syracuse.

By taking it to New Hampshire 58-22, the Rockets proved they were a better, more diverse team than last season, and that Ohio State can expect a very competitive team when UT opens up its full offensive package next week in Columbus.

As good as Toledo played, New Hampshire was its own worst enemy, turning the ball over five times, often setting up Toledo scoring drives.

UT was ahead 27-0 before New Hampshire was able to get on the board with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Ryan Casano's second field goal of the first half put Toledo up  30-8 at the intermission.

With a big offensive line that was dominating the Wildcats, UT had 167 rushing yards and 161 passing.

Morgan Williams grabbed a 15-yard Austin Dantin pass to open the third quarter scoring, and when Dantin found a wide open Bernard Reedy over the middle for a 63-yard score, the rout was really on.

Early in the fourth quarter, Terrance Owens connected with tight end Danny Noble for an eight yard score to increase the lead to 51-15.

Dwight Macon replaced Owens and proceeded to lead UT on another scoring drive, with Macon taking the ball into the end-zone with 2:06 remaining.

UNH freshman tailback Nico Steriti closed out the scoring with an 87-yard run down the right sideline.

Toledo out-gained the Wildcats 591 to 332 yards in total offense with no turnovers.

"They ran around us. They ran over us. They ran through us," New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell said.

With all of the good things happening for the Rockets, maybe the most important was that the kicking game excelled. Casano drilled three field goals and showed that he is a threat at beyond forty yards. Freshman J.D. Detmer was doing the kickoffs, and was getting the ball inside the five yard line on a regular basis.

Both  Dantin and Owens looked good for the first game of the season. Dantin got the most work, and completed 15 of 21 passes for 161 yards. Owens threw for 122 yards on 10 of 13 passing.

Adonis Thomas had a strong rushing game with 115 yards on only nine carries.

Bernard Reedy and Eric Page both caught five passes to lead Toledo, and Page was outstanding returning punts and kickoffs.

Charles Rancifer and Robert Bell each had eight tackles against the Wildcats.

"I'm proud of the way this senior group led this football team," head coach Tim Beckman said. "I can't be more tickled to death. They set a goal to be the first senior group since 2005 to win an opener and they came out and played four quarters of football."