TOLEDO UPSETS MICHIGAN

October 11, 2008 - Toledo's defense, helped by three interceptions, held Michigan scoreless in the second half on the way to a 13-10 victory, the first win in the Big House ever by a MAC team.

With Michigan driving inside UT's ten midway in the first quarter, safety Tyrrell Herbert came up with maybe the biggest play of the game. The senior safety stepped in front of a Michigan receiver to grab quarterback Steven Threet's pass and returned it 100 yards for a Rocket touchdown. It was the longest interception return for a touchdown in Michigan Stadium history and in UT football history.

Herbert said that he was hoping he wouldn't run out of gas as he raced for the end-zone. He was watching the video board, and saw UM players closing in on him, but he had enough to cross the goal line and put Toledo up 7-0.

Michigan scored with only 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter as Threet hooked up with Brandon Minor for a 27-yard catch and run to tie the game at seven.

On the Wolverines' next possession, they drove to the UT sixteen, but the Rockets' defense held on three straight running plays and Michigan had to settle for a field goal and a 10-7 lead.

Toledo missed a 21-yard field goal on their next possession because of a poor snap, and neither team had a serious scoring threat the remainder of the half.

UT had only 15 rushing yards at half-time, but on the flip side, they held Michigan's passing game to only 55 yards.

The second half opened with Aaron Opelt driving the team deep into Michigan territory, but they stalled at UM's eleven. Alex Steigerwald made a 29-yard field goal to even the score at ten all.

It looked like the Rockets had a real chance for the upset when Steigerwald made a career long 48-yard kick that hit the crossbar and bounced over with 11:46 remaining in the game to give UT a 13-10 lead.

Although Toledo never threatened to score again, UT's defense stepped up to shut down four Michigan drives in the fourth quarter. Herbert and freshman safety Mark Singer both had interceptions, and Toledo forced Michigan to try a 26-yard field goal with time running out after they couldn't punch the ball in from inside the Rocket twenty. The field goal try went wide left and UT had one of the biggest victories in the program's history.

Senior wide receiver Nick Moore was the bright spot of the UT offense as he set a school record with 20 receptions. "I'm just glad our team stuck together in hard times," he said. "After coming off of three loses at home, coming into Michigan Stadium and getting a big victory does a tremendous amount for our season."

Opelt completed 33 of 50 passes for 257 yards, and most important didn't throw an interception. "We came out and executed our game plan and we got that done today," he said.

Head coach Tom Amstutz said that maybe the biggest win of the day was that the players learned that when things aren't going great, you have to stay together as a team and learn what it takes to win a game. Mission accomplished on that one, and against the winningest team in college football history at their place in front of 107,000 screaming fans.