In the opening week at Kentucky, Toledo’s defense delivered but the Rockets were left wanting more offensively. In the following week vs. Western Kentucky, every side of the ball clicked perfectly as Toledo dominated the Hilltoppers 45-21 at the Glass Bowl.
It only took three minutes and eight seconds of game time for the Rockets to establish a commanding 14-0 lead at the Glass Bowl. WKU running back Marvis Parrish fumbled on the second snap of the game, and Toledo star free safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was in the area for his second recovery of the young season. The quick turnover positioned running back Chip Trayanum for a 1-yard touchdown run, and McNeil-Warren went straight to work as the defense retook the field.
McNeil-Warren logged a spectacular end zone interception in last year’s loss at WKU, but this year he one-upped himself. The senior picked one off in zone coverage near the sideline, running 37 yards untouched for his first collegiate defensive touchdown.
The high-powered WKU passing offense responded with a touchdown of its own on a 7-yard connection between Maverick McIvor and Matthew Henry, but that was the last positive moment for the WKU offense until the result was essentially decided. Toledo went on a 31-0 scoring run spanning from the late first quarter to the 5:30 mark of the third thanks to the explosive playmaking of Trayanum and Junior Vandeross III.
Trayanum, at his fourth school after stops at Arizona State, Ohio State, and Kentucky, found a welcoming home at the Glass Bowl as he generated 163 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in his first game there. Trayanum scored from a yard out on Toledo’s opening drive. Then he caught a 10-yard rollout pass from Tucker Gleason toward the end of the first quarter.
But he saved his best highlight for the initial play of the third quarter. With Toledo snapping from its own 25-yard line, Trayanum handled a pitch to the left sideline and immediately knew he was running for six. Prior to even reaching his own 30, Trayanum lifted a celebratory finger in the air, assured he would win a footrace against the WKU defense. That, he did. Trayanum produced the most single-game rushing yards for the Rockets since Peny Boone in November 2023, and there were still 91 leftover yards for Kenji Christian. Overall, Toledo managed 307 rushing yards as a team at a 7.3 average — a vast improvement from its Week 1 output.
The other star propelling the Rocket launch was Vandeross. The 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl MVP reached 100 yards for his sixth time in Toledo colors. Vandeross’ home run play occurred in the second quarter when he burned the WKU defense and corralled a 71-yard touchdown on a deep ball from Gleason. The All-MAC receiver finished with five receptions for 122 yards in the victory.
The same offensive success was not replicated by the Hilltoppers. WKU never established a ground game and registered just 59 yards on 28 attempts in its first road trip of 2025. McIvor, who had 706 passing yards and eight touchdowns through two contests, finished 28-of-38 with 235 yards, tossing his first misfire of the season on the pick-six to McNeil-Warren. WKU managed a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to soften the blow on the scoreboard, but Toledo led 45-7 with 5:30 remaining in the third. Thus, head coach Jason Candle spent the final frame letting his backups eat in the dominant victory.
WKU (2-1, 1-0 CUSA) is one of eight FBS teams to play three games this year. The Hilltoppers’ path to undefeated finally falls in the Glass Bowl as Toledo exacted revenge for WKU’s 26-21 victory in 2024. Head coach Tyson Helton and the Hilltoppers finally get a breather in Week 3 before returning home for another non-conference matchup vs. Nevada.
Toledo (1-1, 0-0 MAC) is on the board for its first victory of 2025. The MAC favorites showcased excellence in offense, defense, and special teams in their 2025 home opener to land a dominant victory over a Conference USA contender. The Rockets remain at the Glass Bowl another week, hosting Morgan State of the FCS next Saturday.
