Toledo defeats Central Michigan 44-17

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Adonis Thomas rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns and Terrance Owens passed for two scores as Toledo kept its Mid-American Conference title hope alive with a 44-17 victory against Central Michigan on Friday night.

Both of Owens’ TD passes came in the second half as the Rockets (7-4, 6-1) broke the game open. Toledo sits atop the MAC West Division with Northern Illinois, but the Huskies own the tiebreaker thanks to their 66-63 win when the teams met on Nov. 1.

Next week, Toledo visits Ball State, needing a win and a Northern Illinois loss at home gainst Eastern Michigan to advance to the conference title game.

Ryan Radcliff was 20 of 37 passing for 233 yards and two touchdowns for the Chippewas (3-9, 2-6).

The Rockets led 14-10 in the second quarter before Jeremiah Detmer padded the lead with two field goals before halftime. Owens threw 39 yards to James Green for a TD early in the third quarter, and his 51-yard scoring toss to Bernard Reedy in the fourth quarter made the score 37-10.

Owens was 24 of 32 for 275 yards passing, and he added a 5-yard TD run with 1:17 remaining.