Haldi left in the cold

By Mark Pickrel

TOLEDO, Ohio – One quarterback was all smiles in the interview room at the postgame press conference.

Another stood distraught with his arms folded in front of him in the cold mist outside Toledo’s Glass Bowl, answering questions about his team’s 49-30 loss Saturday.

Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski threw only three incomplete passes the entire game, while NIU quarterback Josh Haldi threw three interceptions in Toledo’s 10th straight win over NIU.

“I didn’t make the right reads today,” Haldi said. “Their defense did a good job. I made too many mistakes. I gift-wrapped 14 points for them in the first half.”

Haldi started by completing his first two passes on a three-play, 65-yard scoring drive. The junior found senior wide receiver P.J. Fleck for a 39-yard catch, and then senior tight end Keith Perry from 25 yards out for the game’s first score.

Haldi found Perry and Fleck for back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter. Haldi’s three touchdown passes were masked by his three interceptions, all of which Toledo turned into points. Haldi has thrown five interceptions in the last three games.

Haldi’s second interception came when he was rolling left and tried to throw across his body to the middle of the field. Toledo defender Brandon Hefflin stepped in front of the pass for the interception.

“He really had one bad decision,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “It was a bad choice. He doesn’t make too many of them.”

Gradkowski began the game by completing his first 14 passes. For the game he was 24-of-27 (88 percent) with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Gradkowski is now fifth in the nation in passer efficiency rating. His 73 percent completion rate is the best in the nation.

“Bruce is a special football player,” Toledo coach Tom Amstutz said. “We are fortunate to have him. He gets better and better as the season goes on. He’s very efficient in what he does.”