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TOLEDO ROCKETS -3 *even @ UTEP MINERS *OVER 61
Toledo (8-3, 6-2 MAC) at Texas-El Paso (8-3, 5-3 C-USA) @ 8:00 PM. EST. *ESPN
GAME NOTES: The Toledo Rockets will take the field for their fourth bowl game in five years when they battle the Texas-El Paso Miners in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on December 21st. The Rockets, who have a 7-2 record in post- season play, will be making their 10th bowl appearance in school history. Unfortunately Toledo has lost two straight bowl games, falling to Boston College 51-25 in 2002 and last season to Connecticut, 39-10. Toledo opened the season on fire, winning six of its first seven games, however the team faltered at the end of the year, going just 2-2 to close out the season. The Rockets finished the year co-champions of the West Division in the Mid- American Conference with Northern Illinois, but the Huskies advanced to the MAC title game thanks to a 35-17 victory over Toledo on November 16th. Since 1997 when the MAC split into two divisions, the Rockets have claimed at least a part of the West Division title seven out of the nine years. As for the Miners, they will be making just their third postseason appearance since 1988. It is also the first time the Miners will be making back-to-back bowl appearances since 1954. Overall UTEP has made 11 bowl appearances, but has just a 5-6 record in postseason play and has not won a bowl contest since 1967 when the Miners defeated Mississippi 14-7 in the Sun Bowl. The Miners opened their campaign by winning eight of their first nine games. Unfortunately, UTEP struggled at the end of the season, losing its last two contests of the year to UAB (35-23) and SMU (40-27). This will be the first-ever meeting between UTEP and Toledo on the gridiron.
From start to finish this season the Rockets' offensive unit was simply stellar, averaging 34.9 ppg behind an impressive 445.2 ypg. The main reason for Toledo's success was due to the team's rushing attack which ranked 12th the in the nation. The Rockets produced an outstanding 221.6 ypg on the ground, but Toledo was no one trick pony, as the team also collected 223.5 ypg through the air. Trinity Dawson did the majority of the damage on the ground for the Rockets, rushing for 1,170 yards and five scores in 11 games. Dawson's effort on the season earned him First Team All-MAC honors. Quinton Broussard was also reliable out of the backfield, collecting 467 yards and five scores, while posting an impressive 7.7 ypc. As for the passing attack, Bruce Gradkowski was sensational throughout, throwing for 2,171 yards and 24 scores against just 10 interceptions. Gradkowski completed 62.6 percent of his passes en route to capturing Co-MVP accolades in the MAC. Five different receivers caught over 20 passes this season, with Steve Odom leading the way 50 catches for 593 yards and five touchdowns.
The team's success on the offensive side of the ball overshadowed the team's play on defense, as the Rockets allowed just 22.5 ppg behind only 323.4 ypg. The unit played strong against both the pass and run, permitting just 191.2 ypg through the air, while surrendering only 132.2 ypg on the ground. The team also had the ability to make big plays, forcing 23 turnovers, while recording 28 sacks on the season. It was an all around strong season for Toledo on this side of the football and because of that some players were rewarded for their efforts. Mike Alston and safety Keon Jackson were named to the First-Team All- MAC squad, while linebacker Anthony Jordan was tagged for the Second-Team. Alston recorded 69 tackles, but led the team with 9.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. As for Jackson, he collected 69 stops, 4.5 TFLs and a team-high four interceptions. While both players had strong seasons, Jordan had the best year for the defense, leading the team with 100 tackles to go along with 9.0 TFLs, four sacks and two interceptions.
Much like their counterpart, the Miners were strong on the offensive side of the ball for the majority of the season, averaging 33.5 ppg behind an impressive 438.0 ypg. The team posted just 127.5 ypg on the ground, but the passing attack is what gave opponents problems throughout the year, as UTEP finished the season with the sixth-ranked passing attack in the nation, collecting 310.5 ypg. Out of the team's 42 touchdowns, 28 came through the air. The ground game was paced by the tandem of Marcus Thomas and Ebell Tyler. Thomas led the Miners with 720 yards and five scores, while Ebell added 536 rushing yards, also finding the end zone five times. As for the passing attack, Jordan Palmer, who was named to the Second-Team of the All-Conference- USA squad, threw for 3,340 yards and 28 scores, while completing 60.8 percent of his passes. Jordan holds six all-time records at UTEP, including passing touchdowns (61) and passing yardage (7,326) and also became just the third player in school history to finish a season with over 3,000 passing yards. Palmer had no problem sharing the wealth this year, as seven different players finished the season with over 20 receptions. The two main targets for the majority of the season were Johnnie Lee Higgins and Chris Francies. Higgins, who was also named to the Second-Team All-C-USA squad, led the Miners in receptions (47), receiving yards (807) and touchdowns (8), while Francies added 42 catches for 751 yards and five scores.
Defensively the Miners had some trouble against the run throughout the season, allowing 160.4 ypg on the ground, but overall the unit was solid, permitting just 24.2 ppg behind only 364.8 ypg. Despite being abused on the ground, only 12 of the 32 touchdowns allowed by the Miners came from their opponents' rushing attack. UTEP only forced 21 turnovers on the season, but was able to record 29 sacks, while holding the opposition to a meager 35 percent on third down attempts. Jeremy Jones, who was named to the All-C-USA Second-Team, led the Miners with 121 tackles and 13.5 TFLs. Jones also recorded three sacks and forced four fumbles. Troy Collavo and Alex Obomese also put forth strong efforts throughout the season, as Collavo tallied 98 stops and 11.0 TFLs, while Obomese recorded 56 tackles to go along with 10.5 TFLs and a team-high 6.5 sacks.
Expect a high-scoring, thrilling battle between the high-powered Toledo rushing attack and extremely efficient UTEP aerial assault. Both teams will most likely find the end zone early and often, however look for the Rockets to walk away with a slim victory.
TOLEDO ROCKETS -3 *even @ UTEP MINERS *OVER 61
Toledo (8-3, 6-2 MAC) at Texas-El Paso (8-3, 5-3 C-USA) @ 8:00 PM. EST. *ESPN
GAME NOTES: The Toledo Rockets will take the field for their fourth bowl game in five years when they battle the Texas-El Paso Miners in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on December 21st. The Rockets, who have a 7-2 record in post- season play, will be making their 10th bowl appearance in school history. Unfortunately Toledo has lost two straight bowl games, falling to Boston College 51-25 in 2002 and last season to Connecticut, 39-10. Toledo opened the season on fire, winning six of its first seven games, however the team faltered at the end of the year, going just 2-2 to close out the season. The Rockets finished the year co-champions of the West Division in the Mid- American Conference with Northern Illinois, but the Huskies advanced to the MAC title game thanks to a 35-17 victory over Toledo on November 16th. Since 1997 when the MAC split into two divisions, the Rockets have claimed at least a part of the West Division title seven out of the nine years. As for the Miners, they will be making just their third postseason appearance since 1988. It is also the first time the Miners will be making back-to-back bowl appearances since 1954. Overall UTEP has made 11 bowl appearances, but has just a 5-6 record in postseason play and has not won a bowl contest since 1967 when the Miners defeated Mississippi 14-7 in the Sun Bowl. The Miners opened their campaign by winning eight of their first nine games. Unfortunately, UTEP struggled at the end of the season, losing its last two contests of the year to UAB (35-23) and SMU (40-27). This will be the first-ever meeting between UTEP and Toledo on the gridiron.
From start to finish this season the Rockets' offensive unit was simply stellar, averaging 34.9 ppg behind an impressive 445.2 ypg. The main reason for Toledo's success was due to the team's rushing attack which ranked 12th the in the nation. The Rockets produced an outstanding 221.6 ypg on the ground, but Toledo was no one trick pony, as the team also collected 223.5 ypg through the air. Trinity Dawson did the majority of the damage on the ground for the Rockets, rushing for 1,170 yards and five scores in 11 games. Dawson's effort on the season earned him First Team All-MAC honors. Quinton Broussard was also reliable out of the backfield, collecting 467 yards and five scores, while posting an impressive 7.7 ypc. As for the passing attack, Bruce Gradkowski was sensational throughout, throwing for 2,171 yards and 24 scores against just 10 interceptions. Gradkowski completed 62.6 percent of his passes en route to capturing Co-MVP accolades in the MAC. Five different receivers caught over 20 passes this season, with Steve Odom leading the way 50 catches for 593 yards and five touchdowns.
The team's success on the offensive side of the ball overshadowed the team's play on defense, as the Rockets allowed just 22.5 ppg behind only 323.4 ypg. The unit played strong against both the pass and run, permitting just 191.2 ypg through the air, while surrendering only 132.2 ypg on the ground. The team also had the ability to make big plays, forcing 23 turnovers, while recording 28 sacks on the season. It was an all around strong season for Toledo on this side of the football and because of that some players were rewarded for their efforts. Mike Alston and safety Keon Jackson were named to the First-Team All- MAC squad, while linebacker Anthony Jordan was tagged for the Second-Team. Alston recorded 69 tackles, but led the team with 9.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. As for Jackson, he collected 69 stops, 4.5 TFLs and a team-high four interceptions. While both players had strong seasons, Jordan had the best year for the defense, leading the team with 100 tackles to go along with 9.0 TFLs, four sacks and two interceptions.
Much like their counterpart, the Miners were strong on the offensive side of the ball for the majority of the season, averaging 33.5 ppg behind an impressive 438.0 ypg. The team posted just 127.5 ypg on the ground, but the passing attack is what gave opponents problems throughout the year, as UTEP finished the season with the sixth-ranked passing attack in the nation, collecting 310.5 ypg. Out of the team's 42 touchdowns, 28 came through the air. The ground game was paced by the tandem of Marcus Thomas and Ebell Tyler. Thomas led the Miners with 720 yards and five scores, while Ebell added 536 rushing yards, also finding the end zone five times. As for the passing attack, Jordan Palmer, who was named to the Second-Team of the All-Conference- USA squad, threw for 3,340 yards and 28 scores, while completing 60.8 percent of his passes. Jordan holds six all-time records at UTEP, including passing touchdowns (61) and passing yardage (7,326) and also became just the third player in school history to finish a season with over 3,000 passing yards. Palmer had no problem sharing the wealth this year, as seven different players finished the season with over 20 receptions. The two main targets for the majority of the season were Johnnie Lee Higgins and Chris Francies. Higgins, who was also named to the Second-Team All-C-USA squad, led the Miners in receptions (47), receiving yards (807) and touchdowns (8), while Francies added 42 catches for 751 yards and five scores.
Defensively the Miners had some trouble against the run throughout the season, allowing 160.4 ypg on the ground, but overall the unit was solid, permitting just 24.2 ppg behind only 364.8 ypg. Despite being abused on the ground, only 12 of the 32 touchdowns allowed by the Miners came from their opponents' rushing attack. UTEP only forced 21 turnovers on the season, but was able to record 29 sacks, while holding the opposition to a meager 35 percent on third down attempts. Jeremy Jones, who was named to the All-C-USA Second-Team, led the Miners with 121 tackles and 13.5 TFLs. Jones also recorded three sacks and forced four fumbles. Troy Collavo and Alex Obomese also put forth strong efforts throughout the season, as Collavo tallied 98 stops and 11.0 TFLs, while Obomese recorded 56 tackles to go along with 10.5 TFLs and a team-high 6.5 sacks.
Expect a high-scoring, thrilling battle between the high-powered Toledo rushing attack and extremely efficient UTEP aerial assault. Both teams will most likely find the end zone early and often, however look for the Rockets to walk away with a slim victory.