Toledo Rockets vs Western Michigan Broncos Match Player Stats On Nov 25, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 25, 2016

Western Michigan's offense was clicking on all cylinders on Friday and the defense set the tone for the game on the very first play as the 21st-ranked Broncos' defeated Toledo 55-35 at Kalamazoo, Mich., in what essentially amounted to the Mid-American West Division title game.

With the win, the Broncos advance to the MAC championship game Dec. 2 at Ford Field in Detroit. Combined with Boise State's 27-20 loss on Friday to the Air Force, Western Michigan (12-0, 8-0 Mid-American) is now in the driver's seat to play in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2 and reap the rewards of the $6 million payday that comes with being the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion.

Zach Terrel came into the game completing more than 71 percent of his passes, and he was nearly flawless on Friday going 19 of 25 for only 196 yards. But he did throw for three scores, giving him 43 passing touchdowns for the season.

Jamauri Bogan carried the ball 31 times for 198 yards and one score for Western Kentucky, and Jarvion Franklin, who entered the game leading the MAC with 1,228 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, added 38 yards and two scores to those totals.

Kareem Hunt rushed for 200 yards and one score for Toledo (9-3, 6-2), and Logan Woodside threw for three scores to lead the Rockets' offense. But Woodside also threw two interceptions, including one on that first critical play of the game.

Asantay Brown intercepted Woodside's pass and ran it back 21 yards to put the Broncos up 7-0 just 12 seconds into the game.

It didn't take long for Woodside and company to settle down and come up with an answer. The Rockets tied the game as Woodside completed a six-play, 75-yard drive with a shovel pass to tight end Michael Roberts from 9 yards out.

Franklin's first touchdown of the game and the 40th of his career, which set a school record, gave the Broncos a 14-7 first-quarter lead. Kicker Butch Hampton extended that lead to 17-7 early in the second period with a 23-yard field goal.

Hunt, who shouldered the rushing load for the Rockets, got himself out of trouble by reversing field and scoring from 38 yards out to bring Toledo to within three at 17-14, and the offensive show was just getting started.

Western Michigan used a 21-point third quarter to take control of the game. And the defense shut down the Rockets until late in the fourth quarter when the outcome already had been decided.

Western Michigan remains one of two undefeated teams in the nation -- No. 1 Alabama being the other. And for the first time in school history, the Broncos are 11-0.

NOTES: Western Michigan WR Corey Davis set an FBS record for career receiving yardage in the second quarter. He began the day 18 yards short of the record, which was held by Nevada's Trevor Insley (1996-1999) at 5,005 yards. Davis entered the game with 4,987 yards and 49 touchdowns, and he had 81 receiving yards against Toledo. ... The Broncos 14-game win streak started against the Rockets with a 35-30 win over Toledo to end the 2015 regular season. ... Western Michigan starting LB Caleb Bailey will miss the first half of Friday's MAC title game after being ejected from Friday's game for targeting. ... Toledo finished with 456 yards of total offense while Western Michigan ended up with 445.