Toledo Falls to Middle Tennessee in Bahamas Bowl, 31-24

Friday, December 17

Nassau, Bahamas

Noon

University of Toledo

7-6 , 5-3

Middle Tennessee

7-6 , 4-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Middle Tenn.

Toledo

Redshirt freshman Dequan Finn threw for 212 yards and rushed for 83 yards at the 2021 Bahamas Bowl.

Photo by: Ross Achter

Toledo Falls to Middle Tennessee in Bahamas Bowl, 31-24

12/17/2021 3:58:00 PM | Football

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NASSAU, Bahamas – Toledo came up on the short end of a 31-24 decision to Middle Tennessee State in the Bahamas Bowl on Friday afternoon.

"Obviously disappointed in the outcome of the game," Head Coach Jason Candle said. "Credit to Middle Tennessee and Coach Stockstill for getting a win today. It's tough to watch our senior class go out this way. They've poured their heart and soul into this program. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from today. We'll have have some things to work on and clean up this offseason."

Toledo (7-6) led at halftime, 17-14, but the Blue Raiders (7-6) outscored the Rockets 17-7 in the fourth quarter to claim the win.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Dequan Finn completed 18-of-39 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 83 yards and one touchdown.

Junior running back Bryant Koback led the ground attack with 126 yards on 18 carries, while junior Matt Landers caught four passes for a team-high 137 yards and one score.

Defensively, junior Nate Givhan had a pair of sacks and seven tackles, while classmate Dyontae Johnson tallied a team-best 10 tackles. Junior Samuel Womack also notched his fifth career interception.

First Quarter
Toledo had a chance to take an early lead, but a 35-yard field goal attempt missed left to keep the game scoreless. Middle Tennessee struck first, capping a 14-play drive with a six-yard touchdown pass from Nicholas Vattiato to Yusuf Ali to put the Rockets in a 7-0 hole with 1:30 to go in the quarter.

Second Quarter
Facing a fourth-and-short situation in Middle Tennessee territory, Finn scampered for a 40-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 13:52 remaining in the first half. Toledo's next offensive play was one for the highlight reel, as Finn found Landers open near midfield, and the wide receiver tipped the ball to himself and ran 90 yards for a touchdown, the longest in Bahamas Bowl history. The score put the Rockets ahead 14-7 with 11:11 to go in the quarter. The Blue Raiders tied the game at 14-14 with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped off by Frank Peasant's one-yard TD plunge. Thomas Cluckey drilled a 32-yard field goal to give the Rockets a 17-14 lead in the waning moments of the first half.

Third Quarter
The Toledo defense held strong on a fourth-down conversion attempt by Middle Tennessee, taking over on downs with 10:45 to go in the quarter. What followed was the Rockets' longest drive to that point, an 11-play march that ended without any points as a missed field goal attempt kept the score at 17-14 with 5:54 to play in the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter
Middle Tennessee scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 21-17 on quarterback Mike Diliello's 14-yard rush. The Blue Raiders extended their lead to 28-17 on Jarrin Pierce's touchdown reception with 6:24 remaining. Middle Tennessee added a field goal before the Rockets closed out the game's scoring when Finn found DeMeer Blankumsee in the end zone from 13 yards out with 1:08 to play.