With two games left, bowl eligibility is off the table for Ohio (3-7, 3-3 MAC), but finishing the season strong is something every team would like to do. After coming oh-so-close in three previous outings, Ohio took down Miami and Eastern Michigan over its last two games.
The Bobcats will face Toledo Tuesday, and the Rockets have had their own share of close losses. However, with two games left, the Rockets (5-5, 2-2 MAC) can still earn a bowl invitation.
Toledo leads the series with Ohio, 31-21-1. Ohio won the last two meetings, in 2016 in Toledo and 2017 in Athens. The win in 2016 snapped a 12-game Rocket winning streak in the
series.
The Bobcats rushed for 393 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per carry in that 38-10 2017 victory. It was the first conference loss of the season for Toledo, which went on win the MAC Championship that season.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
TOLEDO ROCKETS (5-5, 3-3 MAC)
>> The Rockets offense has started to click. UT has scored 49 points in each of the last two games, although it picked up just one win. Eastern Michigan outscored the Rockets 52-49 Nov. 2, but Toledo bounced back with a 49-17 victory over rival Bowling Green last week.
>> BGSU answered two early Rocket touchdowns with 10 points, but Toledo took control with three more TDs before intermission and added two more in the second half before Bowling Green closed out scoring with a TD.
>> Toledo produced 539 yards of offense -- 270 passing and 269 rushing.
>> QB Dequan Finn completed 18 of 24 for the 270 yards with three TDs.
>> Bryant Koback ranks second among MAC players with 93.6 ypg.
>> Toledo’s offense is averging 605.5 yards in its last two games. Redshirt freshman Dequan Finn has completed 48-of-69 passes (69.6%) for 731 yards and six touchdowns in his last two games.
>> Senior cornerback Samuel Womack broke up two passes vs. BGSU, setting the Toledo career record with 37 PBUs, one more than Keon Jackson (36 from 2002-05).
>> The Rockets rank third in scoring offense (32.6) and fifth in total offense (423.5). Toledo ranks second in the MAC in turnover margin (+0.7), and first in fewest turnovers (six in 10 games), which is also tied for second-fewest in the nation.
>> Junior defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson is tied for second in the MAC with 11.5 tackles for loss.
OHIO BOBCATS (3-7, 3-3 MAC)
>> Veteran Head Coach Frank Solich retired just before this season started. Staffer Tim Albin was hired to replace him, so much of the Bobcat schemes have remained intact. He picked up his first win as a head coach when Ohio defeated Akron 34-17 Oct. 2.
>> Last week's 34-26 victory over Eastern Michigan gave the 'Cats consecutive wins for the first time this year.
>> Ohio never trailed in last week's 34-26 win at EMU, but the Eagles tied things at 20-all early in the third period. The Bobcats responded with two more scores -- enough to offset a late Eagles TD.
>> Quarterback Kurtis Rourke completed 9 of 17 passes for 230 yards and three TDs against EMU. De'Montre Tuggle and Armani Rogers combined for 24 carries for 139 yards. Ohio totaled 265 on the ground, averaging 6.3 ypc.
>> Isiah Cox (4 receptions) was the only Bobcat receiver with more than two catches.
>> This season, Rourke is 135-199 for 1,465 years, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.
>> Redshirt junior linebacker Bryce Houston has taken advantage of his first season starting.
Houston leads Ohio in total tackles with 90, while registering 43 assisted, 47 solo tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and one quarterback hurry.
>> Redshirt senior Alvin Floyd is helping lead the Bobcats on the defensive end as well.
He is third on the team with 55 total tackles, 27 assisted and 28 solo. He also has one
forced fumble, one pass break up and has one interception. Floyd set a career-high with 12 tackles against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 9.
>> The Bobcats rank 10th in scoring offense (23.8 ppg) but have registered 35 and 34 points while winning their last two outings.