By EVAN MEYER
When Mid-American Conference coaches and media members met back in late July at MAC Media Day in Canton, the Toledo Rockets and Ohio Bobcats were significant favorites to win their respective divisions and head into the 2017 Marathon MAC Championship Game in December.
That very well . . .
When Mid-American Conference coaches and media members met back in late July at MAC Media Day in Canton, the Toledo Rockets and Ohio Bobcats were significant favorites to win their respective divisions and head into the 2017 Marathon MAC Championship Game in December.
That very well . . .
. . . might happen, but Wednesday could serve as a head-to-head preview to that matchup as the division leaders meet at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio.
The Midnight Blue and Gold are the only undefeated team in MAC play, holding a 5-0 conference mark to go with their 8-1 overall record. UT is currently on a five-game winning streak and owns a two-game lead in the Western Division.
Meanwhile, Ohio is tied with surprising Akron in the Eastern Division. However, since their loss at home to Central Michigan, the ‘Cats have rattled off three straight victories and remain within striking distance of a return trip to Detroit. Ohio meets Akron next week.
THE SERIES
Wednesday evening’s tilt is the 53rd lifetime meeting between Toledo and Ohio, with the Rockets holding a 31-20-1 edge. Last year at the Glass Bowl, Ohio ended a 12-game losing streak to the Rockets with a 31-26 victory)… The Bobcats last win in Athens was 1988 by a 24-14 count.
The Midnight Blue and Gold are the only undefeated team in MAC play, holding a 5-0 conference mark to go with their 8-1 overall record. UT is currently on a five-game winning streak and owns a two-game lead in the Western Division.
Meanwhile, Ohio is tied with surprising Akron in the Eastern Division. However, since their loss at home to Central Michigan, the ‘Cats have rattled off three straight victories and remain within striking distance of a return trip to Detroit. Ohio meets Akron next week.
THE SERIES
Wednesday evening’s tilt is the 53rd lifetime meeting between Toledo and Ohio, with the Rockets holding a 31-20-1 edge. Last year at the Glass Bowl, Ohio ended a 12-game losing streak to the Rockets with a 31-26 victory)… The Bobcats last win in Athens was 1988 by a 24-14 count.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (8-1, 5-0)
>>> Toledo extended its winning streak to five games last week as it defeated arch-rival Northern Illinois 23-17 at the Glass Bowl.
>>> UT is averaging 39 points and 517.8 yards offensively. The Huskies have gained over 400 total yards in their last five games and in 9 of 10 overall.
>>> Toledo is led by senior QB Logan Woodside, who has completed 64.3 percent of his passes (169-of-263) for 2,656 yards and 19 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He has registered five 300-yard+ passing games so far this season, including 361 last week in the win over the Huskies. He is 26-7 lifetime as a starting QB second- best in UT history
>>> Another senior leader on offense is RB Terry Swanson. He has provided 11 touchdowns and leads the rushing attack with 944 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. So far this season, he has posted seven games in which he has rushed for over 100 yards, including the last four.
>>> Among receivers, sophomore WR Diontae Johnson has 46 receptions for 59 yards and eight touchdowns. He has been the go-to guy for Woodside after leading receiver senior Cody Thompson went down for the season with a leg injury suffered in a win over Eastern Michigan.
>>> Although the UT offensive line has been battered and bruised, filling in holes almost every week, the Rockets have allowed just nine sacks.
>>> The Toledo defense has allowed only 18.7 points and 305 yards in their nine games. They are led by senior LB Jack Linch, who has 46 total tackles (21 solo) along with an interception.
>>> Junior DE Ola Adeniyi leads with five sacks and 12 tackles for losses while sophomore SS Khalil Robinson has had three interceptions and three pass breakups.
>>> The Rockets also have one of the best place kickers in the MAC in junior Jameson Vest, who has scored 93 points so far this season. He has connected on 19-of-22 on field goals and 36-of-38 extra points
>>> UT has won eight or more games for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. Toledo is 5- 0 in MAC play for the first time since 2014 an is 19-2 against the Eastern Division since 2010 (including a win earlier this season over Akron).
OHIO UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (7-2, 4-1 MAC)
>>> Last week the ‘Cats defeated arch-rival Miami 45-28 at home in the annual ‘Battle of the Bricks.” The win was Ohio’s third straight and allowed the Bobcats to remain tied with Akron in the Eastern Division race.
>>> In their nine games so far this season, coach Frank Solich’s squad is averaging 41.2 points and 424.9 yards offensively.
>>> The Bobcats are led by QB Nathan Rourke. The sophomore has used his feet, as well as his arm, guiding the offense. Rourke has completed 57 percent of his passes (118-of-207) for 1,504 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.
In addition, he has rushed for 553 yards and leads the MAC with 16 touchdowns. Last week against the RedHawks, he was involved in all six Bobcat touchdowns (three rushing and three passing).
>>> Senior running back A. J. Ouellette leads the ground game with 845 yards and six touchdowns. He had three straight 100-yard games earlier in the season.
>>> Senior WR Brendan Cope leads the receiving corps with 31 receptions for 436 yards and three touchdowns. He has led Ohio receivers in four games during 2017.
>>> The offensive line has allowed 13 sacks.
>>> The ‘Cats defense has allowed 25.7 points and 374.3 yards per game. Along the way, Ohio registered 22 sacks and nine interceptions.
>>> Senior LB Quentin Poling leads the defense with 80 total tackles (35 solo). He also leads with 8.5 tackles for losses. Senior DE Trent Smart and junior DT Andrew Payne have three sacks each, while senior LB Chad Moore leads Ohio with three interceptions.
>>> Sophomore Louie Zervos, along with Vest, is one of the top kickers in the MAC with 77 points (11-of-14 on field goals and 44-of-45 on extra points.
>>> Head coach Frank Solich 1-3 lifetime against Toledo
>>> Toledo extended its winning streak to five games last week as it defeated arch-rival Northern Illinois 23-17 at the Glass Bowl.
>>> UT is averaging 39 points and 517.8 yards offensively. The Huskies have gained over 400 total yards in their last five games and in 9 of 10 overall.
>>> Toledo is led by senior QB Logan Woodside, who has completed 64.3 percent of his passes (169-of-263) for 2,656 yards and 19 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He has registered five 300-yard+ passing games so far this season, including 361 last week in the win over the Huskies. He is 26-7 lifetime as a starting QB second- best in UT history
>>> Another senior leader on offense is RB Terry Swanson. He has provided 11 touchdowns and leads the rushing attack with 944 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. So far this season, he has posted seven games in which he has rushed for over 100 yards, including the last four.
>>> Among receivers, sophomore WR Diontae Johnson has 46 receptions for 59 yards and eight touchdowns. He has been the go-to guy for Woodside after leading receiver senior Cody Thompson went down for the season with a leg injury suffered in a win over Eastern Michigan.
>>> Although the UT offensive line has been battered and bruised, filling in holes almost every week, the Rockets have allowed just nine sacks.
>>> The Toledo defense has allowed only 18.7 points and 305 yards in their nine games. They are led by senior LB Jack Linch, who has 46 total tackles (21 solo) along with an interception.
>>> Junior DE Ola Adeniyi leads with five sacks and 12 tackles for losses while sophomore SS Khalil Robinson has had three interceptions and three pass breakups.
>>> The Rockets also have one of the best place kickers in the MAC in junior Jameson Vest, who has scored 93 points so far this season. He has connected on 19-of-22 on field goals and 36-of-38 extra points
>>> UT has won eight or more games for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. Toledo is 5- 0 in MAC play for the first time since 2014 an is 19-2 against the Eastern Division since 2010 (including a win earlier this season over Akron).
OHIO UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (7-2, 4-1 MAC)
>>> Last week the ‘Cats defeated arch-rival Miami 45-28 at home in the annual ‘Battle of the Bricks.” The win was Ohio’s third straight and allowed the Bobcats to remain tied with Akron in the Eastern Division race.
>>> In their nine games so far this season, coach Frank Solich’s squad is averaging 41.2 points and 424.9 yards offensively.
>>> The Bobcats are led by QB Nathan Rourke. The sophomore has used his feet, as well as his arm, guiding the offense. Rourke has completed 57 percent of his passes (118-of-207) for 1,504 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.
In addition, he has rushed for 553 yards and leads the MAC with 16 touchdowns. Last week against the RedHawks, he was involved in all six Bobcat touchdowns (three rushing and three passing).
>>> Senior running back A. J. Ouellette leads the ground game with 845 yards and six touchdowns. He had three straight 100-yard games earlier in the season.
>>> Senior WR Brendan Cope leads the receiving corps with 31 receptions for 436 yards and three touchdowns. He has led Ohio receivers in four games during 2017.
>>> The offensive line has allowed 13 sacks.
>>> The ‘Cats defense has allowed 25.7 points and 374.3 yards per game. Along the way, Ohio registered 22 sacks and nine interceptions.
>>> Senior LB Quentin Poling leads the defense with 80 total tackles (35 solo). He also leads with 8.5 tackles for losses. Senior DE Trent Smart and junior DT Andrew Payne have three sacks each, while senior LB Chad Moore leads Ohio with three interceptions.
>>> Sophomore Louie Zervos, along with Vest, is one of the top kickers in the MAC with 77 points (11-of-14 on field goals and 44-of-45 on extra points.
>>> Head coach Frank Solich 1-3 lifetime against Toledo
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