MAC Football Championship Game 2017
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| date | 2nd December 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadion | Ford Field | ||||||||||||||||||
| city | Detroit , Michigan | ||||||||||||||||||
| favourite | Toledo at 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of visitors | 16,225 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Television broadcast | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||
| Commentators | Mark Jones , Rod Gilmore and Quint Kessenich | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2017 marathon MAC Football Championship Game was the final of the American football championship in the Mid-American Conference of the 2017 season. The winner of the East Division, Akron Zips , met the winner of the West Division, the Toledo Rockets . The Rockets defeated the Zips by 45:28. The game took place on December 2, 2017 at Ford Field in Detroit , Michigan .
The way to Detroit
Toledo Rockets
After narrowly missing the Championship Game six times in the previous seven seasons, the Rockets were considered a big favorite for the West Division in the Championship Game in the 2017 season, a success the Rockets last achieved in 2004. After a 47:13 victory over the FCS team from Elon, there were two victories over FBS teams. In the fourth and final non-conference game, the Rockets faced the Miami Hurricans , against whom they also led 16:10 at halftime. In the second half, however, the momentum changed and the team from Florida brought the Rockets their first defeat of the season with the result of 30:52. This was followed by five conference victories in a row, including a 48:21 victory against the eventual championship opponent from Akron. However, a setback followed when the Rockets lost to the Ohio Bobcats in the tenth game of the season with 10:38 . After victories over the Western Michigan Broncos and rivals from Bowling Green , the Rockets ended the season with ten regular season victories for the first time since 2000, thus winning the West Division.
Akron Zips
The Zips started the season poorly after winning just one of their four non-conference games. In the Conference games, however, they were successful and after winning three of their last four games, including the game against Ohio, which is important for a possible tie-breaker, they qualified as winners of the East Division with a 7-5 record ( 6-2 MAC) for the Championship Game.
Course of the game
After a 48-yard punt return from Toledo's Danzel McKinley-Lewis , Logan Woodside found Diontae Johnson for the first touchdown of the game with a 27-yard pass . Toledo missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the end of the first quarter after kicker Jameson Vest shot a 33-yard field goal to the right. After Toledo lost the ball to a fumbled snap, Akron took over at Toledo's 38-yard line. From this position the Zips could come up to Toledo's 20-yard line. From there, Thomas Woodson threw a 20-yard touchdown on tight end Kobie Booker . However, the touchdown was withdrawn because of an illegal formation penalty and after a further penalty for a false start Akron wanted to reduce the deficit with a 42-yard field goal. Tom O'Leary's kick, however, was blocked by Toledo's Nate Childress and carried up to Akron's 34-yard line by Josh Teachey . After three moves, running back Terry Swanson ran into the end zone for a touchdown. A few minutes later, Woodside again fan Johnson in the end zone. That touchdown almost didn't happen as Johnson fumbled the ball three moves earlier. Akron was unable to capture the fumble, however, and the ball rolled out, leaving Toledo in possession of the ball. Akron's next drive, however, ended when Woodson was intercepted by Trevon Mathis . Woodside also threw an interception to Ulysees Gilbert III on the next drive , but this had no effect as Akron had to punt again after only three plays. Woodside was able to find John'Vea Johnson for a 27-yard touchdown eight seconds before the end of the second quarter, making Toledo 28-0 at half-time.
The second half opened with a long Toledo Drive, however, ended after Swanson on the ball while trying Goal Line fumblete to stretch. Akron couldn't make a profit from it and had to punt. The punt was bad, however, and only went 24 yards, leaving Toledo a short field. The following drive from Toledo ended with a 47-yard field goal from Vest. Another touchdown pass from Woodside followed, this time to Shakif Seymour . Akron then scored the first points 30 seconds before the end of the third quarter after Manny Morgan put down a 7-yard touchdown run. After Jordan George intercepted a Woodside pass, Akrons quarterback Kato Nelson found Austin Wolf over 29 yards for Akron's second touchdown. Seymour fumbled the ball on Toledo’s next drive. But already on the next move Toledo was able to win the ball back when Nelson fumbled the ball after a sack from Ola Adeniyi and Toledo's Marquise Moore captured the free ball. On the following play, Swanson ran 54 yards for his second touchdown of the game. In the following Drive Akrons, Toledo's linebacker Aydeni was excluded from the game for targeting after a hit against Nelson . Touchdown passes from Nelson to Kwadarrius Smith at the end of this drive and from Robbie Kelley to Booker 20 seconds before the end of the game shortened to 45:28. The subsequent onside kick Akrons was able to secure Toledo and end the game with a quarterback Kneel .
statistics
| Akron | Toledo | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st downs | 20th | 26th |
| 3rd down conversion | 6-18 | 4-11 |
| 4th down conversion | 1-3 | 1-1 |
| Total yards | 396 | 561 |
| Thrown yards | 283 | 307 |
| Comp-Att | 18-42 | 23-37 |
| Yards per pass | 6.7 | 8.3 |
| Yards run | 113 | 254 |
| Running attempts | 33 | 38 |
| Yards per run | 3.4 | 6.5 |
| Punish | 3-25 | 4-43 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 5 |
| Thrown interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| lost fumbles | 1 | 3 |
| Time in possession | 27:58 | 32:02 |
| Source: | ||
Honors
Toledo Senior -Quarterback Logan Woodside was for his 307 erworfenen yards and his four thrown touchdowns to Offensive Player of the Game selected (offense player of the game) and Sophomore - Punt returner Denzel McKinley Lewis was carried back by his 66 yards through the of Punts , a new record for the MAC Football Championship, voted Special Teams Player of the Game . Akron's junior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III was voted Defensive Player of the Game after ten tackles and one interception .
Web links
- Play by Play on ESPN.com
Individual evidence
- ↑ College football championship week odds: Advanced computer model picks Big Ten, SEC, ACC title games. CBS Sports, accessed December 2, 2017 .
- ↑ a b Toledo Rockets overwhelm Akron Zips early in MAC Football Championship game, 45-28 (photos). Retrieved December 3, 2017 .
- ↑ Toledo Rockets Season in Review. SB Nation, December 1, 2017, accessed December 2, 2017 .
- ↑ MAC Championship Preview: Akron crediting its 'brotherhood' for recent success. SB Nation, December 1, 2017, accessed December 2, 2017 .
- ↑ a b c d e f Toledo routs Akron for first MAC title since 2004. The Blade, December 2, 2017, accessed on December 2, 2017 (English).
- ↑ a b c d Rockets Dominate Zips, 45-28, to Claim MAC Championship Title. Toledo Rockets, December 2, 2017, accessed December 3, 2017 .
- ↑ a b Instant recap: Toledo clinches MAC title, rolls through Akron with outstanding first half performance. SB Nation, December 2, 2017, accessed December 3, 2017 .
- ↑ MAC Championship Notebook: Rockets get it done at Ford Field. SB Nation, December 2, 2017, accessed December 3, 2017 .
- ↑ Akron vs. Toledo - Team Statistics. ESPN, accessed December 3, 2017 .
- ↑ TOLEDO WINS 2017 MARATHON MAC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Accessed December 9, 2017 .
- ↑ Toledo's defense stands tall in MAC title game. The Blade, accessed December 9, 2017 .