Fresh off its Mid-American Conference championship, the University of Toledo football team learned Sunday it will be playing in the Dollar General Bowl on Dec. 23 in Mobile, Ala.
The opponent will be Appalachian State (8-4) in a rematch of last year’s dramatic Raycom Media Camellia Bowl the Mountaineers won 31-28.
Toledo (11-2) beat Akron 45-28 on Saturday to claim its first league title since 2004. Now the Rockets will shift their focus to a bowl game, and the potential to win 12 games for the first time since 1971 and only the third time in program history.
“It was an awesome feeling to wake up and be called a champion,” UT coach Jason Candle said. “I’m really proud of this football team and the effort they put forth at Ford Field. I was really excited that Rocket Nation stood up the way they did and supported us.
“As we turn the page and look forward to the bowl game, we’re excited to be a part of it and certainly the postseason is an opportunity that we don’t take lightly. I’ve been part of a team here that was 7-5 and didn’t get a chance to go to a bowl game
“Just like we’ve preached to our team all year long, nothing is really given to you, you have to go earn it and go take it. These guys have done that and provided themselves another opportunity to be together and play one more time and have a great bowl experience.”
VIDEO: Toledo accepts bid to Dollar General Bowl
Appalachian State went 7-1 this season in the Sun Belt and shared the conference championship with Troy. The Mountaineers are led on offense by quarterback Taylor Lamb, who has 2,606 passing yards and 27 touchdowns this season along with five rushing touchdowns.
In last season’s bowl game, Lamb passed for 119 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 126 yards and a score as well.
“We’re playing a great team in Appalachian State that we know very well,” Candle said. “It’s a team that is very well coached. I know Scott [Satterfield] real well and they one-upped us last year in the game, so we are looking forward to the rematch. It was a hard fought game for 60 minutes, and I would believe that this game will be the same. That’s a team that will play hard for 60 minutes and they are coached that way. I think they have some really good individual players on both sides of the ball.”
Last year, Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside completed 18-of-26 passes with two touchdowns against Appalachian State.
“They are a really well-coached football team and they played hard for 60 minutes on defense especially,” Woodside said. “They got after us a little bit. It will be a big challenge for us, and coach Satterfield will have those guys ready to go. It will be good to have one final game for the seniors against a real good opponent and we are looking forward to it.”
A rematch between the teams will give this Toledo team a chance to avenge a disappointing loss.
“We don’t want to go out with a bad taste in our mouths and it is a chance to go out and win 12 games, something that has only been done here a couple of times,” UT running back Terry Swanson said. “It would be a perfect way to go out with a win. Losing that last game last year and [now] getting a rematch will definitely be something we are looking forward to.”
Contact Brian Buckey at: bbuckey@theblade.com, 419-724-6110, or on Twitter @BrianBuckey.
First Published December 3, 2017, 5:00 a.m.
