2. Florida International WR T.Y. Hilton: Hilton had 3 catches and a receiving touchdown as well as an 89 yards kickoff return for a touchdown.
3. Florida International Kicker Jack Griffen: He was 2 for 2 with a 34 yard field goal as time expired to secure the win.
Great win for FIU program. Mario Cristobal has them headed in the right direction.
| Big Ten vs. MAC | Detroit Ford Field |
Dec. 26 8:30 p.m. |
ESPN |
Little Caesars Bowl Preview
Offense
The Toledo offense has been solid all year, but has picked up the pace in the second half scoring 30 or more in all of their last 6 games. QB Terrance Owens took over the offense for the last third of the season. The redshirt freshman has opened up the offense, passing for 1112 yards and 12 touchdowns. Adonis Thomas is the main running back and he has accumulated 905 yards on the season. When Owens drops back, he will certainly look to WR Eric Paige. The first team all-MACer was 5th in the nation in receptions and had 1081 receiving yards. He is also a threat on kick returns, where he scored 3 times, also leading the nation.
The Florida International offense has had lots of success, particularly in the second half of the season. Led by QB Wesley Carroll, the offense has averaged 28.3 points a game. Carroll has passed for 2483 yards and 15 touchdowns. In the receiving category, T.Y. Hilton leads the team with 815 yards, while Greg Ellingson has 546. The Panthers are balanced, with 2 running backs around the 700 yard mark. Darriet Perry has 14 touchdowns, while Darian Mallary has 2.The Toledo defense is great at forcing turnovers with 33 this year, to only 14 on offense. The Rocket defense is young, and inconsistent. LBs Archie Donald and Dan Molls are among the nation's leader with 134 and 133 tackles respectively. It will be CB Desmond Marrow against top FIU receiver T.Y. Hilton. He has 3 interceptions this year. Count on T.J. Fatinikun and Malcolm Riley to make plays on the line, pressuring the FIU offense.
The pick: I like Toledo to win this game. I think their offense will have a big performance and I expect big things from WR Eric Paige.
This pick has been made by bowlseason.yolasite.com and therefore will be correct.
But if you disagree or agree with me send and email to ryzim22@yahoo.com saying who you think will win and why and I'll post it....
BS: Despite an average 3-3 start, the Rockets won 5 of their final 6 to finish at 8-4. What changed in the second half of the season?
Zach Davis: It’s important to remember that two of those three opening losses were at No. 10 Boise State (12-1) and against an Arizona (7-5) squad which started 7-1 including a win over Iowa. The biggest difference in the team that UT will be bringing to Detroit than the one that began the season is at quarterback where Terrance Owens has taken over. The redshirt-freshman replaced starting quarterback Austin Dantin on Oct. 30 against Eastern Michigan and threw for four touchdowns in a 42-7 victory. The Rockets are 3-1 under Owens, who has one of the strongest arms in the Mid-American Conference. His presence has opened up the offense which had been unable to move the ball downfield under Dantin.
BS:
Both Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens have passed for over 1,000 yards.
Who will play and who are some other key players on the balanced Rocket
offense?
Zach Davis: Owens
secured the starting spot after Dantin broke his collarbone and sternum
while also separating his shoulder against EMU. Although Dantin was
recently cleared to play in Sunday’s game, he is not fully healed and
will be the backup. Even if he was 100 percent the starting job clearly
belongs to Owens now until he does something to lose it.
BS: The defense had its ups and downs this year. Please comment on the defense including some personnel.
Zach Davis: The Toledo defense has had its moments where it’s looked like the best unit in the MAC, but a lack of consistent play has truly hurt them at times, putting them in early holes and letting the opponents back into games. They are young but show tremendous promise.
The
unit has many playmakers, including linebackers Archie Donald and Dan
Molls, who both are in the top-8 in the nation in tackles. The
defensive line is deep with pass rushers, led by sophomore T.J.
Fatinikun and junior Malcolm Riley. Senior Desmond Marrow is one of the top cornerbacks in the conference and will be counted upon to stop the versatile T.Y. Hilton.
BS: If you had to choose one player to have a breakout performance in the bowl game, who would it be?
Zach Davis: It’s hard to call it a breakout with the immense success he’s had in his first two seasons, but wide-out Eric Page is the player that makes this offense go. Page ranked fifth in the nation in receptions (94), 18th in yards per game (1,081) and even threw three touchdown passes on his way to being named First-Team All-MAC. He also excelled returning kicks, leading the nation in touchdowns (3) and finishing third in return average (31.76).
Thanks a lot to Zach Davis. Check him out at www.IndependentCollegian.com.