The story entering the 2021 Bahamas Bowl was the turnover statistics for each team. Middle Tennessee leads the nation in turnovers gained, whereas Toledo leads the nation in the least turnovers lost. However, the story of the first half was the defense of both teams and quick scores by both offenses. The story by the end was Middle Tennessee state getting the best of Toledo in the 2021 Bahamas Bowl. The Blue Raiders won the turnover battle that was talked about leading up the game and won 31-24.
2021 Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee Shocks Toledo
First Half Recap
Toledo had the ball to start the game, but couldn’t get anything going on its first drive. Middle Tennessee got on the board first at the end of the first quarter utilizing both quarterbacks. Mike Diliello was utilized to move the ball downfield, but Nick Vattiato broke off a big run on third and seven to get the Blue Raiders in the red zone. He then capitalized on the long run by throwing a touchdown to Yusuf Ali at the end of the first quarter.
Quick Scores
This score by the Blue Raiders is just what Toledo needed to get moving. It took 2:38 to move the ball downfield and tie the game. Middle Tennessee thought Toledo was stopped. It was fourth down and the Rockets are 10th in college football on fourth down conversions. However, DeQuan Finn was able to fake a pitch to the right and fool the Blue Raider defense and scamper for a 40-yard score. Before that conversion, Toledo was nine-for-22 on fourth down conversions, but Finn stiff-armed his way into the endzone.
There were a lot of flags flying in the early part of the second quarter. First a taunting on Finn after the touchdown. Then, a delay of game on the Middle Tennessee punt on the next drive. After that, several flags were thrown after the whistle on the punt return. Those flags resulted in two personal fouls on Toledo. One was declined. Toledo was penalized nine times for 97 yards in the first half.
The penalty didn’t seem to faze the Rockets. Finn threw the longest reception of the season for Toledo for 89-yards. Matt Landers was able to haul in the pass off of his fingertips for a one-handed catch and score. The transfer from Georgia played in only six games this season after shoulder surgery right after the transfer. He didn’t waste any time when he was able to get on the field, however, scoring four touchdowns through six games and assing another score in the first half of this one.
Defense Highlights Both Teams
Middle Tennesse could not get the run game going in the first half with only 72 rushing yards compared to the Rockets’ 145. Even with this, the Blue Raiders were able to move the ball downfield quickly after the quick score by Toledo. Jarren Pierce had his own circus catch for 23 yards to move Middle Tennessee inside the Toledo 20 yard line. Another big catch by Izaiah Gathings put the offense at the one-yard line and Frank Peasant knocked it in to tie the game 14-14.
It was very back and forth in the first half with both defenses coming up in big situations. Nate Givhan had two sacks in the first half for Toledo and the Rockets defense intercepted Vattiato and returned it deep into Blue Raider territory. The Middle Tennessee defense was able to hold Toledo to a field goal making it 17-14. This is where the half ended after a failed field goal attempt by Middle Tennessee.
Second Half Recap
The third quarter was all Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders had the ball to start and couldn’t make anything happen. However, the defense stepped up in a big way and forced Toledo to try a field goal that was nowhere near going in. Middle Tennessee took advantage of Toledo not being able to put the game away and found success in short-yardage runs. Just when Toledo thought momentum was stopped for the Blue Raiders with a sack by Jamal Hines, a flag was thrown for targeting. Hines went to make the sack and lowered his helmet into the side of a tall-standing Vattiato. Resulting in one of the Rockets’ best defensive payers being disqualified. Middle Tennessee took advantage and Vattiato used uptempo to get the fourth down conversion and keep the offense on the field.
Diliello came in to start the fourth quarter and immediately ran the ball up a big hole in the middle for 17 yards to take the lead 21-17. Toledo wasn’t going to stand by and watch the Blue Raiders take the game. Bryant Kobak earned his sixth straight 100-yard rushing game on a big run to start the fourth quarter off for Toledo. That success was short-lived, Teldrick Ross nearly gave Toledo its seventh turnover of the season, but couldn’t hang on to the ball.
All Middle Tennessee State
The third quarter wasn’t a good one for Toledo. The Rockets couldn’t get anything going on offense and allowed a long drive by the Middle Tennessee offense. The start of the fourth quarter wasn’t much better. The Blue Raiders scored twice in the first half of the fourth quarter. The second score came off of a wide-open pass from Vattatio to Pierce. This put Toledo down 11, 28-17. It’s hard to believe that Middle Tenessee came into this game as a double-digit underdog. The Blue Raiders almost forced Toledo’s seventh turnover in the third quarter and succeeded in the fourth with a big man interception by the freshman, Damonte Smith. The team that leads the nation in turnovers gained bested the team with the least turnovers. Middle Tennessee then capitalized on the rare turnover with a field goal to make the score 31-17.
Finn, who was banged up after a hard hit on the interception, tried to bring Toledo back into the game with the clock winding down. However, the Middle Tennessee defense could feel a victory and was running all over the field. With only one timeout Toledo took it with a little over one minute remaining. Finn was able to move the ball downfield and get a touchdown with one minute left in the game. There just wasn’t enough time to come back from 11 points down and the young Blue Raiders stole one in the 2021 Bahamas Bowl 31-24.
