Toledo's Backups Beat Up On Akron's Backups

A couple hours before the game, David Fluellen and Terrance Owens were both out of the game. It looked like Austin Dantin was going to get his last shot at a win, and Cassius McDowell had to carry the load at running back. Instead it was David Pasquale, the senior, a senior with 49 rushing yards on the season, who combined for 203 yards from scrimmage (93 rushing, 110 receiving) to help lead the Rockets to a rather ugly victory.

As for Dantin: oh, no biggie, just five passing touchdowns and 29-for-35 passing for 327 yards. Sure. Alonzo Russell also filled in, not in the letter of the phrase, but because Bernard Reedy was held in check, for nine catches, 139 yards, and two touchdowns.

Also, if you noticed that clean sheet of a third quarter, it's because Akron, by all accounts, should've had at least three points. Well, technically, they should've had zero. But three personal fouls by the Rockets — including roughing the punter and a third down unnecessary roughness — kept that drive on life support. They got two yards away from the goal line. Jawon Chisholm tried to jump over like four guys. Then they were forced backwards into a field goal attempt ... only they audibled out of it, holder/punter Zach Paul lined up in the quarterback position, took the snap, found nobody hopen and was sacked. It was hilarious and puzzling and Rob Ianello grinned somewhere. But I suppose when looking for a second win, you might as well try anything.

The fact that Akron jumped out to a 10-0 lead and then lost by double digits is more proof of what Ray Bentley said on ESPN2 all night: the team doesn't have the depth to finish games. It's not their fault. That's what you do when you rebuild. In fact, fifth year senior quarterback Dalton Williams was taken out of the game early on, as he only attempted four passes in the game, in lieu of redshirt freshman Kyle Pohl, for sure the 2013 starter. He has a good arm and his timing was a bit off with the deep ball but this was certainly something Terry Bowden did to see what he had for next year. And he gave them a chance to win, at least.

So the Zips season ends at 1-11, which is what they've done for three straight years, and they've lost 16 straight MAC games. Toledo finishes at 9-3, 6-2 in the conference, at best tied for second with Ball State, and the third MAC guaranteed bowl looks bright in their future.