Middle Tennessee tops Toledo in Bahamas to begin bowl season
AP
Dec 17, 2021
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) Freshman Nick Vattiato threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard scoring pass to Jarrin Pierce with 6:24 left, and Middle Tennessee beat Toledo 31-24 on Friday in the Bahamas Bowl.
Two plays after Toledo's 32-yard punt, Vattiato connected with a wide-open Pierce along the right side for a 28-17 lead. The 59-yard play was the longest completion in Middle Tennessee's bowl history.
On Toledo's next possession, quarterback Dequan Finn was pressured by Jordan Ferguson and defensive lineman Zaylin Wood intercepted a tipped pass, leading to a 35-yard field goal for a 31-17 lead.
Toledo got within seven points with 1:08 remaining, but Thomas Cluckey recovered an onside kick to secure it.
''Winning a bowl game, you're a champion, you're Bahamas Bowl champion and these seniors, these guys, they can take that with them the rest of their lives ,'' Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said after his 101st victory with the program.
Pierce caught four passes for 114 yards and Ferguson had a sack to reach nine on the season for Middle Tennessee (7-6), which was a double-digit underdog. Mike DiLiello rushed for 44 yards, including a 17-yard score to put the Blue Raiders ahead for good at 21-17.
Wood's interception was Middle Tennessee's 17th of the season, extending their national lead in turnovers gained to 32.
Finn was 18-of-39 passing for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for Toledo (7-6). Finn broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run on fourth and 1 to tie it at 7.
Matt Landers, a Georgia transfer, set a Bahamas Bowl record with a 90-yard touchdown catch to put Toledo ahead 14-7. On first down at the 10, Finn threw it deep over the middle that Landers tipped to himself with an outstretched left arm and coasted into the end zone.
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(5:50 - 1st) M.Pettaway rushed to MTS 29 for 9 yards. Tackled by N.Givhan at MTS 29.
+4 YD
2 & 1 - MTSU 29
(5:27 - 1st) N.Vattiato pass complete to MTS 29. Catch made by C.Windham at MTS 29. Gain of 4 yards. Tackled by Q.Mitchell at MTS 33.
No Gain
1 & 10 - MTSU 33
(5:03 - 1st) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for C.Windham.
No Gain
2 & 10 - MTSU 33
(5:02 - 1st) M.Diliello steps back to pass. M.Diliello pass incomplete intended for M.Pettaway.
Penalty
3 & 10 - MTSU 33
(4:55 - 1st) PENALTY on MTS-M.Pettaway False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play.
Penalty
3 & 15 - TOLEDO 28
(4:55 - 1st) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for J.Lane. PENALTY on TOL-J.Hines Roughing the Passer 15 yards accepted. No Play.
No Gain
1 & 10 - MTSU 43
(4:49 - 1st) M.Diliello steps back to pass. M.Diliello pass incomplete intended for J.Lane.
+10 YD
2 & 10 - MTSU 43
(4:46 - 1st) N.Vattiato rushed to TOL 47 for 10 yards. Tackled by D.Johnson at TOL 47.
No Gain
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 47
(4:12 - 1st) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for I.Gathings.
+23 YD
2 & 10 - TOLEDO 47
(4:11 - 1st) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 47. Catch made by Y.Ali at TOL 47. Gain of 23 yards. Tackled by at TOL 24.
+3 YD
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 24
(3:50 - 1st) A.Rasul rushed to TOL 21 for 3 yards. Tackled by N.Givhan at TOL 21.
No Gain
2 & 7 - TOLEDO 21
(3:26 - 1st) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for J.Lane.
+14 YD
3 & 7 - TOLEDO 21
(3:23 - 1st) M.Diliello rushed to TOL 7 for 14 yards. Tackled by N.Bauer; Z.Ford at TOL 7.
No Gain
1 & 7 - TOLEDO 7
(3:02 - 1st) M.Pettaway rushed to TOL 7 for 0 yards. Tackled by J.Hines; J.Jones at TOL 7.
+1 YD
2 & 7 - TOLEDO 7
(2:19 - 1st) M.Pettaway rushed to TOL 6 for 1 yards. Tackled by C.Butler at TOL 6.
+6 YD
3 & 6 - TOLEDO 6
(1:33 - 1st) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 6. Catch made by Y.Ali at TOL 6. Gain of 6 yards. Y.Ali for 6 yards TOUCHDOWN.
(13:52 - 2nd) PENALTY on TOL-D.Finn Unsportsmanlike Conduct / Offense 15 yards accepted. No Play.
Kickoff
(13:52 - 2nd) T.Cluckey kicks 70 yards from TOL 20 to the MTS 10. J.Lane returns the kickoff. Tackled by A.Beale at MTS 32.
-4 YD
1 & 10 - MTSU 32
(13:44 - 2nd) M.Pettaway rushed to MTS 28 for -4 yards. M.Pettaway FUMBLES. Fumble RECOVERED by MTS-M.Pettaway at MTS 28. Tackled by at MTS 28.
+6 YD
2 & 14 - MTSU 28
(13:18 - 2nd) M.Diliello pass complete to MTS 28. Catch made by A.Rasul at MTS 28. Gain of 6 yards. Tackled by T.Simon at MTS 34.
Penalty
3 & 8 - TOLEDO 34
(12:51 - 2nd) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for J.Lane. PENALTY on TOL-N.Givhan Defensive Offside 5 yards accepted. No Play.
Sack
3 & 3 - MTSU 39
(12:48 - 2nd) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato sacked at MTS 28 for -11 yards (N.Givhan)
Penalty
4 & 14 - MTSU 28
(11:47 - 2nd) PENALTY on MTS-K.Ulbrich Delay of Game 5 yards accepted. No Play.
Punt
4 & 19 - MTSU 23
(11:29 - 2nd) K.Ulbrich punts 38 yards to TOL 39 Center-MTS. D.Maddox returned punt from the TOL 39. Tackled by J.Jackson; D.Francis at TOL 36. PENALTY on TOL-J.Williams Unsportsmanlike Conduct / Defense 15 yards accepted. PENALTY on TOL-J.Clark Unsportsmanlike Conduct / Defense 14 yards accepted.
(11:11 - 2nd) T.Cluckey kicks 65 yards from TOL 35 to the MTS End Zone. Touchback.
+24 YD
1 & 10 - MTSU 25
(11:11 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to MTS 25. Catch made by J.Pierce at MTS 25. Gain of 24 yards. Tackled by N.Bauer at MTS 49.
+17 YD
1 & 10 - MTSU 49
(10:57 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to MTS 49. Catch made by J.Lane at MTS 49. Gain of 17 yards. Tackled by C.McDonald at TOL 34. PENALTY on TOL-TOL Illegal Substitution 5 yards declined.
No Gain
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 34
(10:40 - 2nd) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for J.Lane.
Penalty
2 & 10 - TOLEDO 34
(10:21 - 2nd) PENALTY on MTS-M.Greer False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play.
+23 YD
2 & 15 - TOLEDO 39
(10:21 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 39. Catch made by J.Pierce at TOL 39. Gain of 23 yards. Tackled by at TOL 16.
+3 YD
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 16
(9:51 - 2nd) F.Peasant rushed to TOL 13 for 3 yards. Tackled by J.Hines at TOL 13.
Penalty
2 & 7 - TOLEDO 13
(9:37 - 2nd) PENALTY on MTS-M.Greer False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play.
+17 YD
2 & 12 - TOLEDO 18
(9:27 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 18. Catch made by I.Gathings at TOL 18. Gain of 17 yards. Tackled by T.Anderson at TOL 1.
+1 YD
1 & 1 - TOLEDO 1
(9:08 - 2nd) F.Peasant rushed to TOL End Zone for 1 yards. F.Peasant for 1 yards TOUCHDOWN.
(1:05 - 2nd) T.Cluckey kicks 65 yards from TOL 35 to the MTS End Zone. Touchback.
+1 YD
1 & 10 - MTSU 25
(1:05 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to MTS 25. Catch made by Y.Ali at MTS 25. Gain of 1 yards. Tackled by Q.Mitchell at MTS 26.
+14 YD
2 & 9 - MTSU 26
(0:41 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to MTS 26. Catch made by J.Lane at MTS 26. Gain of 14 yards. Tackled by J.Clark at MTS 40.
+3 YD
1 & 10 - MTSU 40
(0:19 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to MTS 40. Catch made by B.Anderson at MTS 40. Gain of 3 yards. Tackled by T.Anderson; M.Hook at MTS 43.
+18 YD
2 & 7 - MTSU 43
(0:18 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to MTS 43. Catch made by J.Thompson at MTS 43. Gain of 18 yards. Tackled by C.McDonald; J.Clark at TOL 39.
Penalty
1 & 10 - MTSU 39
(0:16 - 2nd) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for J.Pierce. PENALTY on TOL-C.McDonald Defensive Pass Interference 15 yards accepted. No Play.
+4 YD
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 24
(0:14 - 2nd) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 24. Catch made by Y.Ali at TOL 24. Gain of 4 yards. Y.Ali ran out of bounds.
No Gain
2 & 6 - TOLEDO 20
(0:11 - 2nd) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for.
No Good
3 & 6 - TOLEDO 27
(0:04 - 2nd) Z.Rankin 37 yard field goal attempt is no good Center-MTS Holder-MTS.
(12:59 - 3rd) B.Koback rushed to TOL 4 for 2 yards. Tackled by MTS at TOL 4.
Penalty
2 & 8 - MTSU 4
(12:39 - 3rd) D.Finn steps back to pass. D.Finn pass incomplete intended for I.Winstead. PENALTY on MTS-J.Wyatt Defensive Holding 10 yards accepted. No Play.
Penalty
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 14
(12:28 - 3rd) PENALTY on TOL-T.Long False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play.
No Gain
1 & 15 - TOLEDO 9
(12:28 - 3rd) D.Finn rushed to TOL 9 for 0 yards. D.Finn FUMBLES forced by MTS. Fumble RECOVERED by TOL-D.Finn at TOL 9. Tackled by MTS at TOL 9.
No Gain
2 & 15 - TOLEDO 9
(11:47 - 3rd) D.Finn steps back to pass. D.Finn pass incomplete intended for B.Koback.
No Gain
3 & 15 - TOLEDO 9
(11:41 - 3rd) D.Finn steps back to pass. D.Finn pass incomplete intended for B.Koback.
Punt
4 & 15 - TOLEDO 9
(11:37 - 3rd) B.Flint punts 43 yards to MTS 48 Center-TOL. J.Lane returned punt from the MTS 48. Pushed out of bounds by Z.Ford at TOL 38.
(5:54 - 3rd) A.Rasul rushed to MTS 25 for 0 yards. Tackled by J.Hines at MTS 25.
No Gain
2 & 10 - MTSU 25
(5:25 - 3rd) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato pass incomplete intended for J.Pierce.
+12 YD
3 & 10 - MTSU 25
(5:19 - 3rd) N.Vattiato scrambles to MTS 37 for 12 yards. Tackled by S.Womack at MTS 37.
Penalty
1 & 10 - MTSU 37
(4:54 - 3rd) PENALTY on MTS-L.Robinson False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play.
+6 YD
1 & 15 - MTSU 32
(4:36 - 3rd) M.Diliello rushed to MTS 38 for 6 yards. Tackled by D.Johnson at MTS 38.
Penalty
2 & 9 - TOLEDO 38
(4:01 - 3rd) N.Vattiato steps back to pass. N.Vattiato sacked at MTS 35 for -3 yards (J.Hines) N.Vattiato FUMBLES forced by J.Hines. Fumble RECOVERED by MTS-S.Losoya at MTS 35. Tackled by TOL at MTS 31. PENALTY on TOL-J.Hines Defensive Targeting 15 yards accepted. No Play.
-3 YD
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 47
(3:45 - 3rd) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 47. Catch made by Y.Ali at TOL 47. Gain of -3 yards. Tackled by Q.Mitchell at TOL 50.
No Gain
2 & 13 - MTSU 50
(2:56 - 3rd) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 50. Catch made by Y.Ali at TOL 50. Gain of 0 yards. Tackled by J.Hines at TOL 50.
+10 YD
3 & 13 - MTSU 50
(2:31 - 3rd) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 50. Catch made by J.Lane at TOL 50. Gain of 10 yards. Tackled by M.Hook at TOL 40.
+4 YD
4 & 3 - TOLEDO 40
(2:02 - 3rd) N.Vattiato pass complete to TOL 40. Catch made by J.Lane at TOL 40. Gain of 4 yards. J.Lane ran out of bounds.
+3 YD
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 36
(1:53 - 3rd) F.Peasant rushed to TOL 33 for 3 yards. Tackled by D.Ragin at TOL 33.
+4 YD
2 & 3 - TOLEDO 33
(1:28 - 3rd) F.Peasant rushed to TOL 29 for 4 yards. Tackled by D.Ragin at TOL 29.
+7 YD
3 & 1 - TOLEDO 29
(1:09 - 3rd) F.Peasant rushed to TOL 22 for 7 yards. Tackled by D.Rogers at TOL 22.
+4 YD
1 & 10 - TOLEDO 22
(0:37 - 3rd) B.Anderson rushed to TOL 18 for 4 yards. Tackled by D.Hood at TOL 18.
+1 YD
2 & 6 - TOLEDO 18
(0:04 - 3rd) J.Lane rushed to TOL 17 for 1 yards. Tackled by J.Clark at TOL 17.
+17 YD
3 & 5 - TOLEDO 17
(15:00 - 4th) M.Diliello rushed to TOL End Zone for 17 yards. M.Diliello for 17 yards TOUCHDOWN.
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