2001 Motor City Bowl

The 2001 Motor City Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association bowl game in which the Toledo Rockets of the MAC defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats of the Conference USA 23–16. It was played on December 29, 2001 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.

2001 Motor City Bowl
Cincinnati Bearcats Toledo Rockets
(7–4) (9–2)
C-USA MAC
16 23
Head coach: 
Rick Minter		 Head coach: 
Tom Amstutz
APCoachesBCS
25NRNR
1234 Total
Cincinnati 01303 16
Toledo 301010 23
DateDecember 29, 2001
Season2001
StadiumPontiac Silverdome
LocationPontiac, Michigan
MVPChester Taylor (RB) – Toledo
Attendance44,164
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersPam Ward (Play by Play)
Dean Blevins (Analyst)
Alex Flanagan (Sideline)

The Bearcats were C-USA runners-up fresh off the wins from five of their last six games, which included Syracuse and #20 Southern Mississippi. Toledo was the Mid-American Conference Champ defeating Marshall 41–36 in the 2006 MAC Championship Game.

This game marked the first time the Rockets appeared in the Motor City Bowl while the Bearcats had lost its previous iteration. Rockets running back Chester Taylor rushed for a bowl record 190 yards on 31 carries and the game-winning touchdown. Cincinnati got the ball back but Toledo safety Andy Boyd knocked a potentially game-tying pass out of the hands of Ray Jackson in the end zone.[1] Taylor was selected as MVP of the game.[2][3][4]

Scoring summary
Scoring play Score
1st Quarter
UT– France 28 yard FG, 9:24 UT 3–0
2nd Quarter
UC– Ruffin 29 yard FG, 9:05 Tie 3–3
UC– Walker 28 yard pass from Guidugli (Ruffin kick), 2:43 UC 10–3
UC– Ruffin 46 yard FG, 0:00 UC 13–3
3rd Quarter
UT– France 42 yard FG, 11:33 UC 13–6
UT– Bolden 28 yard TD run (France kick), 1:44 Tie 13-13
4th Quarter
UT– France 30 yard FG, 9:42 UT 16-13
UC–Ruffin 25 yard FG, 6:26 Tie 16-16
UT– Taylor 24 yard TD run (France kick), 3:23 UT 23–16

References
  1. Musselman, Ron (December 30, 2001). "Defense Rescues UT". Toledo Blade. pp. 1, 4.
  2. Spadafore, Jim (December 30, 2001). "Toledo wins behind Taylor". Detroit News. pp. 1D, 4D.
  3. Lage, Larry (December 30, 2001). "Taylor's rushing revs Rockets to victory at Motor City Bowl". The Daily Item. AP. p. D4.
  4. Fay, John (December 30, 2001). "Near-miracle win eludes Bearcats". Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. C1, C2.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.