Rockets to host Bowling Green in Homecoming game for Battle of I-75 Trophy

October 13, 2016 | Athletics, Events, News
By Paul Helgren



The greatest football rivalry in the Mid-American Conference will renew for the 81st time when Toledo hosts Bowling Green in the Battle of I-75 in the Glass Bowl Saturday, Oct. 15 (3:30 p.m./CBS Sports Network).

The Rockets (4-1, 1-0 MAC) are coming off a 35-20 victory at Eastern Michigan Oct. 8, the same day the Falcons (1-5, 0-2 MAC) fell at Ohio, 30-24.

The Rockets have never relinquished possession of the Battle of I-75 Trophy, which was first awarded in 2011.

The Rockets have never relinquished possession of the Battle of I-75 Trophy, which was first awarded in 2011.

Junior quarterback Logan Woodside had another superior performance, throwing for 247 yards and four TDs to put away a stubborn EMU squad. Woodside has 20 touchdown passes in just five games this season and is second in the nation in passing efficiency.

Senior Kareem Hunt led the ground attack vs. the Eagles with 141 yards rushing and one score. Hunt’s performance gives him 4,024 career yards rushing, only the third Rocket ever to top the 4,000-yard mark.

Defending MAC champion Bowling Green knocked off North Dakota the second week of the season, but has lost four straight games since then. First-year Head Coach Mike Jinks’ team is led by senior running back Fred Coppet, who has rushed for 451 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt freshman James Morgan is now the starter at quarterback and has thrown for 706 yards and three TDs in the equivalent of three games.

Toledo has had the upper hand lately in the Battle of I-75, but Bowling Green still leads the all-time series, 39-37-4. Toledo has won six straight games in the series, its last defeat coming in 2009, the first year that first year UT Head Coach Jason Candle began his career as an assistant with the Rockets.

The winner of the Toledo-BG game earns the right to keep the Battle of I-75 Trophy. Toledo won the trophy in 2011, the first year it was established, and has never had to relinquish it.

Though the trophy was officially awarded to UT in 2011, it was not completed in time for the game, so the first time the Rockets hoisted it after a victory was in 2012. UT also won the Battle of I-75 in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Saturday will be the 88th annual Homecoming game. Toledo is 59-27 in Homecoming games.

Fewer than 1,000 tickets are left for sale for the game. Official capacity for the Glass Bowl is 26,038.

The ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Tickets also will be available at the Glass Bowl stadium beginning at 11 a.m.

Gates will open at 2 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the ticket office, go online or call 419.530.GOLD (4653).

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