Appalachian State runs by Toledo to win 2nd-straight Camellia Bowl

Appalachian State came out on top of another Camellia Bowl to become the first ever back-to-back winner in the bowl’s history. Yeah, it’s only the third Camellia Bowl ever played. But the accomplishment still stands.

The bowl contained a wacky fourth quarter in Montgomery, Alabama, which involved a failed fake field goal from Appalachian State and a planned delay of game by Toledo to “help” its kicker on a field goal attempt.

But there was one problem on Toledo kicker Jameson Vest’s attempt. It was no good as Vest missed the 30-yarder by the slimmest of margins to his right.

In spite of all the weirdness, the Mountaineers stuck to the recipe that worked all season to achieve victory: run the ball efficiently, win ball possessions, and prevent turnovers.

Quarterback Taylor Lamb shined on the ground, rushing for a career high 126 yards and a touchdown. Star running back Marcus Cox carried the ball 22 times for 143 yards and a score en route to becoming the 22nd player in FBS to rush for 5,000 career yards. Appalachian State had the ball more than 10 minutes longer Toledo and did not turn the ball over.

The Mountaineers started off the scoring with a 16-yard jet sweep by Deltron Hopkins. The other first-half score by the boys from Boone came on the aforementioned touchdown by Cox. As Appalachian State ran with ruthless efficiency (6.1 yards-per-carry), its defense corralled Toledo’s offense well.

Toledo’s offense struggled in the first half, having trouble on the ground. But, its propensity for explosive plays flashed as Corey Jones caught a 58-yard bomb to set up an ensuing 15-yard touchdown pass to Michael Roberts from quarterback Logan Woodside to tie the game at 7-7.

Even with that scoring drive, The Rockets only had 2 first downs in the first quarter. Toledo’s masterful 52% third down conversion rate for the season (3rd in FBS) did not follow suit in the first half as it went 1-for-6 on third down tries.

Despite the first half offense struggles, Toledo running back Kareem Hunt tied the game at 14 as his score became the perfect way to become Toledo’s all-time leading rusher in school history.

Hunt and Cox accounted for 243 rushing yards and three TDs combined.

After a fairly tame first half, the third quarter transformed into two title fighters trading blows. Taylor Lamb struck first for the Mountaineers as he turned a 4th and 1 into a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Toledo responded by driving the field and Woodside lofting an pass to a wide open Cody Thompson in the corner of the end zone. The following play, the Mountaineers got some unexpected help from their kickoff unit when Darrynton Evans took the kickoff 94 yards to the house for Appalachian State’s first special teams score of the season.

Hunt finished the high-scoring third quarter with a second touchdown, but no one would see the end zone in the fourth despite the nuttiness.

With the win, Appalachian State improves its record to 10-3 while Toledo finishes 9-4.