Toledo's football team goes as its running game goes, powered by a big, experienced offensive line and one of the best backs in its conference.
In other words, Toledo appears to be the type of team that has given Arkansas State fits as the programs prepare for their matchup Jan. 4 at the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
GoDaddy Bowl
ARKANSAS STATE VS. TOLEDO
WHEN 8 p.m. Central Jan. 4
WHERE Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
RECORDS Arkansas State 7-5, Toledo 8-4
RADIO KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro; KKSP-FM, 93.3, in Bryant/Little Rock
TV ESPN
Rushing prowess
• Toledo takes pride in its being ballanced on offense, but Arkansas State’s biggest concern is its running game haeding into the Jan. 4 GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Toledo ranks 17th nationally at 247.3 yards per game and 11th at 5.7 yards per rush.
OPPONENT;RUSHES-YARDS
New Hampshire;45-306
Missouri;31-154
Cincinatti;39-240
Ball State;47-318
Central Michigan;38-204
Western Michigan;36-234
Iowa State;41-236
UMass;49-295
Kent State;47-221
Northern Illinois;49-263
Bowling Green;53-325
Eastern Michigan;47-172
Toled0 (8-4) used the second-best running game in the Mid-American Conference and the 17th-best nationally (247.3 yards per game) to tie Northern Illinois at the top of the Mid-American Conference West Division. The Rockets also averaged 5.7 yards per carry behind sophomore running back Kareem Hunt -- which ranked first in the MAC and 11th nationally -- and piled up at least 260 yards in five games.
But Coach Matt Campbell is quick to dismiss the notion that his team is a bunch of one-dimensional plodders. The Rockets may run the ball well, but they do it out of Spread formations and play-up tempo. In fact, their average of 74.4 plays per game ranks third in the MAC.
"We're built to take what the defense gives us," Campbell said in a recent telephone interview.
Campbell complimented his offensive line, which consists of five seniors who have already graduated, but he also spoke highly of his receivers and quarterback Logan Woodside, who took over in the third game of the season after starter Phillip Ely suffered a knee injury.
Their ability to adapt is a big part of the reason the Rockets led the league in total yards (486.3) and were second in scoring (34.4), but it wouldn't have been possible without a base provided by the offensive line.
Seniors Josh Hendershot, Jeff Myers, Greg Mancz, Robert Lisowski and Chase Nelson started the first nine games as Toledo averaged 6-5 and 298 pounds per man up front. A knee injury sidelined Mancz -- a four-year starter at center -- for the last three games, but there wasn't any drop-off in size as Toledo plugged the hole with 6-8, 310-pound Storm Norton.
"They have really set the tone for the year we've had," said Campbell, who is in his third season as the Rockets' coach. "They're good pass protectors, and we're able to run the ball. At least they've been able to steady the ship through all the uncertainty, and I think that's been huge."
ASU is particularly concerned about the running game led by Hunt, a first-team All-MAC player whose 7.9 yards per rush ranked second nationally and whose 151.1 yards per game ranked third.
The Red Wolves had their share of problems with some of the top backs in the Sun Belt Conference thanks to a lack of depth along the defensive line.
Louisiana-Lafayette's Elijah McGuire, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, rushed for 265 yards and four touchdowns against ASU. Appalachian State's Marcus Cox, the league's second-leading rusher, churned out 229 yards and two touchdowns, and Texas State's Robert Lowe had 236 yards and four touchdowns.
ASU's defense expects to be bolstered by the return of nickel back Charleston Girley, who has missed the past eight games with a wrist injury, and cornerback Rocky Hayes, who missed the last regular season game with a collarbone injury, but that doesn't help a line that has lost defensive end Ja'Von Jones to a season-ending elbow injury and Jonah Hill to a knee injury.
"We have who we have, so it's just a matter of perfecting what we do and trying to be as effective as we can be," ASU defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen said. "Ultimately, if we can't stop the run it's going to be a long freaking day."
Toledo's ground game might serve as motivation for the Red Wolves. Some players have said they prefer to play a team similar to those that dealt ASU its greatest frustrations this season.
Senior defensive tackle Dexter Blackmon said he doesn't want it to end his career with another back rushing for 200 yards or more against ASU.
"If they're running the ball, it's almost a guaranteed victory," he said. "We just want to take pride in stopping the run."
That's not to say that's all ASU has to worry about.
"We certainly do have a good offensive line and certainly some good backs," Campbell said, "but I think our philosophy is we go into every game with a mind-set of what gives us every opportunity to be successful and win the football game."
Sports on 12/17/2014