2018 Bahamas Bowl
{{short description|College football bowl game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = Bahamas Bowl
| subheader = 5th Bahamas Bowl
| title_sponsor = Makers Wanted
| image =
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 21
| year_game_played = 2018
| football_season = 2018
| stadium = Thomas Robinson Stadium
| city = Nassau, Bahamas
| visitor_school = Florida International University
| visitor_name_short = FIU
| visitor_nickname = Panthers
| visitor_record = 8–4
| visitor_conference = C–USA
| visitor_rank_AP =
| visitor_rank_coaches =
| visitor_rank_CFP =
| visitor_coach = Butch Davis
| visitor_1q = 0
| visitor_2q = 14
| visitor_3q = 7
| visitor_4q = 14
| home_school = University of Toledo
| home_name_short = Toledo
| home_nickname = Rockets
| home_record = 7–5
| home_conference = MAC
| home_rank_AP =
| home_rank_coaches =
| home_rank_CFP =
| home_coach = Jason Candle
| home_1q = 10
| home_2q = 0
| home_3q = 7
| home_4q = 15
| MVP = Christian Alexander (QB, FIU) &
Edwin Freeman (LB, FIU)
| anthem =
| halftime =
| referee = Michael VanderVelde (MW)
| attendance = 13,510
| payout = 225,000 {{cite web|url=http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/|title=2018 Bowl Schedule|author= |date= |website=CFP.com |access-date=December 3, 2018}}
| us_network = ESPN and Gameday Radio
| us_announcers = Steve Levy, Desmond Howard and Laura Rutledge (ESPN)
Kyle Wiggs and Rob Best (Gameday Radio)
| ratings =
| intl_network =
| intl_announcers =
}}
The 2018 Bahamas Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 21, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/cfpbowls2018/2018-19-college-football-playoff-bowl-schedule |title=2018-19 College Football Playoff and bowl schedule |date=May 2, 2018 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=July 23, 2018}} It was the fifth edition of the Bahamas Bowl, and one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by Elk Grove Village, Illinois, the game was officially called the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/31/17637376/bahamas-bowl-makers-wanted-popeyes |title=I don’t know how else to say this, but: Elk Grove Village, Illinois, is now the sponsor of the Bahamas Bowl |last=Kirshner |first=Alex |date=July 31, 2018 |website=sbnation.com}}{{cite news |first=John |last=Keilman |date=December 18, 2018 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-bahamas-bowl-college-football-elk-grove-village-makers-wanted-20181213-story.html |title=Elk Grove Village says $300K sponsorship of Bahamas Bowl has already paid off, though some residents are skeptical |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=December 18, 2018}}
The game featured the FIU Panthers of Conference USA against the Toledo Rockets of the Mid-American Conference. The matchup was announced on November 25, 2018, making this the first bowl matchup of the season to have both teams confirmed.{{cite news |url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/11/25/17553826/bahamas-bowl-2018-when-where-teams-schedule-location |title=Bahamas Bowl 2018, Toledo vs. FIU: Where, when, and team info |website=SB Nation |date=November 25, 2018 |accessdate=November 25, 2018}}
Teams
This was the fourth matchup between these two teams, with FIU holding a 2–1 lead in the series.{{cite web |url=http://www.winsipedia.com/games/fiu/vs/toledo |title=FIU Golden Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets football series history games list |website=winsipedia.com |accessdate=December 21, 2018}} They met in the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, which FIU won, 34–32.
=FIU Panthers=
{{main article|2018 FIU Panthers football team}}
FIU accepted a bid to the Bahamas Bowl on November 25.{{cite press release |url=https://www.bahamasbowl.com/fiu-and-toledo-accept-2018-makers-wanted-bahamas-bowl-invitations/ |title=FIU and Toledo Accept 2018 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Invitations |website=bahamasbowl.com |date=November 25, 2018}} The Panthers entered the bowl with an 8–4 record (6–2 in conference). FIU's usual starting quarterback, James Morgan, was unavailable for the game due to a sore shoulder, resulting in backup Christian Alexander getting the start.{{cite news |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/florida-international-university/article223370345.html |title=With James Morgan out, this quarterback will start Friday for the FIU Panthers |first=Walter |last=Villa |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=December 20, 2018 |accessdate=December 21, 2018}}
=Toledo Rockets=
{{main article|2018 Toledo Rockets football team}}
Toledo accepted a bid to the Bahamas Bowl on November 25. The Rockets entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference).
Game summary
=Scoring summary=
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=FIU|HomeName=TOL|state=}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=14:37
| Team=TOL
| DrivePlays=2
| DriveLength=3
| DriveTime=0:23
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Bryant Koback
| yards=3
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Jameson Vest
| Visitor=0
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter = 1
| Time =0:11
| Team=TOL
| DrivePlays=12
| DriveLength=52
| DriveTime=5:10
| Type=FG
| yards=28
| Kicker=Jameson Vest
| Visitor=0
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=12:44
| Team=FIU
| DrivePlays=8
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=2:27
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Anthony Jones
| yards=6
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=José Borregales
| Visitor=7
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=2:57
| Team=FIU
| DrivePlays=7
| DriveLength=96
| DriveTime=3:21
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Sterling Palmer
| QB=Christian Alexander
| yards=36
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=José Borregales
| Visitor=14
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=10:35
| Team=TOL
| DrivePlays=8
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=4:25
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Jon'Vea Johnson
| QB=Eli Peters
| yards=7
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Jameson Vest
| Visitor=14
| Home=17
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=3:47
| Team=FIU
| DrivePlays=8
| DriveLength=80
| DriveTime=4:16
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Anthony Jones
| yards=30
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=José Borregales
| Visitor=21
| Home=17
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=11:12
| Team=FIU
| DrivePlays=9
| DriveLength=88
| DriveTime=5:17
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Maurice Alexander
| yards=16
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=José Borregales
| Visitor=28
| Home=17
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=7:21
| Team=TOL
| DrivePlays=9
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=3:51
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Diontae Johnson
| QB=Eli Peters
| yards=2
| 2pt type=pass
| 2pt result=good (Eli Peters to Cody Thompson)
| Visitor=28
| Home=25
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=0:41
| Team=FIU
| DrivePlays=13
| DriveLength=83
| DriveTime=6:40
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Anthony Jones
| yards=18
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=José Borregales
| Visitor=35
| Home=25
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=0:02
| Team=TOL
| DrivePlays=5
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=0:39
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Jon'Vea Johnson
| QB=Eli Peters
| yards=43
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Jameson Vest
| Visitor=35
| Home=32
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=35|Home=32}}
=Statistics=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Panthers
|R1=0 |R2=14 |R3=7 |R4=14
|Home=Rockets
|H1=10 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=15
}}
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Visitor = FIU Panthers
| VisitorDisplay = FIU
| Home = Toledo Rockets
| HomeDisplay = TOL
| VisFirsts = 26
| VisPlaysYds = 64–459
| VisRushing = 43–236
| VisPassYds = 223
| VisPassing = 18–27–0
| VisTOP = 33:00
| HomeFirsts = 22
| HomePlaysYds = 70–388
| HomeRushing = 27–124
| HomePassYds = 264
| HomePassing = 22–37–0
| HomeTOP = 27:00
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Visitor = FIU Panthers
| VisitorDisplay = FIU
| Home = Toledo Rockets
| HomeDisplay = Toledo
| VisPasser = Christian Alexander
| VisPassStats = 17/26, 209 yds, 1 TD
| VisRusher = Anthony Jones
| VisRushStats = 15 car, 92 yds, 3 TD
| VisReceiver = Sterling Palmer
| VisReceivingStats = 3 rec, 64 yds, 1 TD
| HomePasser = Eli Peters
| HomePassStats = 22/37, 264 yds, 3 TD
| HomeRusher = Eli Peters
| HomeRushStats = 5 car, 43 yds
| HomeReceiver = Diontae Johnson
| HomeReceivingStats = 6 rec, 98 yds, 1 TD
}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.bahamasbowl.com/}}
- [http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=401032061 Box score] at ESPN
{{2018 bowl game navbox}}
{{Bahamas Bowl navbox}}
{{FIU Panthers bowl game navbox}}
{{Toledo Rockets bowl game navbox}}
Category:FIU Panthers football bowl games
Category:Toledo Rockets football bowl games