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College football game
The 1997 MAC Championship Game was the inaugural conference championship game of the Mid-American Conference , and was played on December 5, 1997, at Marshall Stadium, now known as Joan C. Edwards Stadium , in Huntington, West Virginia . The game featured the Marshall Thundering Herd of the East Division, and the Toledo Rockets of the West Division. It snowed the entire game.[1] The Thundering Herd defeated the Rockets 34–14.[2] [3]
Toledo entered the championship game as West Division champions, having compiled a 9–2 record, 7–1 record in MAC play. The Rockets started the season 8–0 and reaching No. 18 in the AP Poll before losing to Ball State for its only conference loss.
Marshall [ edit ]
Marshall entered the championship game as East Division champions, having compiled a 9–2 record, 7–1 record in MAC play.. After losing its season-opener to West Virginia , the Thundering Herd won nine of its next ten games. This marked Marshall's first season back in the MAC since it was suspended from the conference after the 1968 season .
Game summary [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
(10:51) MRSH – Billy Malashevich 22 yard field goal (Marshall 3–0 )
Second quarter
(13:16) TOL – Ray Curry 56 yard pass from Chris Wallace , Chris Merrick kick (Toledo 7–3 )
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
(10:42) MRSH – Billy Malashevich 25 yard field goal (Marshall 20–7 )
(7:01) MRSH – Randy Moss 20 yard pass from Chad Pennington , Billy Malashevich kick (Marshall 27–7 )
(6:24) MRSH – Doug Chapman 5 yard rush, Billy Malashevich kick (Marshall 34–7 )
(3:02) TOL – Mel Long Jr. 33 yard pass from Chris Wallace , Chris Merrick kick (Marshall 34–14 )
Statistics [ edit ]
Statistics
TOL
MRSH
First downs
16
24
Plays–yards
70–319
63–442
Rushes–yards
42–73
29–120
Passing yards
246
322
Passing: comp–att–int
12–28–1
20–34–1
Time of possession
29:44
30:16
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Toledo
Passing
Chris Wallace
12/28, 246 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Dwayne Harris
30 carries, 105 yards
Receiving
Brock Kreitzburg
3 receptions, 65 yards
Marshall
Passing
Chad Pennington
20/34, 322 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Doug Chapman
20 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Randy Moss
7 receptions, 170 yards, 3 TD
References [ edit ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons