|
 Voss made sure he didn't let an opportunity slip away, providing
the Rockets with an early shot of momentum in the GoDaddy Bowl.
Recovering the ball in the end zone, Voss gave the Rockets a 7-0
lead 10 seconds into the game. The touchdown set the tone for
Toledo's 63-44 win that ended Arkansas State's two-year reign as the
GoDaddy Bowl champion.
"The ball was bouncing around forever, and I just happened to be
there to fall on it," said Voss, who made 10 tackles and was
selected the defensive MVP. "It was a great play to start off the
game."
For Knighten, it was a different story.
"I tried to circle the offensive line, and (Hester) was able to get
his helmet on the ball to knock it loose," Knighten said. "It put us
in a tough position early."
With Knighten running the offense, nothing was easy for Voss and his
teammates. Knighten threw for five touchdowns, breaking the GoDaddy
Bowl record, and he finished 23-for-31 for 403 yards.
However, when the Rockets needed to make plays, they got the job
done.
"We all kept fighting as a defense," Voss said. "We had to man up
and play our positions. We did that. I'm proud of our effort."
The Rockets (9-4) had a lot to be proud of on offense as well,
rolling up 541 total yards. The effort was fueled by sophomore
running back Kareem Hunt, who rushed 32 times for 271 yards and five
touchdowns, breaking the GoDaddy Bowl record for touchdowns and
tying the school record.
Hunt, the game's offensive MVP, scored three TDs in the opening
half, including a 29-yard run on fourth-and-2 that gave the Rockets
a 28-17 lead.
"It was a team effort, and I was just happy I could help us get the
win," Hunt said. "I owe credit to the offensive line. Those seniors
deserve the MVP trophy. I couldn't have done it without them."
Toledo coach Matt Campbell wasn't surprised his team had success
running the ball against the Red Wolves (7-6).
"The great thing about our offense is that we take what the defense
gives us," Campbell said. "We had confidence we could run the
football."
Hunt scored on runs of 4 yards and 44 yards in the first half as
well. However, it was a touchdown by defensive end Allen Covington
that helped swing the momentum just before halftime.
With the Rockets ahead 28-17, Knighten was hit on a blitz and the
ball got knocked loose. Covington scooped it up, and the 275-pound
defensive standout rumbled 67 yards down the middle of the field to
give the Rockets an 18-point lead at the break.
"It did give them momentum," Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson
said. "We were moving the ball at that time, and that kind of took
the wind out of us a little bit."
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Toledo got the ball to start the second half and went in front 42-17
on Hunt's fourth TD of the game.
Wide receiver Booker Mays caught his second touchdown of the game
late in the third, giving the Red Wolves a hint of life. He caught a
55-yard scoring strike in stride with 4:40 left as Arkansas State
cut the deficit to 42-24.
Strong safety Money Hunter provided even more hope with 2:06 left in
the third, picking off a pass and sprinting 94 yards down the left
sideline for a score as Arkansas State pulled within 42-31.
A 1-yard scoring run by Hunt early in the fourth quarter helped
Toledo begin to pull away.
"I thought our kids really played hard," Anderson said. "We flew
around, and speed was the thing that kept us in it, but Toledo is a
very good football team."
Rockets running back Damion Jones-Moore scored two touchdowns and
finished with 103 yards on 15 carries. Toledo quarterback Logan
Woodside was 21-for-27 for 176 yards with one interceptions.
"Give credit to Arkansas State. Those guys played extremely hard,"
Campbell said. "I am very proud of my football team, too."
NOTES: Arkansas State QB Fredi Knighten was the 2014 GoDaddy Bowl
MVP, throwing for 115 yards and rushing for 97 as the Red Wolves
beat Ball State 23-20. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass as
Arkansas State won the bowl for the second consecutive year. ...
Toledo coach Matt Campbell recently had his contract extended
through 2020. He led the Rockets in a bowl game for the third time.
He was at the helm in the 2011 Military Bowl after Tim Beckman left
for Illinois. The Rockets won 42-41. ... Toledo and Arkansas State
combined for 37 points in the opening quarter, the most in a first
quarter in the GoDaddy Bowl since Bowling Green and Memphis combined
for 28 in 2004. The Falcons and Tigers combined for 37 in the second
quarter that year, and Bowling Green won 52-35.
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