Week 13: Toledo at Bowling Green

The Mid-American Conference’s most bitter rivalry is renewed on the FieldTurf at Perry Stadium, with a bit more than the conventional bragging rights riding on this one.

It’s a big picture game for the Falcons, whose seniors have not beaten Toledo in three previous tries. Bowling Green comes in with the best overall record in the MAC, and a chance to lock up one of the conference’s three bowl bids. A victory likely sends the Falcons to either the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, or the International Bowl in Toronto. It would be Bowling Green’s first bowl game since the 2004 season.

Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon thinks his team, which has rebounded from a 4-4 start with three consecutive wins, can really distinguish itself with a victory over Toledo.

The Rockets enter the game in an unusual and uncertain position. Toledo has fallen on hard times this season, and was well out of the MAC West race for the second straight year, after winning the division four of the previous five seasons. The Rockets have won eight of the last 11 games in this rivalry, and the past three in a row.

Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt was injured last week and is not available to face the Falcons, leaving the job to Clint Cochran or D.J. Lenehan, but Brandon said history tells him the Rockets will be fine with either one at the controls.

"Well, from what I'm hearing both of them will play, but I'm really not concerned with who they are playing, I'm just concerned about my guys,” Brandon said. “Regardless of who plays at quarterback for Toledo, I think they have the best talent in the league, year in and year out, and this year is no exception. I think they are one of the top three in the league when it comes to talent and having good players.”

The Rockets will lean heavily on senior tailback Jalen Parmele, who had 123 yards rushing last week. Brandon knows his defense, which has been suspect against the run, will need to find a method to hem in Parmele.

“Parmele is a big, strong back with better-than-average speed,” Brandon said. “He runs well, he sets up his blocks, he's a north-south guy and we have to get a lot of hats around him.”

Toledo sophomore wide receiver Stephen Williams has emerged as one of the top threats in the conference, and had nine catches for 135 yards last week. If Cochran or Lenehan can get Williams the ball, the Rockets have a chance to keep up with Bowling Green’s prolific passing attack.

Bowling Green by 7