After finishing the season 8-4, the Liberty Flames have been invited to their fourth straight bowl game to face the Toledo Rockets in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.
The Rockets and Flames will showdown in Boca Raton, FL on Dec 20 at 7:30PM. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and LFSN Radio (The Journey 88.3 FM).
The Boca Raton Bowl is set to be played on Howard Schnellenberger Field at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Stadium. FAU Stadium was opened in 2011 and has a capacity of 29,571. The stadium recorded its record attendance in September with 30,991 attendees for FAU’s game against UCF.
The Rockets finished the regular season with a 8-5 record and a Mid-American Conference Championship win. The Rockets lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in their third game of the season, but their other four losses have all been by one-score. The Rockets’ two games before the Mid-American Conference Championship were losses.
The Flames have played the Rockets only three times in school history. The Rockets won all three matchups, with the last one in 2007. The two teams first met on the field in 1994.
Rockets’ head coach Jason Candle is in his 6th year as head coach for Toledo. Candle initially started as Toledo’s wide receiver coach in 2010 but was named head coach in 2016. Candle began his coaching career in 2003.
Under Candle’s head coaching, Toledo has gone 52-32 in seven seasons and been invited to five bowl games. Candle has yet to lead the Rockets to a bowl game win. The Rockets have had the No. 1 recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference five times under Candle.
After three straight losses, the Flames will attempt to keep their bowl win streak alive. The Flames are currently 3-0 in bowl games.
In the regular season, the Rockets allowed 25.5 points per game and scored an average of 32.1 points per game. The Flames have allowed 24.9 points per game and have scored an average of 28.1 points per game.
Three Toledo Player to Watch For
QB #7 – Dequan Finn has thrown 291 times for 2,127 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Finn has also rushed 113 times for 608 yards and 8 touchdowns.
LB #19 – Dallas Gant has claimed 112 total tackles and 50 solo tackles, defended 5 passes, and forced 2 fumbles this season. Gant leads the Rockets in tackles and forced fumbles.
CB #27 – Quinyon Mitchell has had 40 total tackles and 25 solo tackles this season. Mitchell has also defended 19 passes and claimed 5 interceptions this season. Mitchell holds the title of most pass defenses in NCAA football this season.
