2018 Bahamas Bowl

The 2018 Bahamas Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 21, 2018.^[3] 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.^[4][5]

2018 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
5th Bahamas Bowl
FIU Panthers Toledo Rockets (8–4) (7–5) C–USA MAC 35 32 Head coach:  Butch Davis Head coach:  Jason Candle
1 2 3 4 Total FIU 0 14 7 14 35 Toledo 10 0 7 15 32
Date	December 21, 2018
Season	2018
Stadium	Thomas Robinson Stadium
Location	Nassau, Bahamas
MVP	Christian Alexander (QB, FIU) & Edwin Freeman (LB, FIU)
Favorite	Toledo by 5.5[1]
Referee	Michael VanderVelde (MW)
Attendance	13,510
Payout	US$225,000 [2]
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN and Gameday Radio
Announcers	Steve Levy, Desmond Howard and Laura Rutledge (ESPN) Kyle Wiggs and Rob Best (Gameday Radio)
Bahamas Bowl  < 2017  2019 >

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.^[6]

Teams

This was the fourth matchup between these two teams, with FIU holding a 2–1 lead in the series.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Toledo Rockets

Main article: 2018 Toledo Rockets football team

Toledo accepted a bid to the Bahamas Bowl on November 25.^[8] The Rockets entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference).

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP FIU TOL 1 14:37 2 3 0:23 TOL Bryant Koback 3-yard touchdown run, Jameson Vest kick good 0 7 1 0:11 12 52 5:10 TOL 28-yard field goal by Jameson Vest 0 10 2 12:44 8 75 2:27 FIU Anthony Jones 6-yard touchdown run, José Borregales kick good 7 10 2 2:57 7 96 3:21 FIU Sterling Palmer 36-yard touchdown reception from Christian Alexander, José Borregales kick good 14 10 3 10:35 8 75 4:25 TOL Jon'Vea Johnson 7-yard touchdown reception from Eli Peters, Jameson Vest kick good 14 17 3 3:47 8 80 4:16 FIU Anthony Jones 30-yard touchdown run, José Borregales kick good 21 17 4 11:12 9 88 5:17 FIU Maurice Alexander 16-yard touchdown run, José Borregales kick good 28 17 4 7:21 9 75 3:51 TOL Diontae Johnson 2-yard touchdown reception from Eli Peters, 2-point pass good (Eli Peters to Cody Thompson) 28 25 4 0:41 13 83 6:40 FIU Anthony Jones 18-yard touchdown run, José Borregales kick good 35 25 4 0:02 5 75 0:39 TOL Jon'Vea Johnson 43-yard touchdown reception from Eli Peters, Jameson Vest kick good 35 32 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 35 32

Statistics

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	14	7	14	35
Rockets	10	0	7	15	32

Statistics	FIU	TOL
First downs	26	22
Plays–yards	64–459	70–388
Rushes–yards	43–236	27–124
Passing yards	223	264
Passing: comp–att–int	18–27–0	22–37–0
Time of possession	33:00	27:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing	Christian Alexander	17/26, 209 yds, 1 TD
	Rushing	Anthony Jones	15 car, 92 yds, 3 TD
	Receiving	Sterling Palmer	3 rec, 64 yds, 1 TD
Toledo	Passing	Eli Peters	22/37, 264 yds, 3 TD
	Rushing	Eli Peters	5 car, 43 yds
	Receiving	Diontae Johnson	6 rec, 98 yds, 1 TD

References

1. Fawkes, Ben (December 10, 2018). "Odds for every 2018-19 CFB bowl game". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
2. "2018 Bowl Schedule". CFP.com. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
3. "2018-19 College Football Playoff and bowl schedule". ESPN. May 2, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
4. Kirshner, Alex (July 31, 2018). "I don't know how else to say this, but: Elk Grove Village, Illinois, is now the sponsor of the Bahamas Bowl". sbnation.com.
5. Keilman, John (December 18, 2018). "Elk Grove Village says $300K sponsorship of Bahamas Bowl has already paid off, though some residents are skeptical". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
6. "Bahamas Bowl 2018, Toledo vs. FIU: Where, when, and team info". SB Nation. November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
7. "FIU Golden Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets football series history games list". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
8. "FIU and Toledo Accept 2018 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Invitations". bahamasbowl.com (Press release). November 25, 2018.
9. Villa, Walter (December 20, 2018). "With James Morgan out, this quarterback will start Friday for the FIU Panthers". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 21, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Box score at ESPN