1997 MAC Championship Game

August 2023 MAC Championship Game Conference Championship December 5 1997 1997 Marshall Stadium Huntington, West Virginia University of Toledo Toledo Rockets 9–2 Gary Pinkel 0 7 0 7 Marshall University Marshall Thundering Herd 9–2 Bob Pruett 3 0 14 17 WR Randy Moss (Marshall) Marshall by 1 28,021 ESPN2 Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Todd Christensen (analyst) and Chris Marlowe (sideline) Yes 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.Rosenberger Bill http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x535103268/Dreary-weather-adds-to-tough-day-for-fans Dreary weather adds to tough day for fans The Herald-Dispatch October 28, 2012 November 5, 2012 The Thundering Herd defeated the Rockets 34–14.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/mac/1997-schedule.html 1997 Mid-American Conference Schedule and Results Sports-Reference November 4, 2012http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101334/101334340.htm NCAA Football – Marshall vs. Toledo USA Today November 30, 2001 November 5, 2012 Teams Toledo 1997 Toledo Rockets football team 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 1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team 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 Mid-American Conference white; text-align:center; autocollapse #fff #eee 1997 MAC Championship Game Friday, December 5, 1997 7:30 p.m. EST (6:30 p.m. CST) Toledo 0 7 0 7 Marshall 3 0 14 17 Marshall University Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia 28,021 Snow • Temperature: 28 F C • Wind: W 10–15 mph ESPN2 Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Todd Christensen (analyst) and Chris Marlowe (sideline) 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 (6:46) MRSH – Randy Moss 4 yard pass from Chad Pennington, Billy Malashevich kick (Marshall 10–7) (3:48) MRSH – Randy Moss 86 yard pass from Chad Pennington, Billy Malashevich kick (Marshall 17–7) 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 Left Toledo Rockets TOL Marshall Thundering Herd MRSH 16 70–319 42–73 246 12–28–1 29:44 24 63–442 29–120 322 20–34–1 30:16 Right Toledo Rockets Toledo Marshall Thundering Herd Marshall Chris Wallace 12/28, 246 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Dwayne Harris 30 carries, 105 yards Brock Kreitzburg 3 receptions, 65 yards Chad Pennington 20/34, 322 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Doug Chapman 20 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD Randy Moss 7 receptions, 170 yards, 3 TD References Championship Game Category:MAC Championship Game Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football games Category:Toledo Rockets football games Category:December 1997 sports events in the United States MAC Championship Category:American football competitions in West Virginia Category:Sports competitions in Huntington, West Virginia