1997 MAC Championship Game

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.[1] The Thundering Herd defeated the Rockets 34–14.[2][3]

1997 MAC Championship Game
Conference Championship
Toledo Rockets Marshall Thundering Herd
(9–2) (9–2)
14 34
Head coach: 
Gary Pinkel		 Head coach: 
Bob Pruett
1234 Total
Toledo 0707 14
Marshall 301417 34
DateDecember 5, 1997
Season1997
StadiumMarshall Stadium
LocationHuntington, West Virginia
MVPWR Randy Moss (Marshall)
FavoriteMarshall by 1
Attendance28,021
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
AnnouncersRich Waltz (play-by-play), Todd Christensen (analyst) and Chris Marlowe (sideline)
1997 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Marshall x$  7 –1   10 –3  
Miami (OH)  6 –2   8 –3  
Ohio  6 –2   8 –3  
Bowling Green  3 –5   3 –8  
Kent State  3 –5   3 –8  
Akron  2 –7   2 –9  
West Division
Toledo x  7 –1   9 –3  
Western Michigan  6 –2   8 –3  
Ball State  4 –4   5 –6  
Eastern Michigan  4 –5   4 –7  
Central Michigan  1 –7   2 –9  
Northern Illinois  0 –8   0 –11  
Championship: Marshall 34, Toledo 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions

Teams

Toledo
Main article: 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
Main article: 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
1997 MAC Championship Game
Period 1 2 34Total
Toledo 0 7 0714
Marshall 3 0 141734

at Marshall University Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia

  • Date: Friday, December 5, 1997
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST (6:30 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: Snow • Temperature: 28 °F (−2 °C) • Wind: W 10–15 mph
  • Game attendance: 28,021
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Todd Christensen (analyst) and Chris Marlowe (sideline)
Game information
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
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
Statistics TOL MRSH
First downs1624
Plays–yards70–31963–442
Rushes–yards42–7329–120
Passing yards246322
Passing: comp–att–int12–28–120–34–1
Time of possession29:4430:16
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Toledo PassingChris Wallace12/28, 246 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingDwayne Harris30 carries, 105 yards
ReceivingBrock Kreitzburg3 receptions, 65 yards
Marshall PassingChad Pennington20/34, 322 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingDoug Chapman20 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingRandy Moss7 receptions, 170 yards, 3 TD

References
  1. Rosenberger, Bill (October 28, 2012). "Dreary weather adds to tough day for fans". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  2. "1997 Mid-American Conference Schedule and Results". Sports-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  3. "NCAA Football – Marshall vs. Toledo". USA Today. November 30, 2001. Retrieved November 5, 2012.


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