2016 Camellia Bowl
With the exception of a loss to Troy, the Mountaineers had been dominant in conference play and had 12 all-conference players, the most in the Sun Belt.
They led the MAC with seven first-team all-conference selections, and quarterback Logan Woodside ranked among the most prolific passers in the country.
Appalachian State never trailed during the game, but both teams traded touchdowns throughout the matchup; the first, second, and third quarters all ended with the score tied.
Appalachian State quarterback Taylor Lamb, who combined for 245 yards in passing and rushing and two touchdowns, was named the game's most valuable player.
[8][9][10] Toledo entered the Camellia Bowl as one point favorites;[1] the game was anticipated to be close[1][11] and both teams were said to be evenly matched.
The Mountaineers were projected to win the Sun Belt by Athlon Sports, USA Today, and a poll of the conference's 11 head coaches.
[11] Toledo finished the 2015 season 10–2; the team had lost the 2015 MAC Championship Game to Western Michigan but had won the 2015 Boca Raton Bowl against No.
[25] Ahead of the 2016 season, Athlon Sports as well as a preseason poll of MAC media members projected that the Rockets would finish second in the West division behind only Western Michigan.
[26][27] Steven Lasssan of Athlon Sports noted Toledo's running backs and offensive line as strengths but that the team would only return four starters on defense from the previous year.
[26] The Rockets finished the regular season with a 9–3 record and were 6–2 in conference play, good for second in the West division behind Western Michigan.
[11] Woodside's leading receivers were Corey Jones and Cody Thompson; tight end Michael Roberts had caught 15 touchdown passes.
[2] Appalachian State won the pregame coin toss and opted to defer to the second half; Toledo chose to receive the ball, and the ensuing kickoff was a touchback.
The Rockets were held to a three-and-out and Nick Ellis punted on fourth down to Jaquil Capel of Appalachian State, who fair caught the ball at their 28-yard line.
The drive culminated in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Lamb to Deltron Hopkins, and the extra point from Michael Rubino made the score 7–0.
On the first play of the drive, Logan Woodside completed a 58-yard pass to Corey Jones, bringing the ball to the Appalachian State 17-yard line.
Following two one-yard gains, Woodside threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Michael Roberts, and the extra point from Jameson Vest tied the game at 7–7.
The Mountaineers closed the half with a nine-yard completion on second and eight, bringing the ball to the Toledo 40-yard line.
The Rockets would score a touchdown in only two plays: a 25-yard pass from Woodside to Cody Thompson, and a 26-yard run from Kareem Hunt.
Toledo fair caught the punt with 14 seconds left in the quarter and ran one play, ending the half with the score tied.
Hunt capped the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run, and Vest's extra point again evened the score at 28.
A fake field goal ended in an incomplete pass, turning the ball over to Toledo with 10:11 left in the game.
The field goal attempt from Rubino was good, giving Appalachian State a 31–28 lead with 5:14 left in the game.
Three consecutive runs of 17, 11, and 13 yards from Hunt advanced the ball quickly into field goal range, but three more rushing attempts from Damion Jones-Moore failed to get a first down.
With only one timeout left, Toledo was unable to stop Appalachian State from running out the clock, securing a 31–28 win for the Mountaineers.
[2] Appalachian State quarterback Taylor Lamb was awarded the game's Bart Starr Most Valuable Player Award, named for Bart Starr, a native of Montgomery and a former Alabama Crimson Tide and Green Bay Packers quarterback.
[2] Although Toledo outpassed Appalachian State 247–119, Appalachian State outrushed Toledo 297–127 on the strength of Lamb as well as running back Marcus Cox, who rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries; Jalin Moore added another 35 yards on 16 carries.
