The game's first touchdown came on Liberty's second drive, by virtue of a 9-yard Shedro Louis rush with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Liberty missed a chance at narrowing their deficit with a failed 32-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter and Toledo scored to make their lead 14 points shortly thereafter.
A touchdown by Liberty with under four minutes to play narrowed Toledo's lead to two points but the Rockets were able to run out the clock and secure a 21–19 victory.
23 Wake Forest, before getting back on track and winning six straight games against Akron, Old Dominion, UMass, Gardner–Webb, BYU, and Arkansas.
[10] The Boca Raton Bowl was televised by ESPN, with a commentary team of Anish Shroff, Tim Hasselbeck, and Marilyn Payne.
[17] The game's officiating crew, representing Conference USA, was led by referee Patrick Foy and umpire Anthony Britt.
[7] The game began at 7:35 p.m. EST with Thomas Cluckey performing the opening kickoff, which was returned by Liberty's Demario Douglas to his own 18-yard-line.
The Flames offense started the game with five consecutive passes by quarterback Kaidon Salter, the first three of which were complete for a total of 20 yards to Douglas and Caleb Snead.
The Rockets went three-and-out on their next drive after a sack by Aakil Washington and Mike Smith Jr. set them back 7 yards on third down.
Toledo scored their first points on their next drive, as a pass from Tucker Gleason to Lenny Kuhl for 12 yards and a rush by Peny Boone for 10 yards gained first downs on consecutive plays and a 38-yard pass later in the drive set up a 41-yard field goal by Cluckey to make the score 7–3.
Toledo gained a pair of first downs on their next drive but ultimately faced 4th & 7 and had to punt after an illegal procedure set them back five yards at the start of the series.
Liberty again went three-and-out in what would be their final full drive of the half, having gained two yards in three plays, and their punt was returned by Beale to the Toledo 38-yard-line.
[18] Toledo got the ball to begin the second half but fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, though a Rockets player was able to recover it and keep possession.
Liberty moved the ball quite well themselves on their next drive, as they took over at their own 31-yard-line and faltered initially before a pass interference penalty and an 11-yard gain took them into Toledo territory after four plays.
The kick was fair caught by Douglas at the Liberty 33-yard-line, and the Flames struck quickly with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Bentley Hanshaw on their next play from scrimmage.
Toledo resumed possession at their own 26-yard-line with 3:31 left in the game, and they took the clock down to 2:02 with three Stuart rushes before Liberty called a timeout.