DETROIT (AP) -- Logan Woodside threw four touchdown passes and Terry Swanson rushed for 180 yards and two scores as Toledo defeated Akron 45-28 in the Mid-American Conference championship game Saturday at Ford Field.
Receivers Diontae Johnson (118 yards) and Jon'Vea Johnson (103) combined for 221 yards and three touchdowns for Toledo (11-2), which won its third conference championship game and first since 2004.
"When you have offensive balance, not just with the run and the pass, but two receivers getting the ball and making plays, you are going to be tough to stop," Toledo coach Jason Candle said. "We have great players, and it is our job to find ways to get them all involved."
Akron (7-6) forced five turnovers but couldn't overcome a lopsided first half in their second loss to Toledo (11-2) this season.
Woodside threw three touchdown passes in the first half, two to Diontae Johnson, as the Rockets took a 28-0 lead. Swanson rushed for 61 yards and another score as Toledo outgained Akron 326-98 in the half.
Akron trailed 38-0 before Manny Morgan's rushing touchdown with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. The Rockets finished with a 561-396 edge in yardage.
"They played a little softer in the second half, because they knew they were so far ahead," Akron coach Terry Bowden said. "Our guys played as hard as they could, and we got some quick scores late, but Toledo still won by a good margin."
THE TAKEAWAY
Akron: The Zips won a weak MAC East division, but Saturday's result wasn't a surprise. Akron lost 48-21 when they played the Rockets in Toledo on Oct. 22, giving up 626 yards of offense, and couldn't slow them down Saturday on an NFL field.
Toledo: The Rockets were dominant on Saturday, and they've scored 148 points in their past three games, but they can't afford five turnovers in their bowl game.
UP NEXT
Akron: The Zips will learn in the next 24 hours where they will be headed for the third bowl game in school history. They played in the 2005 Motor City Bowl and 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Toledo: Along with the conference championship, the Rockets will play in a bowl game for the fourth straight season and the seventh time in eight years.
