It was the first day of bowl season. Two 9-3 teams played 60 minutes of competitive football, with neither side putting the game out of reach. After eight total touchdowns, Appalachian State's kicker Michael Rubino chipped in a 39-yard field goal with just over five minutes remaining to secure a 31-28 lead. Toledo drove right down the field, but Jameson Vest's 30-yard attempt did not fly through the uprights. Game.
Appalachian State knocked off Toledo in Montgomery, Alabama, claiming a three-point victory in the Camellia Bowl. A year later, both programs have returned key starters and have sustained their success and will meet again in Alabama.