DETROIT - Bruce Gradkowski matched Ben Roethlisberger and ByronLeftwich by throwing four touchdown passes in the Mid-AmericanConference championship game.
And, as if that company wasn't impressive enough, Gradkowski wasplaying with a broken hand and separated shoulder.
The banged-up quarterback threw three of his four touchdown passesto Lance Moore, leading Toledo to a 35-27 victory over Miami (Ohio)on Thursday night.
When Gradkowski hurt his shoulder on the first drive, he missedonly one play. He injured his throwing hand late in the secondquarter, and X-rays at halftime showed it was broken. But he returnedto threw three scoring passes in the second half.
"There was no way I wasn't coming back," Gradkowski said.
"Nothing was going to keep me out. I couldn't let these guys downwhen they are working so hard for me."
Gradkowski was 18-of-24 for 251 yards with the four TDs and oneinterception.
It was the fourth straight year that a quarterback threw four TDpasses in the MAC title game. Roethlisberger did it last year for theRedHawks, and Leftwich did it for Marshall the two previous years.
Toledo (9-3) will return to Ford Field to face Connecticut on Dec.27 in the Motor City Bowl.
"We are very excited and thankful to be coming back," Toledo CoachTom Amstutz said.
"It's the best Christmas present for our family and friends."
Moore said it was a gift to have Gradkowski on his team.
"When I saw Bruce come out of the game, I got nervous," saidMoore, who had five receptions for 118 yards. "I've seen him hurt alot of times, but it never stops him from playing."
The RedHawks (8-4) will play in either the Silicon Valley Classicor the Independence Bowl.
After trailing 14-7 at halftime, Toledo rallied with three TDs inthe third quarter. The Rockets went ahead 35-20 early in the fourthon Moore's third score.
Miami pulled within eight points on Josh Betts' 13-yard TD pass toJosh Williams with 4:13 left, but Toledo converted two third-downplays on the final drive to win the MAC title game for the secondtime in five appearances.
Toledo's Steve Odom made six catches for 78 yards and a score.Scooter McDougle provided balance for Toledo's offense with 167 yardsrushing on 35 carries, a MAC title game record, but sprained his kneelate in the game.
"There haven't been many backs who have been able to run againstus like that, going all the way back to Michigan," said Miami CoachTerry Hoeppner, referring to the RedHawks' second opponent thisseason. "I just hope he's OK."
Betts was 20-of-33 for 304 yards with three TDs and twointerceptions. His 3,255 yards passing trails only Roethlisberger'ssingle-season record at Miami.
"I'm not sure much changed in the second half," Betts said. "Wejust had two turnovers. We knew we couldn't do that against a teamlike that."
Larkin had nine receptions for 131 yards and a score. Larkinextended his NCAA record streak with at least one catch to 49 games.
The MAC had its championship game on a neutral field after theprevious seven were hosted by one of the finalists. The announcedcrowd was 22,138 at the home of the Detroit Lions.
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