2004 Motor City Bowl

The 2004 Motor City Bowl, part of the 2004–05 NCAA football bowl games season, occurred on December 27, 2004, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

The Toledo Rockets entered the game as the champions of the Mid-American Conference as they defeated Miami University on December 2, 2004, in the MAC Championship Game by a score of 35–27. This was Toledo's third trip to the bowl. They also appeared in 2001 and 2002. The Connecticut Huskies qualified for their first ever bowl appearance by finishing 7–4 and had a Big East Conference record of 3–3. Connecticut was invited to the game when the Big Ten could not provide a qualifying team.

The announced attendance of 52,552 was, at the time, a record crowd for the Motor City Bowl. It has since been surpassed by both the 2006 and 2007 games.

Larry Taylor received the opening kickoff for UConn at the eight-yard line and returned the ball 34 yards to the Connecticut 42-yard line. Behind the passing of quarterback Dan Orlovsky and the running of Cornell Brockington, the Huskies moved down the field, earning three first downs. The drive stalled at the Toledo 17-yard line; Matt Nuzie came on to successfully kick a 35-yard field goal. UConn took an early 3–0 lead, with 11:55 left in the first quarter.

Toledo received the ensuing kickoff, but lost yardage on the return and had to start their opening drive from their own eight-yard line. On their first offensive play they promptly earned their first first down of the game, on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Bruce Gradkowski to wide receiver Kenny Higgins. After being stopped for no gain on the next play, running back Trinity Dawson uncorked a 22-yard run on second down to earn Toledo's second first down of the drive. The Rockets were unable to progress further, however, and punted the ball to the Huskies, who likewise were unable to advance. Toledo received the Connecticut punt but could not earn a first down on three plays. On 4th-and-4 on their own 45-yard line, the Rockets faked the punt attempt and attempted to earn a first down, but fumbled the ball; Connecticut's Tyler King recovered. The Huskies made Toledo pay for their mistake. After three plays earned only four yards, UConn went for it on fourth down. Dan Orlovsky connected with wide receiver Jason Williams for 32 yards and a touchdown. After Nuzie kicked the extra-point, the Connecticut lead was extended to 10–0, with 4:36 left in the first quarter.

The Rockets started their next drive from their own 27-yard line. Two plays netted Toledo five yards, which were promptly lost on a penalty, setting up a 3rd-and-10. Gradkowski's pass was incomplete, forcing the Rockets to punt. Toledo's punt was caught by UConn's Larry Taylor, who ran down the right sideline 68 yards, all the way for a touchdown. After the extra point, the Huskies now had a 17–0 lead. UConn's 17 points were a Motor City Bowl-record for most points scored in a first quarter.

The Rockets got the ball back on their own 31-yard line, and moved down the field on runs by Trinity Dawson, aided by a 15-yard penalty on the Huskies on third down. Dawson's 11-yard run up the middle on 2nd-and-6 set up a 1st-and-10 on the UConn 28-yard line as the first quarter clock expired. At the end of the first quarter, Connecticut held a 17–0 lead.

Toledo continued their drive down the field as the second quarter began. Twice UConn had a chance to stop the Rockets, forcing them into second- or third-and-long scenarios. Twice Toledo converted the first down, the first time on a 14-yard run by Trinity Dawson, the second time on a 16-yard pass from Gradkowski to tight end Chris Holmes, setting up a 1st-and-goal on the Connecticut 4. On first down Dawson gained three yards; on second down Gradkowski kept the ball himself but was stopped for no gain. Gradkowski tried again on third down, and this time punched the ball in for the touchdown. After the extra point, the Rockets now trailed the Huskies, 17–7.