UT quarterback’s six-touchdown performance gains attention; fans can vote on Facebook

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University of Toledo junior quarterback Mitchell Guadagni earned league and national recognition for his performance in Toledo’s 63-44 win over Nevada Sept. 22.

He was named West Division Offensive Player of the Week by the Mid-American Conference, made the Great 8 list for the Davey O’Brien Award, and was one of eight quarterbacks named a Manning Award Star of the Week.

Guadagni threw for four touchdowns and ran for two more in the victory. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 211 yards and led the Rockets with 131 yards rushing on 15 carries. His 34-yard touchdown run with 7:26 left in the game sealed the victory and was the final score in a wild contest that saw the teams combine for 107 points and 1,042 yards in just under four hours of football.

Guadagni leads the MAC in passing efficiency (205.5), total offense (298.7), and is third in passing yards per game (232.7). His passing efficiency number ranks fourth in the country.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation has given out the National Quarterback Award every year since 1981. The Davey O’Brien Fan Vote, now in its 12th year, gives fans a chance to play a role in determining the winner by voting daily at VoteOBrien.org. The winner of the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week Award, which will be one of the week’s Great 8 quarterbacks, will be announced Thursday on the Punt & Pass Podcast. To listen to the announcement and discussion of this week’s Great 8, click here.

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting.

Guadagni is one of eight quarterbacks in the nation to be named as a Manning Award Star of the Week. College football fans can go to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page to vote for what they think was the best performance from this past weekend. When voting closes Thursday at noon Eastern Time, the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.

Toledo (2-1, 0-0 MAC) travels to Fresno State (2-1, 0-0 MWC) this Saturday before it hosts Bowling Green in the annual Battle of I-75 Saturday, Oct. 6.

For tickets, go online at utrockets.com or call 419.530.GOLD (4653). Faculty and staff can buy tickets half off with ID, and UT students are admitted free with ID.