BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (Ticker) -- Bowling Green might have been expected to take a step backward this season, but the Falcons took another step forward.
Josh Harris threw three touchdowns to Charles Sharon and caught a TD pass on a trick play as 25th-ranked Bowling Green clinched the Mid-American Conference West Division title with a 31-23 win over Toledo.
The Falcons were 9-3 last season under coach Urban Meyer, who left for Utah. But they did not skip a beat under Gregg Brandon, their former offensive coordinator who led the school to their first-ever appearance in the MAC title game.
Bowling Green (10-2, 7-1) will host Miami Ohio in the championship game on Thursday.
"We really felt that we deserved to be here," Brandon said. "This program deserves to be champions."
Harris put the Falcons ahead to stay with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Sharon with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter, making it 24-17. Seven minutes later, Harris and Sharon hooked up on a 21-yard score.
Bruce Gradkowski threw a 58-yard touchdown to Lance Moore with 2:30 left to cut the lead to 31-23. After missing the extra point, the Rockets had one more chance when they recovered the onside kick. But Toledo was unable to move the ball and Gradkowski was sacked on fourth down.
Bowling Green will try to avenge a 33-10 loss to Miami Ohio on November 4.
"Ever since that game we talked about having an opportunity to play those guys again," Harris said. "Now we've got it. I couldn't ask for anything else."
Harris completed 21-of-26 passes for 256 yards, including an 18-yard TD pass to Sharon early in the third quarter. Harris also opened the scoring in the third when he caught a pass from wide receiver Cole Magner and raced up the right sideline for a TD. Sharon caught eight passes for 120 yards.
Gradkowski threw three touchdown passes for the Rockets (8-4, 6-2), who failed to qualify for its third straight MAC title game and likely will be left out of the bowl picture.
"We just came up a little short," Gradkowski said. "Now we just know where we have to set the bar next year."
Moore caught seven passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
