Usually, when a team plays two quarterbacks, it means the coaches really don’t trust either quarterback. That’s not the case with Toledo.

Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin have split time pretty equally at quarterback for Toledo this year, and coach Matt Campbell said earlier this month that both will play in the Military Bowl against Air Force. Dantin missed Toledo’s last two regular-season games with a concussion, but he’ll be back against the Falcons.

“It’s tough because they have two different styles of play,” outside linebacker Patrick Hennessey said. “You have to prepare for two different tendencies.”

Although the quarterbacks are pretty similar, and the offensive playcalling doesn’t change much depending on the quarterback, there are some differences. Owens is a little better runner, Dantin might be a little more polished passer. Owens is left handed, which adds another wrinkle.

“There’s some variations for which you have to prepare,” Falcons coach Troy Calhoun said.

The reason the Rockets kept using both quarterbacks is both were almost equally effective. Owens threw for 1,812 yards 15 touchdowns and three interceptions, and rushed for 209 more. Dantin passed for 1,398 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions, and had 193 yards rushing. Air Force knows the key to slowing down Toledo’s offense starts with containing the quarterbacks.

“They’re a potent offense,” Hennessey said. “They can move the ball when they want to.”

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