Boise State fans will recognize the Toledo quarterback story.

The Rockets enter the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday against Utah State with two starters — junior Terrance Owens, who has been the primary quarterback this season, and senior Austin Dantin, who has shared time with Owens for three seasons.

Both played against Boise State in 2010 and 2011.

This had become Owens’ year until a minor ankle injury forced him to miss the regular-season finale and Dantin subbed with five touchdown passes against Akron.

“We’ve kind of come full circle,” Toledo coach Matt Campbell said. “… It’s really a credit to the two young men. Both play really hard, both are great leaders, both do things that help our football team be successful. Just how unselfish those two young men are has really set the tone for our football team and set the standard for who we will become.”

Dantin (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) started the first and last regular-season games. Owens started the 10 games in between and took the vast majority of the snaps.

Owens has completed 62.8 percent of his passes with 14 TDs and eight interceptions. Dantin, in about one-fifth of the workload, has completed 62.7 percent with five TDs and one interception. Both can run, too. Owens (6-4, 195) ranks second on the team with 34.6 rushing yards per game and five TDs.

“It’s been a long route,” Owens said. “Me and Austin, we have a good relationship with one another. It’s pretty easy. We help each other out. We learn together.”

Usually, Dantin said, both quarterbacks get a couple series and coaches ride the hot hand.

“Those two are the top competitors I’ve ever played with in my life,” junior receiver Bernard Reedy said. “… You never know who’s going to come out on top.”

MORE OWENS TALENTS

The San Diego Padres drafted Owens as a lefthanded pitcher in the 40h round of the baseball draft in June. He signed in July.

The crazy part: Owens hasn’t played competitive baseball since his freshman year of high school. “That came out of left field,” he said.

Owens considers baseball a backup plan if professional football doesn’t pan out. He plans to play football for the Rockets next season.

“I grew up around sports,” he said. “I loved sports. If I can choose to play a sport for my career, I’ll take it.”

KICKING SUCCESS

Toledo sophomore Jeremiah Detmer had one of the best kicking seasons in the nation. He leads the MAC in percentage, at 21-of-26 (80.8 percent), and ranks eighth in the nation in field goals made. His 21 field goals tied the school record.

Detmer also has made 14 straight attempts. He is 6-of-8 from 40 yards or longer this season and was 2-for-2 outside 50 last year as a long-range specialist.

“He’s a young man who has great potential,” Campbell said. “And he’s a young man who works really hard at it, so we’re really proud of what he’s done.”

HONORING AN AGGIE

Utah State players will wear a decal on their helmets during the game with the No. 12 and initials “DB” to honor junior basketball player Danny Berger. Berger was revived using CPR and an automated external defibrillator at practice Dec. 4. He was released from the hospital Saturday.