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DETROIT (Ticker) -- After facing the likes of Miami, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech during the regular season, Boston College toyed with Toledo.

Brian St. Pierre completed 25-of-35 passes for a career-high 342 yards and three touchdowns in his final college appearance as the Eagles routed the Rockets, 51-25, in the Motor City Bowl at Ford Field.

"This is a storybook ending for me and the rest of the seniors," St. Pierre said. "We were ready to play today. We didn't have the respect we deserve, so we had a chip on our shoulders."

Making a school-record fourth consecutive bowl appearance, the Eagles scored touchdowns on their first six possessions, putting together drives of 76, 88, 69, 68, 40 and 42 yards to open a 42-18 lead at the intermission.

Boston College (9-4) finally was stopped by the clock as its final drive of the first half ended at the Toledo 38 when time expired.

"Maybe we shouldn't practice," said Boston College coach Tom O'Brien, noting that the Eagles did not work out last week due to final exams. "I was surprised we were clicking on all cylinders early in the game."

Overall, Boston College scored on nine of its 12 possessions and punted only once. Sandro Sciortino kicked three field goals in the second half. The Eagles, who reached nine wins for the first time since 1993, ended the game deep in Toledo territory.

It was the 32nd victory for Boston College's senior class, tying the 1981-84 group for the most wins in the last 60 years. The Eagles won nine games in a season for the first time since 1993.

"We're confident in our passing game," St. Pierre said. "I don't think a lot of people realize we were second in the Big East to Miami throwing the ball."

The frustrated Rockets (9-5) were guilty of four personal fouls and had two players ejected.

Offensive lineman Nick Kaczur was thrown out for throwing punches during an altercation in the second quarter and linebacker Brock Dodrill was dismissed for a late hit out of bounds on St. Pierre early in the third.

Tempers flared late in the first half and the teams were not allowed to enter the tunnel together at halftime.

"I'm still proud of this team, especially our seniors," Toledo coach Tom Amstutz said. "They took a bunch of young players and molded them into a good team. Boston College is very physical up front and won the battles of the offensive and defensive lines."

Derrick Knight's two-yard TD run and St. Pierre's 17-yard TD pass to Grant Adams staked the Eagles to a 14-3 lead after the first quarter.

St. Pierre tossed 40-yard TD strikes to Joel Hazard and Adams in a 28-point second period as the Eagles extended their lead to 24 at halftime.

"His (St. Pierre's) first half was the best I've seen all year," BC center Dan Koppen said. "He showed us from the beginning of the game that he wanted us to go out as winners. He's been the leader all season. He really wanted this game."

Toledo, which lost to Marshall in the Mid-American Conference championship game, made its second straight appearance in the Motor City Bowl. The Rockets defeated Cincinnati, 23-16, in last year's game.

In this one, however, the Rockets were forced to play from behind virtually from the start.

Trailing 28-10, Toledo elected to go for it on 4th-and-1 from its 40 with just under six minutes left in the first half, but Brian Jones' pass was incomplete.

The Eagles needed only one play to increase their lead as St. Pierre found Adams to make it 35-10 with 5:21 left in the half.

Things continued to unravel for Toledo as Ralph Parent blocked Brandon Hannum's punt on the ensuing possession, giving Boston College the ball at the Rockets 42. That led to Brandon Brokaw's one-yard run with 1:31 to go in the second quarter.

"We got behind so quickly and that knocked us out of our game plan," Jones said. "Once that happened, it was tough to come back."

Toledo got a late TD on Jones' nine-yard TD strike to Carl Ford with 24 seconds left in the half. Ford set a Motor City Bowl record with 10 receptions for 112 yards, while Jones completed 27-of-41 passes for 331 yards and two scores.