Tag: Bowl Season

Georgia Tech pulls away from UCF in second half for a Gasparilla Bowl victory

The Yellow Jackets scored the final 23 points of Friday’s game to come back from an early 17-3 deficit and finish with a winning record.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets overcame an early two-touchdown deficit to beat UCF 30-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl.

The Knights offense came out firing to open the game, with quarterback John Rhys Plumlee throwing two touchdown passes in the first nine minutes. The senior quarterback may not have thrown another touchdown after the first quarter, but he ended the game with 198 passing yards and his third game of the 2023 season with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Despite Plumlee’s good start, UCF couldn’t stop Georgia Tech once the Yellow Jackets got going on the ground. Georgia Tech only threw 13 passes for the game but still outscored the Knights 30-3 in the final three quarters. The Yellow Jackets ran for 284 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry as a team.

Running back Jamal Haynes led the Georgia Tech charge. The sophomore didn’t reach the end zone, but he had 128 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Haynes King and senior Dontae Smith added 154 combined yards on 28 carries, each scoring a touchdown.

The Yellow Jackets scored for the final time with less than five minutes remaining, a field goal to extend the lead to 13. After a turnover on downs and an interception from backup quarterback Timmy McClain on the Knights’ final two drives, the win was sealed.

Here are the best photos from the Georgia Tech victory.

UTSA dominates Marshall for Frisco Bowl title

Marshall and UTSA both featured the sons of longtime NFL quarterbacks on Tuesday, but the Roadrunners marched over the Thundering Herd for a big victory.

The UTSA Roadrunners dominated the Marshall Thundering Herd on Tuesday for a 35-17 victory in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl after pulling away with three touchdowns in the second quarter.

Marshall jumped out to an early lead with the first two touchdowns of the game, including a 64-yard run from junior running back Rasheen Ali. The Thundering Herd tailback finished with 92 yards on just nine carries for the afternoon.

The Marshall momentum was short-lived, however. The Roadrunners scored three touchdowns in the final 12 minutes of the first half, including a pair of short-yardage rumbles from running back Robert Henry. The junior found the end zone from three yards out early in the quarter before a 1-yard plunge in the final minute of the half gave UTSA the lead.

The Roadrunners never gave the lead back in the second half. In fact, UTSA kept the Marshall offense scoreless for the final 35 minutes of the game. UTSA quarterback Owen McCown, the son of longtime NFL journeyman Josh McCown, led the Roadrunners passing attack efficiently. He threw for 251 yards on 31 attempts, throwing two touchdowns and interceptions apiece.

McCown won the duel of the NFL sons, as Marshall quarterback Cole Pennington also has a famous father. The son of NFL quarterback Chad Pennington wasn’t as sharp as his opponent, completing just 15 of 33 passes for 258 yards.

At the end of the day, sophomore UTSA running back Rocko Griffin waltzed into the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to give his team a three-score lead, and the comeback was sealed. UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor got the sponsor’s titular coffee dumped down his back in jubilation a few minutes early, and the Roadrunners could celebrate the final win of a 9-4 season.

Here are the best images from Tuesday’s game.

Maryland QB Tualia Tagovailoa opts out of Music City Bowl

The younger brother of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ends his collegiate career as the Big Ten’s all-time leading passer.

Maryland’s Tualia Tagovailia, the Big Ten’s all-time leading passer, has opted out of the Music City Bowl, head coach Mike Locksley announced on Tuesday.

The Terrapins are set to play Auburn at 2 p.m. ET on December 30. Locksley indicated several Maryland quarterbacks would get the chance to play against the Tigers, indicating Billy Edwards Jr. and Cam Edge would get the most work.

Tagovailoa started for Maryland each of the past three seasons. The Terrapins hadn’t made a bowl game in four years when he took over in 2021, but the younger brother of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led them to the postseason three straight times. Maryland compiled a 22-16 record in his time at the helm, including back-to-back bowl wins.

The Maryland quarterback worked his way up the conference’s all-time passing leaderboards as well. He threw for 3,000 yards each of his three seasons as a starter, ending with 11,256 career passing yards with the Terrapins to pass Purdue’s Curtis Painter for the conference record.

Tagovailoa’s 76 career passing touchdowns with Maryland leave seventh in the history of the Big Ten.

Maryland already landed a commitment from former N.C. State quarterback MJ Morris during this transfer cycle, so Edwards and Edge have the chance to get ahead of the competition for the 2024 starting job.

Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa will not play in the Music City Bowl against Auburn

Auburn will not have to try and slow down Taulia Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s all-time leader in passing yards when they face Maryland in the Music City Bowl.

Auburn is set to face Maryland in the Music City Bowl but the Terrapins will be without star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who has opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft. Maryland coach Mike Locksley announced the news Tuesday.

Tagovailoa is the Big Ten’s all-time leader in passing yards and owns the Maryland record in passing yards (11,256), completions (955), completion percentage (67.1%) and passing touchdowns (76).

Billy Edwards Jr. and Cameron Edge are the only other quarterbacks on their roster to attempt more than one pass this season. Edwards went 4-of-10 for 2 yards and threw an interception but has rushed for six touchdowns on the season. Edge went 2-of-3 for 18 yards.

Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Dolphins and former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa, started his career in Tuscaloosa before transferring to Maryland for the final four years of his career.

The two programs are set to play on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. CT, you can take a look at current ticket prices here.

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Western Kentucky completes storybook comeback in overtime to win Famous Toastery Bowl

The Monarchs led by 21 points at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Hilltoppers came all the way back for the miracle victory.

Western Kentucky defeated Old Dominion 38-35 in overtime to win the Famous Toastery Bowl in one of the biggest bowl comebacks of recent history.

The Monarchs dominated the first twenty minutes of the game. Old Dominion scored its fourth touchdown just two minutes into the second quarter, an 11-yard run from quarterback Grant Wilson that made the lead 28-0 well before halftime.

For much of the game, it seemed the Hilltoppers couldn’t get out of their own way. Western Kentucky turned the ball over five times, including a pick-six early in the first quarter. The team battled back slightly, scoring back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to seven points, but wide receiver Craig Burt Jr. coughed up the team’s third fumble with five minutes left to seemingly seal their fate.

The special teams unit contributed to the comeback effort, however. The Hilltoppers forced a 47-yard field goal attempt and blocked it to keep the deficit at one score. The offense took nine plays to drive 64 yards after the blocked kick, but the Old Dominion defense forced them into a fourth and goal from the 15-yard line.

With his back against the wall, Western Kentucky quarterback Caden Veltkamp found K.D. Hutchinson at the buzzer for his fifth touchdown pass of the game to force overtime.

After a missed field goal by Old Dominion in overtime, Western Kentucky walked the game off with a 29-yard field goal attempt to cement the comeback.

Here are the best images from Western Kentucky’s miraculous victory.

Western Kentucky pulls off epic 28-point Famous Toastery Bowl comeback against Old Dominion

Western Kentucky’s comeback was the fourth-largest in bowl history.

Western Kentucky looked to be down and out in the second quarter against Old Dominion in the Famous Toastery Bowl — which was held in Charlotte in place of the Bahamas Bowl — on Monday afternoon.

After giving up 21 points in the first quarter, the Hilltoppers found themselves in a 28-0 deficit after a Monarchs touchdown early in the second quarter. Western Kentucky would break the shutout before the half, but it still found itself down three touchdowns heading into the locker room.

The second half, however, was a different story.

The Hilltoppers outscored Old Dominion 28-7 in the final two quarters, sending the game to overtime. The Monarchs missed a field goal on the first possession of the overtime period, but Western Kentucky’s Lucas Carneiro wouldn’t make the same mistake.

His 29-yard walk-off field goal sailed through the uprights to give the Hilltoppers a 38-35 win and complete the fourth-largest comeback in bowl history.

The historic comeback was made even more impressive by the fact that Western Kentucky was without star quarterback Austin Reed, who has thrown 60 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Reed opted to sit out the game while he focuses on the upcoming 2024 NFL draft.

Without Reed, Turner Helton got the start but was ultimately benched after two series that ended with a strip sack and an interception returned for a touchdown.

In his place, third-stringer Caden Veltkamp shined. He completed 40 of 52 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns while also adding 53 yards on the ground.

In the transfer portal and opt-out era, these bowl games can be hard to project. But regardless of the available personnel, bowl season always has some magic up its sleeve.

Texas Tech cruises to Independence Bowl victory in commanding offensive display

The Red Raiders held California scoreless for the final three quarters and scored 27 unanswered points to cruise to a 34-14 victory.

Texas Tech cruised to a 34-14 victory over California in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl behind an empowered offense and an opportunistic defense.

The Golden Bears offense was powered by running back Jaydn Ott this season, a First Team All-Pac-12 nominee. He finished the regular season averaging 114.6 yards per game, the seventh-best mark in the nation, but despite an early touchdown, the Red Raiders defense stifled him to just 45 yards on 16 carries.

On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore quarterback Behren Morton threw for 256 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. All three of his touchdown passes came in the first 21 minutes of the game, including a go-tying 15-yard score to Mason Tharp and a go-ahead touchdown pass to Loic Fouonji in the early second quarter. Texas Tech never surrendered the lead again.

Despite a touchdown pass in the opening minute of the game, California quarterback Fernando Mendoza made too many costly mistakes in the second half. With Texas Tech leading and Ott unable to get going downhill, the Golden Bears quarterback threw an interception on the first drive of the third quarter. He threw two more before the game was over and even coughed up a fumble, turning the ball over four times in seven second-half drives.

With the California offense unable to get off the ground, the Red Raiders cruised to an easy victory. Running back Tahj Brooks punched his way into the end zone in the third quarter, the highlight of a 98-yard performance. Texas Tech scored the game’s final 27 points, and the California offense didn’t score after the first quarter ended.

Here are the best photos from the Texas Tech victory.

UCLA dispatches Boise State for hometown win in LA Bowl

Boise State came into Saturday’s game with a four-game win streak and took a two-score lead early, but the Bruins surged back to win.

UCLA got to play a bowl game right in its own backyard this season, and while Boise State jumped out to an early lead, the Bruins roared back for a 35-22 victory in the Starco Brands LA Bowl.

The Broncos had been riding an eyebrow-raising hot streak, winning their final four games culminating in a Mountain West Conference Championship victory over UNLV. Boise State kept the momentum in the first half, kicking three field goals before a short touchdown run by running back George Holani to make the halftime lead 16-7.

The Bruins would not be embarrassed on their home turf, however. Junior quarterback Ethan Garbers entered the game in the second half and jolted the UCLA offense back to life. He completed nine of his 12 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, including a 5-yard score to wideout Kyle Ford early in the third quarter to pull the Bruins within two points. After a pair of rushing touchdowns from TJ Harden, Garbers connected with J. Michael Sturdivant for a 40-yard touchdown.

The result of UCLA’s offensive avalanche, spurred on by Ethan Garbers, was 28 unanswered points and a 35-16 lead for the hometown team. A late touchdown for the Broncos didn’t lead to a full comeback,

Here are the best pictures from UCLA’s victory.

Fresno State bowls over New Mexico State in commanding New Mexico Bowl win

The Bulldogs defeated the Aggies in their home state with 17 unanswered points to end the game behind a brilliant game from quarterback Mikey Keene.

New Mexico State might have been playing in its own state, but Fresno State looked right at home in its 37-10 victory in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.

The Bulldogs, coached by linebackers coach Tim Skipper as head coach Jeff Tedford deals with personal health concerns, jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back.

Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene delivered one of the best games in the early bowl season. He threw two first-half touchdowns, first a 26-yard score to Josiah Freeman in the opening quarter before he connected with Jaelen Gill for a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Keene ended the day with 31 completions on 39 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Seven different Bulldogs players caught at least three passes. He even ran for a score, making him responsible for all four Fresno State touchdowns.

The game looked closer when the final quarter began, with Fresno State’s lead only 20-10, but the Bulldogs scored 17 unanswered points to end the game with an emphatic victory.

Here are the best images from Fresno State’s victory.

Appalachian State wins low-scoring, rainy Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl

The Mountaineers beat Miami-Ohio in a rainy game with 255 combined passing yards, six total turnovers, and two touchdowns.

In a game more defined by the weather than the play, Appalachian State held on to beat Miami-Ohio 13-9 for a victory in the Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl.

The game, played in Orlando, was played through consistent rainfall, turning the field into something faintly resembling a slip-and-slide. The Mountaineers and RedHawks combined for 615 yards of offense, including just 255 combined pass yards, and six turnovers. There wasn’t a touchdown scored in the first half, and the offensive scoring output was limited to two touchdowns and three field goals.

A win is a win, however, and the Mountaineers found a way through the gloomy day. Running back Anderson Castle had 119 yards on 20 carries, and quarterback Joey Aguilar punched his way into the end zone for Appalachian State’s lone touchdown of the day. Aguilar managed to somehow find some success through the damp air, completing 18 of 32 passes for 211 yards on the day.

The RedHawks scored a rushing touchdown of their own in the third quarter, but they could never close the deficit beyond that.

Here are the best photos from the rain-soaked game.