Bedlam on Baltic Avenue: Dec 18, 2021

UAB: 2021 Independence Bowl Champions

Dylan Hopkins threw three touchdown passes, including a 14-yard strike to Trea Shropshire in the fourth quarter to give UAB a 31-28 upset of No. 13 BYU on Saturday in the Independence Bowl at Shreveport, La.

Hopkins’ game-winning toss came on fourth-and-7 with 6:17 left. It was the second fourth down UAB (9-4) converted on the drive as it won a bowl game for the second time in the program’s 31-year history. BYU was the highest-ranked opponent the Blazers have ever beaten.

Hopkins completed 19 of 23 passes for 189 yards. DeWayne McBride carried 28 times for 183 yards and scored on a 64-yard sprint in the first quarter.

BYU (10-3) was led by Tyler Allgeier, who carried 27 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns in breaking the Cougars’ single-season rushing record. Allgeier topped the mark of Luke Staley who ran for 1,582 yards in 2001. Allgeier finished the year with 1,601 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.

Allgeier’s third score of the game came early in the fourth quarter after Masen Wake ran 29 yards with a shovel pass to the 1-yard line. Allgeier’s touchdown carry gave BYU a 28-24 lead.

But UAB retaliated with a 75-yard drive. McBride carried for 44 yards in the march which milked 8:16 from the fourth-quarter clock.

BYU moved to midfield on its ensuing possession but at the end of a 22-yard reception, Samson Nacua fumbled and UAB’s Mac McWilliams recovered with 3:36 left. The Blazers then ran out the clock as McBride rushed for a pair of first downs and Jermaine Brown (8 carries, 47 yards) carried for another.

The Cougars were without injured starting quarterback Jaren Hall. Baylor Romney completed 15 of 23 passes for 195 yards.

UAB took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Hopkins capped a 60-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Gerrit Prince.

On the Blazers’ next possession, McBride broke into the clear on off tackle run, stiff-armed a defender to the ground and outran two other defenders to the end zone on his 64-yard touchdown run.

But BYU responded with touchdowns on its next two possessions. On a 72-yard drive on which he accounted for all the yards on seven carries, Allgeier capped it with a 1-yard scoring run. Then Nacua scored on a 2-yard end around to tie it.

UAB regained the lead before the half ended as Hopkins capped a 78-yard march with a 23-yard strike to Prince on a wheel route.

–Field Level Media

South Carolina State: 2021 Celebration Bowl Champions

Coach Buddy Pough's South Carolina State Bulldogs' Celebration Bowl upset ended the magical season of head coach Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers.

Coach Deion Sanders preached to his team before the Celebration Bowl that they should be focused on finishing in Atlanta. It seemed as though the South Carolina State Bulldogs players received his message instead.

The Bulldogs defense dominated and the offensive was opportunistic to end the Tigers' magical run by a final score, 31-10.Jackson State's offense hasn't been sharp since the win over Alcorn. The Tigers' lackadaisical first-half action and poor execution caught up with them in the Celebration Bowl.

Shedeur Sanders marched the Tigers offense in nine plays on its second possession score an early touchdown with 7:24 on the clock in the first quarter.

Jackson State took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter and had an opportunity to extend its lead by 10. However, the Bulldogs defense stuffed Sanders and forced JSU to turn over the football on downs.

Bulldogs' quarterback Corey Fields and the offense were inept in the first quarter and relied on Buddy Pough's defense, a problem for Sanders the entire afternoon.

The Bulldogs' offense received instant life when Shedeur Sanders coughed up the football on a strip-sack inside the SCSU ten-yard line.

Fields connected with Shaquan Davis for a six-yard touchdown pass to tie the Tigers at 7-7 with 2:06 in the second quarter.

After that series, Corey Fields settled into the game, caught fire, and never looked back in the contest. The Bulldogs quarterback finished the day completing 12-of-31 passes for four touchdowns, one interception, and a 119.8 QBR.

Jackson State's defensive backs had no answer for Celebration Bowl MVP wide receiver Shaquan Davis who scored three touchdowns.

Shedeur Sanders had one of the worst days of his young collegiate career.

The Jerry Rice Award winner had three turnovers (1 fumble, two interceptions) that aided the South Carolina Bulldogs' upset bid.

His numbers were pedestrian by going 16-of-26, 175 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the losing effort.

The Bulldogs are owed all of the credit to the outstanding play of their offensive and defensive lines. They were more physical and over-matched the Tigers' throughout the game.

Jackson State's vaunted defense could only sack and hit Fields twice - Tigers' linebacker James Houston had both sacks.

The pressure was sent from all directions to harass Shedeur Sanders for three sacks, and eight quarterback hits in the tilt.

Jackson State lost to a well-coached and more determined team. The Tigers may be "Kings of the SWAC," but the Bulldogs and MEAC proved once again they are just as talented with another Celebration Bowl victory.

Kudos to Coach Pough and the South Carolina State Bulldogs for playing an outstanding game and hoisting the 2021 Celebration Bowl Trophy.

Key Stats of the Game

Offense: SCS - 268 yds; JSU - 194 yds

Time of Possession: SCS - 31:37; JSU - 28:33

Rushing Plays: SCS - 37; JSU - 31

First Downs: SCS - 15; JSU - 15

3rd Downs: SCS - 3 of 16; JSU - 3 of 15

4th Downs: SCS - 2 of 2; JSU - 0 of 2

Penalties: SCS - 10 for 117 yds; JSU - 8 for 80 yards

Western Kentucky: 2021 Boca Raton Bowl Champions

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- — Bailey Zappe capped his record-setting season in style, and Western Kentucky capped a difficult week with a bowl win.

Zappe broke a pair of single-season FBS records by passing for 422 yards and six touchdowns, and Western Kentucky handed Appalachian State its first-ever bowl loss by beating the Mountaineers 59-38 in the Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday.

Zappe finished the season with 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns for the Hilltoppers (9-5). He topped the previous FBS marks of 5,833 yards set by Texas Tech's B.J. Symons in 2003 and 60 touchdowns set by LSU's Joe Burrow in the Tigers' run to the national championship in the 2019 season.

"In my opinion Bailey Zappe is the best quarterback in college football, and now he gets to say he is one of the best," Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton said. "He'll go down in history as being one of the best, and holds two records. It's just special to be a part of that."

Jerreth Sterns caught 13 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns for Western Kentucky, finishing his season with 150 catches for 1,902 yards. Mitchell Tinsley had two TD catches for the Hilltoppers and Noah Whittington needed only seven carries to rush for 150 yards, 86 of those on a third-quarter scoring run.

It has been an emotional time for Western Kentucky, which played with those affected by the unspeakable damage caused by what state officials have called the most destructive tornado event in Kentucky's history. Tornadoes across the region last weekend — including in Bowling Green, where Western Kentucky's campus sits — have been blamed for 78 deaths in Kentucky alone.

"I hope today that everyone back home was watching and they felt just positive about everything and they kind of just forgot about the tornadoes for a temporary moment," Sterns said. "I'm glad we got to do that for them today."

Chase Brice passed for 317 yards and four touchdowns for Appalachian State (10-4) before leaving in the fourth quarter with a right leg injury. It was the first loss in seven all-time bowl games for the Mountaineers.

"I'm very proud of our team to win 10 games," Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark said. "That's hard."

It was 24-24 late in the opening half, when Zappe — who completed 33 of 47 passes — put his name in the record book and put the Hilltoppers ahead for good. Appalachian State was outgained only slightly, 637-609, but turned the ball over four times.

"I think it all came down to us having those turnovers," Appalachian State safety Jalen Virgil said.

Zappe broke the yardage mark on a 43-yard pass to Sterns — who finished the season with the fifth-most receiving yards in FBS history — late in the half, then tied the touchdown mark on the same drive when he connected with Sterns for a 10-yard score. That started what became a 35-7 run by the Hilltoppers.

"He's a hell of a football player," Clark said of Zappe. "Had a chance to be around him this week. He's an outstanding young man."

Zappe threw his record-setting touchdown pass on a 2-yard slant to Tinsley on the Hilltoppers' second drive of the third quarter, pushing WKU's lead to three touchdowns.

"It's been the best year of my life," Zappe said.

THE TAKEAWAY

The 97 combined points were a record for the Boca Raton Bowl, topping the 82 that Western Kentucky and Memphis combined for in the Hilltoppers' 51-31 win in 2016. The 59 points by Western Kentucky were also a record, surpassing the previous mark of 52 set by Marshall in 2014 and matched by Florida Atlantic — on its home field — in 2019.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Appalachian State was receiving votes in the most recent AP Top 25 poll, though whatever slim chance the Mountaineers had of making the season-ending poll next month is now nonexistent.

UP NEXT

Appalachian State: The Mountaineers are scheduled to open their 2022 schedule on Sept. 3 at North Carolina.

Western Kentucky: The 2022 season is set to begin on Aug. 27 at home against Austin Peay.

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Middle Tennessee: 2021 Bahamas Bowl Champions

NASSAU, Bahamas -- — Freshman Nick Vattiato threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard scoring pass to Jarrin Pierce with 6:24 left, and Middle Tennessee beat Toledo 31-24 on Friday in the Bahamas Bowl.

Two plays after Toledo's 32-yard punt, Vattiato connected with a wide-open Pierce along the right side for a 28-17 lead. The 59-yard play was the longest completion in Middle Tennessee's bowl history.

On Toledo's next possession, quarterback Dequan Finn was pressured by Jordan Ferguson and defensive lineman Zaylin Wood intercepted a tipped pass, leading to a 35-yard field goal for a 31-17 lead.

Toledo got within seven points with 1:08 remaining, but Thomas Cluckey recovered an onside kick to secure it.

"Winning a bowl game, you're a champion, you're Bahamas Bowl champion and these seniors, these guys, they can take that with them the rest of their lives ," Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said after his 101st victory with the program.

Pierce caught four passes for 114 yards and Ferguson had a sack to reach nine on the season for Middle Tennessee (7-6), which was a double-digit underdog. Mike DiLiello rushed for 44 yards, including a 17-yard score to put the Blue Raiders ahead for good at 21-17.

Wood's interception was Middle Tennessee's 17th of the season, extending their national lead in turnovers gained to 32.

Finn was 18-of-39 passing for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for Toledo (7-6). Finn broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run on fourth and 1 to tie it at 7.

Matt Landers, a Georgia transfer, set a Bahamas Bowl record with a 90-yard touchdown catch to put Toledo ahead 14-7. On first down at the 10, Finn threw it deep over the middle that Landers tipped to himself with an outstretched left arm and coasted into the end zone.

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Coastal Carolina: 2021 Cure Bowl Champions

ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Grayson McCall threw four touchdown passes and Coastal Carolina held off Northern Illinois 47-41 in the Cure Bowl on Friday night, with the game ending with the Huskies at the Chanticleers 4.

McCall was 22 for 30 for 315 yards, and Braydon Bennett ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns on six carries to help Coastal Carolina (11-1) win 11 games for the second consecutive year. Bennett also caught four passes for 47 yards and a TD.

"He just operates, he's a smooth operator," Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell said about McCall. "As a coach, if he misses a play, you're like, ‘What in the world is wrong with him' because he makes so many good one's."

Chadwell said while there is speculation about McCall's future, "we're confident that he loves Coastal and he's going to be here with us and finish out his career."

It was also Coastal Carolina's first bowl victory. The Chanticleers lost in their first bowl appearance last year, 37-34 in overtime to Liberty.

"Pretty cool," McCall said. "Definitely a team effort. I don't think I played by best game but but all my teammates propelled me forward."

Jay Ducker ran for 146 yards on 24 carries, and Antario Brown added 105 yards and 12 attempts for Northern Illinois (9-5). Rocky Lombardi completed 20 of 33 passes for 181 yards and two scores.

"Couldn't be more proud of their fight," NIU coach Thomas Hammock said. "This could be a launching pad for us into the 2022 season."

NIU's roster has just seven seniors, and includes 71 players who graduated from high school in 2020 or 2021. The Huskies are the first team in FBS history to win its conference championship game one season after going winless (0-6).

Lombardi also had picked up 66 yards including a touchdown on eight carries.

Northern Illinois (516) and Coastal Carolina (514) combined for 1,030 yards. Northern Illinois picked up 335 yards on the ground.

After Northern Illinois wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 run at the Huskies 34, McCall threw a shovel pass from the option to Bennett for a TD on the next play. He then connected with Isaiah Likely on a two-point conversion to make it 47-41 with 6:40 left.

NIU converted 4 of 5 fourth-down plays in the game and ended the season successful of 26 of 31 attempts.

Northern Illinois got the ball back at its own 13 with 2 1/2 minutes to play. Lombardi hit Miles Joiner for a 4-yard gain on fourth down to the Coastal Carolina 4 with 2 seconds remaining, but the Huskies couldn't off another play.

Likely's second touchdown reception got Coastal Carolina within two at 41-39 with nine minutes left, but McCall's threw an incomplete pass on the two-point try.

Northern Illinois led 24-19 at the half as both teams scored on their first four possessions. NIU's fifth and final possession started with a second left following a kickoff.

McCall passed for 164 yards and a TD during the opening half, while Lombardi threw for just 23 yards but had scoring strikes of 5- and 12-yards.

GAME BALL

A special pink football was brought into the stadium by U.S. military paratroopers during a pregame ceremony. The NCAA approved the use of a football with pink laces for the opening kickoff. It was the first approval of its kind by the NCAA.

TRAINERS ROOM

Northern Illinois: Hammock said around 20-to-25 of his players were impacted by flulike symptoms over the last few days.

Coastal Carolina: Defensive lineman C.J. Brewer left with a groin injury.

Mary Hardin-Baylor: 2021 NCAA Division III Football National Champions

Mary Hardin-Baylor is the 2021 NCAA DIII football national champion. The Crusaders defeated North Central (IL) 50-24 to win the Stagg Bowl, completing a 15-0 season and winning their second national championship since 2018.

Mary Hardin-Baylor gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown to begin the game then took over. The Crusaders went up 9-7 minutes later and only trailed once more in the game: for about two minutes late in the first half before kicking a field goal to go into halftime with a 19-17 lead.

Quarterback Kyle King and linebacker Mikkah Hackett both had monster games to deliver their team the title. King threw for a program single-game record 436 yards, finishing 22-29 passing with 3 touchdowns.

Hackett was unreal on defense, totaling 10 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. He nearly ran back his first interception for a touchdown. Hackett was named the Stagg Bowl's Most Outstanding Player.

Two Crusaders wide receivers had 9 catches each. Brenton Martin went for 170 yards and a touchdown, and K.J. Miller went for 149 yards and a touchdown. Running back Aphonso Thomas added a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

Another standout UMHB wideout, Brandon Jordan, caught a touchdown pass in the first half. That catch was Jordan's 17th touchdown reception of the season, setting a school record.

Mary Hardin-Baylor also won the national title in 2016. Since there was no 2020 tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crusaders have now lifted the trophy in three of the last five seasons.

BoBA ISML 2021 Predictions: Ruby Match Day 6

ARENA 1 [[Takanashi Rikka - 1]] [[Tachibana Kanade - 4]] [[Yūki Asuna - 5]] [[Emilia - 2]] [[Yuzaki Tsukasa - 6]] [[Sakurajima Mai - 3]] [[Kasumigaoka Utaha - 7]] [[Yuigahama Yui - 8]]

Over/Under: 50000
Over

ARENA 2 [[Kirigaya Kazuto - 1]] [[Tachibana Taki - 2]] [[Natsuki Subaru - 3]] [[Okazaki Tomoya - 4]] [[Ayanokōji Kiyotaka - 5]] [[Archer - 6]] [[Satō Kazuma - 7]] [[Kanda Sorata - 8]]

Over/Under: 50000
Over

ARENA 3 [[Tōru - 8]] [[Shokuhō Misaki - 5]] [[Shiro - 6]] [[Megumin - 7]] [[Index L. Prohibitorum - 3]] [[Shirai Kuroko - 1]] [[Schwi Dola - 2]] [[Nishimiya Shōko - 4]]

Over/Under: 50000
Over

ARENA 4 [[Takasu Ryūji - 1]] [[Itsuka Shidō - 3]] [[Arima Kōsei - 6]] [[Edward Elric - 8]] [[Kūjō Jōtarō - 5]] [[Fukube Satoshi - 4]] [[Rengoku Kyōjurō - 7]] [[Totsuka Saika - 2]]

Over/Under: 50000
Over

ARENA 5 [[Tang Keke]] [[Shiba Miyuki]] [[Siesta]] [[Ilulu]] [[Kaname Madoka]] [[Milim Nava]]

Over/Under: 150000
Over

ARENA 6 [[Mōri Ran]] [[Unmei]] Sakurai Tōko [[Komi Shōko]] Igarashi Futaba Yotsuya Miko [[Dia Viekone]] Rit Sakagami Tomoyo Irina Luminesk [[Frederica Rosenfort]] Suzuki Sonoko Kūjō Jolyne Osana Najimi Arashi Chisato [[Kagari]] [[Tarte]] [[Ruti]] [[Misakino Kukuru]] Tachibana Yuzuki [[Yūki Yūna]] Dōki-chan Moroha Aletta [[Eris Boreas Greyrat]] Mitsurugi Meiya Hiling Nasse Miyama Suzune [[Saria]] Hibino Matsuri [[Shirakami Fubuki]]

ARENA 7 Atri [[Naruse Shiroha]]

by >=200
Over/Under: 4000
Over

ARENA 8 Sorakado Ao [[Tsumugi Wenders]]

by <=600
Over/Under: 4000
Under

ARENA 9 [[Kamijō Tōma]] Shibuya Kanon [[Misaka Mikoto]] Tang Keke