CONWAY — Marshall capped off its first season as a member of the Sun Belt with a bang.
The Thundering Herd handled Connecticut, 28-14, in the third-annual Myrtle Beach Bowl at Coastal Carolina’s Brooks Stadium on Dec. 19.
With the win, Marshall ended the season on a five-game winning streak, the first time the Herd has done that since 2002.
“This 2022 team will always be remembered,” Marshall head coach Charles Huff said. “One, for the first Sun Belt team. They’ll be remembered for a team that found a way to go 4-0 in November (and) create an opportunity for us to party in December. They’ll always be remembered as the 2022 Myrtle Beach (Bowl) champions, and for the rest of their lives, they’ll be called champions.”
Marshall finished the season at 9-4 with the win, while UConn dropped to 6-7 with the loss. It was the Huskies’ first bowl appearance since 2015, and it was Marshall’s first bowl victory since 2018.
Quarterback Cam Fancher led Marshall with two touchdown passes, completing 9-of-18 passes for 59 yards. Running back Rasheen Ali, who was named the bowl game MVP, led the Herd’s ground game with 81 yards on 12 carries and a score, and tight end Devin Miller and wide receiver Corey Gammage each caught a touchdown pass.
For UConn, Zion Turner went 5-for-18 for 99 yards and two interceptions, and running back Victor Rosa led the ground game with 57 yards on 13 touches and two scores. Keelan Marion was the high man in receiving yards with two catches for 69 yards for the Huskies.
After Hancher fumbled on fourth down on Marshall’s opening drive in Huskie territory and UConn recovered, Turner fumbled on the very next play and Marshall recovered. This set up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Fancher to Gammage to put the Herd up 7-0 with 11:15 to go in the first quarter.
After four consecutive punts, Marshall scored again when defensive lineman Damion Barber Jr. picked off Turner and returned it 34 yards for a score to put the Herd up 14-0 with 3:23 to go in the first quarter. It was the first pick six for Marshall since Steven Gilmore, the brother of former South Carolina Gamecocks great Stephon Gilmore, had one in the win over Notre Dame on Sept. 10.
UConn squandered its first opportunity to get on the board when kicker Noe Ruelas missed a 45-yard field goal with 8:25 to go before half.
Marshall extended its lead when Fancher found Miller for a 10-yard touchdown pass to put the Herd up 21-0 with 7:05 to go before half.
UConn had another chance to put points on the board late in the second quarter, but the Huskies turned it over on downs when a pass from Tucker fell incomplete in the back of the end zone.
Ali padded Marshall’s lead with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Herd up 28-0 with 9:51 to go in the third quarter.
UConn finally got on the board with 5:35 to go in the third quarter when Rosa found pay dirt from 14 yards out to cut the lead to 28-7. Rosa found the end zone again on UConn’s next drive, this time on a 24-yard run to cut the Herd to 28-14 as the third quarter clock expired.
UConn defensive back Malik Dixon-Williams picked off Fancher early in the fourth quarter to give the Huskies the ball back, but a sack and multiple penalties on UConn, including an unsportsmanlike conduct call on UConn head coach Jim Mora, left the Huskies with a 4th-and-13 try, and Turner’s pass to Kevens Clercius was broken up by Gilmore to give Marshall the ball back at its own 45-yard-line with 9:57 to go in the game.
After a Marshall punt, two costly penalties on the Herd got UConn into Marshall territory, but Herd defensive back Micah Abraham picked Turner off in the end zone to give Marshall the ball back at its own 20-yard-line with 5:09 to go in the game.
From there, Marshall was able to run the clock out and win the game thanks to UConn only having one timeout left.
That moment has arrived that an entire country was waiting for 36 years ago. A month ago it was just a wish, a dream. But little by little, it began to become reality. THE ARGENTINE SELECTION IS WORLD CHAMPION. The Albiceleste is at the top of world football. Hand in hand with Lionel Scaloni as coach, Lionel Messi as its great figure and captain, and with a team that invaded us with football and dedication until the end. After drawing 3-3 at the Lusail Stadium, they defeated France on penalties in the final and won the most coveted cup on the planet.
The match
The first chance was at the feet of Alexis Mac Allister, with a mid-distance shot that was well controlled by the goalkeeper. Argentina continued to control the party's strings. A collective move ended with a shot by Rodrigo de Paul who was looking for a rival goal, but was deflected by a defender.
France always waited in its own camp. La Albiceleste continued to control the rhythm of the game and, after the first 20 minutes, Dembelé committed an offense inside the area against Di María and Lionel Messi changed the penalty for a goal to break zero.
The second blow came with a lethal counter. Argentina came out with a quick transition to pure touch: from Molina to Messi, Leo opened to the right for Álvarez, Julián did the same for Mac Allister and it was Alexis who assisted Di María, who did not hesitate and defined before the goalkeeper left for the 2-0.
The second part began with the same trend as the first. Scaloni's team continued to manage possession of the ball, looking for spaces with a touch and breaking lines with the precision of their playmakers. De Paul was the one who had the first approximation of the complement, with a volley well controlled by Lloris.
Julián Álvarez also had his own: he received near the area and shot against the goalkeeper's right post, which he controlled in two stages.
At 70 minutes into the game, France had their first approach with an individual play by Mbappé, which culminated in a shot that missed over the crossbar.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Kolo Muani got into the area, Nicolás Otamendi took him by the shoulder and Mbappé correctly executed the penalty marked by the referee: Emiliano Martínez came to touch the ball, but could not prevent it from it gets against his right stick.
The European team was going to hit again. Once again it was Kylian Mbappé who managed to beat the Argentine goalkeeper and, with an accurate volley shot, made it 2-2.
The emotion lasted until the last moment of regulation time. Lloris shone with a phenomenal save against a mid-range shot from Leo Messi and thus forced the game to go into extra time.
The first part of the extra time was very even. Both teams tried to find air and strength after a round trip game. Lautaro Martínez had two dangerous chances in front of the goal, but the last French line drowned out his goal cry.
Argentina never gave up. He fought until the end with football and courage. And, after a rebound from Lloris after a shot from Lautaro Martínez, it was Messi who pushed her under the arc to make things 3-2. However, the story incredibly did not end. After a shot on the edge of the area, the ball hit Montiel's arm and the referee awarded the third penalty of the final: Mbappé put things back to the beginning to take the title to the penalty shootout. But before, Dibu Martínez had an anthology save to bring the team to life.
Argentina 3 (4) - France 3 (2)
This is how history should have been defined from the twelve steps: Mbappé himself was the one who opened the penalty shootout, a shot that the Argentine goalkeeper could not contain at all.
Lionel Messi equalized the score and, in the next execution, Dibu Martínez became a hero again after saving France's second penalty: history put itself to the advantage for Argentina, once again.
Paulo Dybala was in charge of keeping the score in favor of the Albiceleste with a shot in the middle and then Tchouaméni finished off the goal. With the goal from Leandro Paredes, Argentina sealed their difference by two goals.
If the Frenchman Kolo Muani missed his penalty, Argentina was champion. But when converting, it was Gonzalo Montiel who had the sacred and definitive cry, which would materialize in the third world star.
Summary of the party
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister; Ángel Di María, Julián Álvarez and Lionel Messi. DT: Lionel Scaloni.
France: Hugo Lloris; Jules Koundé, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano and Theo Hernández; Aurelien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot; Kolo Muani, Antoine Griezmann and Thuram; Kylian Mbappé. DT: Didier Deschamps.
Goals in the first half: 23m. Messi (A), from a penalty kick, and 36m. Say Maria (A).
Goal in the second half: 35m. Mbappé (F), from a penalty kick, and 36m. Mbappe (F).
Goals in the second extra time: 4m. Messi (A) and 12m. Mbappé (F), from a penalty kick.
Definition by penalties: Mbappé and Kolo Muani converted for France.
Messi, Dybala, Paredes and Montiel scored for Argentina. "Dibu" Martínez blocked the shot from Coman (F) and Tchouanémi (F) deflected his shot.
Changes in the first half: 40m. Marcus Thuram for Dembelé and Randal Kolo Muani for Giroud (F). In the second half: 19m. Marcos Acuna for Di Maria (A); 26m. Kingsley Coman for Griezmann and Eduardo Camavinga for Hernández (F). In the first extra time, at the beginning, Gonzalo Montiel for Molina (A); 5m. Youssouf Fofana for Rabiot (F); 12m. Leandro Paredes for De Paul and Lautaro Martínez for Álvarez (A). In the second half: 7m. Ibrahima Konate by Varane (F) and 10m. Germán Pezzella by Mac Allister (A) and 15m. Dybala for Tagliafico (A) and Axel Disasi for Koundé (F).
Admonished: Enzo Fernández, Acuña, Paredes, Montiel and "Dibu" Martínez (A). Rabiot, Thuram and Giroud (F)
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland), accompanied by his compatriots Pawel Sokolnicki (first assistant), Tomasz Listkiewicz (second) and Tomasz Kwiatkowski (VAR).
Stadium: Lusail.
Audience: 88,966 viewers.
Passes, possession and goals
The Argentine team totaled 3,804 passes, achieved a possession average of 73.5 percent with an accuracy of 59% in the seven games that led them to their third World Cup after the 1978 and 1986 titles.
The numbers demonstrated the offensive vocation of the team led by Lionel Scaloni that had Lionel Messi as its scorer with 7 goals in six of the seven challenges he had on his way to the title.
The Rosario was the one who scored the most on the net and the breakdown is as follows:
Saudi Arabia (1), Mexico (1), Australia (1), Netherlands (1); Croatia (1) and France (2).
In the seven games the albiceleste team finished off the rival goal on 132 occasions and generated 48 goal situations in the rival areas.
In the Qatar 2022 champion team, 23 of the 26 players that made up the World Cup squad participated.
presidential salute
President Alberto Fernández greeted the Argentine team: "Thanks to the players and technical team. They are the example that we should not give up. That we have a great people and a great future," Fernández wrote on his Twitter account, adding : "Always together, always united. We are world champions. There are no other words. Thank you."
Match Day 2 of the 2022 International Saimoe League Amethyst Period is history. We start our roundup with a look back at the first round of the Genshin Impact Tournament. Over in Teyvat, Hu Tao routed Ningguang 3621-913, Kokomi Sangonomiya throttled Xiao 2770-1539, Yae Miko grounded Ayato Kamisato 3388-911, Klee exploded past Fischl 2788-1535, Nahida romped past Mona 3229-1131, Venti flew past Tartaglia 2627-1306, Ganyu raced past Diluc 3545-811 and Lumine eased past Qiqi 2832-1441.
Wrapping up Genshin Impact play, Raiden Shogun eradicated the Wanderer 3792-709, Shenhe buried Nilou 2377-1768, Keqing bolted past Yun Jin 3219-1173, Yoimiya got past Barbara 2664-1519, Ayaka Kamisato froze Aether 3542-889, Eula prevailed over Paimon 2227-2185, Zhongli flattened Yelan 2529-1709 and Kazuha Kaedehara defeated Noelle 2239-1991.
In a number of three-way races, advancing were Ruiko Saten (2723), Misaki Shokuhou (2856) and Ram (2218). Willem Kmetsu and Yuzuru Otonashi defeated Rentarou Satomi and Lelouch Lamperouge 2090-1948 and Joseph Joestar and Giovanna Giorno defeated Inuyasha and Roronoa Zoro 2334-2079.
In the Female Division, Yukino Yukinoshita thumped Mitsuha Miyamizu 3626-2103, Nao Tomori blew past Nino Nakano 3285-2223, Kuroko Shirai overcame Utaha Kasumigaoka 3391-2250, Mikoto Misaka routed Azusa Nakano 3858-2142, Eru Chitanda stormed past Chika Fujiwara 3805-2083, Tamako Kitashirakawa pounded Tsukasa Yuzaki 2963-2292 and Mai Sakurajima rompedpast Zero Two 3505-1873.
Chisato Nishikigi defeated Isla 2719-2579, Megumi Katou eased past Ritsu Tainaka 2866-2460, Violet Evergarden got past Index Prohibitorum 3427-2722, Sagiri Izumi slayed Marin Kitagawa 2942-2396, Emilia dismantled Taiga Aisaka 3121-2103, Rikka Takanashi rocked Shiro 3588-2090 and Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Takina Inoue 3291-2299.
Wrapping up play in the Female Division, Kaguya Shinomiya shook Ai Haibara 3361-2572, Elaina rolled past Sora Kasugano 3497-2081, Mio Akiyama boomed past Shouko Nishimiya 3034-2415, Yui Hirasawa drilled Kamui Kanna 3195-2135, Rem rammed Asuna Yuuki 3204-2297, Miko Nakano hammered Yui Yuigahama 3056-2466 and Mashiro Shiina flew past Kanade Tachibana 3010-2281.
In the Male Division, Kazuto Kirigaya slashed past Fuutarou Uesugi 3060-1668, Sora defeated Takashi Natsume 2427-2208, Miyuki Shirogane eased past Masamune Izumi 2573-2090, Sakuta Azusagawa slaughtered Haruka Kasugano 3490-1522, Touma Kamijou broke Tomoya Okazaki 3171-1840, Joutarou Kuujou jojo's Kyoujurou Rengoku 2322-2038 and Kiyotaka Ayanokouji defeated Kousei Arima 2692-1874.
Izumi Miyamura scored the Upset of the Round, a 2533-2049 win over Riku Dola, Satoru Gojou bounced past Ainz Ooal Gown 2435-1881, Hachiman Hikigaya pounded Mochizou Ouji 3626-1549, Yuu Otosaka defeated Kaito Kuroba 2890-2038, Levi leveled Nasa Yuzaki 2405-2174, Houtarou Oreki thumped Shidou Itauka 3779-1599 and Conan Edogawa slipped past Loid Forger 2757-2302.
Wrapping up Male Division play, Yuu Ishigami took down Shirou Emiya 2315-2197, Yuuta Togashi flattened Dio Brando 3609-1588, Subaru Natsuki drove past Itachi Uchiha 2734-2068, Saika Totsuka toasted Shinpei Ajiro 2367-2304, Accelerator accelerated past Ken Kaneki 3521-1518, Taki Tachibana defeated Tanjiro Kamado 2784-2008 and Rimuru Tempest stormed past Sorata Kanda 2439-2093.
In Seasonal action, Nezuko Kamado defeated Silence Suzuka 2539-2024, Kotoko Iwanaga rolled past Tooru Amuro 2582-1917, Illyasviel von Einzbern rolled past Sakura Matou 2136-1557, Takagi talked down Special Week 2348-1510, Ninym Ralei rallies past Toge Inumaki 2390-1614, Sajuna Inui defeated Kobayashi 2334-2197, Kyaru overcame Yuuko Yoshida 2061-1750 and Eris Boreas Greyrat ratted out Wakana Gojo 2496-1572.
Match Day 3 of the 2022 International Saimoe League Amethyst Period is scheduled for 20 December 2022. Vote for your favorites at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
My name is Jean Gunnhildr. I am the Acting Grandmaster for the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt. And just recently, I met with Lisa over an upcoming contest in football. Lisa told me that this team comes from a nation with my name on it. ArJEANtina, was the name. I know that was not the exact spelling, but it was a cute pun, I had to admit. And there was a talisman trying to finally win this World Cup. A man named Lionel, or Leo for short.
As my sign is a lion, no surprise that this resonated with me. As I decided to pen a letter of support to the team and Leo ahead of the match with France, who was supported by Venti (this place is said to have the finest wines in the waking world, therefore it resonated with the bard), I suddenly felt the struggles of a long life of service to sports and people. An adventure of a lifetime, soon to meet a conclusion. But there was a catch. To ensure that the long and arduous search for this holy grail ended the way it was to end, it needed my clearance.
A straightforward assignment. I penned my words wisely.
===
18 December 2022
Lionel Andres Messi Cuccutini.
As your nation has my name on it (though I actually jest), turning back was never an option. So, do you still dare to dream, hero? My hope is that your dream ends and is transformed into a reality that you will find peace with. Let the wind lead. Good luck.
Signed,
Jean Gunnhildr
Acting Grandmaster, Knight of Favonius
ArJEANtina supporter from Mondstadt, Teyvat
===
Thus was the message sent. I was called to watch in the square with others of the contest. "Well, Master Jean, I am fine with whatever the outcome will be," said Venti. "I figured my team had done all it could do anyway, but you never know in a sport like this..."
"I am just glad that there is a place in the Traveler's world where my name seems to be embedded in its culture," I replied.
"Do they have good steak?" asked Amber with an expectant look.
"Well, Amber, the place is known for having raw meat that would rival our own in terms of marbling and flavor, according to my own collected intel," Kaeya said. "And Lisa's."
"Can confirm, Cavalry Captain," Lisa said. "But every victory must be earned, no matter what. As always. Let's have a seat and see how this goes."
Lumine noticed the big screen. "Soccer. It's that game." She checked her device and saw a message from many years ago, which said:
"December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years."
"Oh, it seems someone knew what would happen," Paimon said. "This person must know something we don't. And the stats on this post are exponentially increasing. Could it be...?"
23rd minute, a penalty conversion by Leo. And 13 minutes later, a man named Angel with a second. One half passed. 2-0 ArJEANtina. I had to laugh when I pronounced the country name with my name in it. It sounded so cute, yet so unhinged. But the real name, said to be Argentina, evoked many centuries of history, a mixture of cultures and heritages.
Time stood still as it passed, the closing half. It was my very first time watching a football match. But things started to turn on their heads. French Venti (he isn't French, though) was back in it thanks to a cheeky young man named Kylian. A penalty in the 80th and a follow-up in the 82nd. All square at two goals apiece. "Oh Venessa, is this real life? Or is this Fantasy?" I whispered, falling to my knees.
"Ohohoh, Jean, it seems the tables have turned...hic..." said Venti, gliding around in a carefree mood. "Ladies and gentlemen, I declare we have a grandstand finish to settle this once and for all."
"Mm-hmmm," said the others, simply nodding before going back to their seats to watch. The match would go to an additional two extra periods of 15 minutes, according to the game's laws.
"Lisa?" I asked her.
"Yes, Jean, what is it?"
"In all my years of going through stressful periods in my life, I have to admit, nothing ever prepared me for this."
"Well, that can only give me one conclusion?"
"What?"
She leaned in and whispered, "You're really, really enjoying this match."
I could only blush. She was right. Every pass, every duel, every challenge. every intent and emotion was felt in what some aficionados called "The Showdown Of The Century." Venti's team made some impressive clearances late in the first period, causing my head to be in my hands. My team was knocking on the door but I didn't like their wastefulness. A second period of extra time loomed.
In the distance, some fans were vocally discussing the game, some to the point of shouting things I won't say in this anecdote since they were really devout in their verdicts. I offered a prayer Venessa and to Varka, to ask my team to see this through and get the winner, because according to the laws, the match goes to a sudden death series of kicks from the penalty spot. Lisa debriefed me on the full laws in a massive tome that I chose to keep in my personal library for safe keeping.
As the period went on, I thought about a lot of things. Why was I working so hard? Why was I not taking breaks? Why was I being hard on Klee? I thought so many things...and some. In the 108th minute, Lionel scored on a follow-through that was verified onside via video assistant refereeing, a technology that perhaps the sages of the Akademiya could never have come up with.
All of a sudden, I jumped in the air, and screamed, "Hang in there ArJEANtina, I'm with you all the way! I'm with you! I'm with you! I'M WITH YOU!" And I fell to my knees, in my Sea Breeze Dandelion outfit, and prayed one more time, the tears falling out of my eyes. "Please let this work, please let this work..."
"Uh, is Jean okay?" asked Paimon, looking over her shoulder.
"Ahahahahah, I think...she got carried away here," Venti said.
"Do something about it, will you!?"
Venti pointed to the screen. "Penalty for my guys." 118 minutes in. Kylian made it 3-3, and all of a sudden, I was glowing and I was full of rage and...and...I had no idea what was going on because I was feeling a million emotions.
"Uh, Master Jean, you don't look so well..." Klee said. "Do you need a hug?"
"So close to completing the comeback for Kylian, he's good," Venti said, rubbing his hands.
Paimon went postal. "You stupid tone-deaf bard, take a look at what's going on with Jean right now, she's in some emotional danger!"
"Ah, no worries, she will be just...fine?" I was towering over him as the penalty shootout started. I was not even bothering to pay attention to the series. I was very fed up with Venti in so many ways, and I didn't know why. But before I could lay a hand on him, I collapsed in a heap.
"Oh no, Jean is...Jean is..." Paimon was in a panic.
"Sucrose, prepare some medication, everyone I will bring her back to her chambers," said a familiar voice.
"Diluc saves the day again," said Lumine.
"No surprise," Venti said.
Time passed. Time stood still. I opened my eyes. "What...happened?"
Diluc looked at me. "ArJEANtina did not miss a single penalty. They won.4-2."
And I had the biggest smile on my face as the tears came down.
"Master Jean!" exclaimed Klee. "Are you okay?"
"I am," I said, headpatting Klee before giving her the warmest hug I could ever give her as I looked into the distance. "I truly am. And I have never felt so happy in my life. I love you, Klee, Diluc, everyone."
"I love you too, Master Jean," she said, giggling.
"Well, all's well that ends well," Venti said. "I shall take my defeat moving forward. We made you work for it, so that will count as a win for me!" He walked into the distance and disappeared.
I think I have made a historic discovery. Argentina, or rather, ArJEANtina, will be my team in the Traveler's world from now on.
Why the Broncos won: Boise State trailed 10-6 at halftime, but the offense finally started clicking in the second half when the Broncos put the game in the hands of freshman running back Ashton Jeanty. The former star at nearby Lone Star High in Frisco, Texas, scored a 1-yard touchdown that gave the Broncos a 35-24 lead early in the fourth quarter, and he finished the game with a career-high 178 rushing yards. Quarterback Taylen Green added 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and he found fellow redshirt freshman Eric McAlister on a 24-yard touchdown pass that put Boise State up 21-17 in the third quarter.
Main takeaway: Boise State didn’t end the season as Mountain West champions, but the Broncos are taking the Frisco Bowl trophy home after securing their first bowl win since 2017. The win caps a season that was circling the drain after four games. Boise State was 2-2 after a loss to major underdog UTEP in late September. Offensive coordinator Tim Plough was fired, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier decided to transfer.
Still, the Broncos found a way to rally around Green and 63-year-old interim offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and win eight of their last 10 games. Boise State head coach Andy Avalos did an excellent job navigating a difficult season, and the Broncos’ players deserve a lot of credit for sticking together.
More than anything, Boise State’s turnaround season highlights just how bright the future is on The Blue. Running back George Holani has to decide if he’s going to test the waters in the NFL and the Broncos are going to have to replace a few starters on defense next season, but the sky isn’t falling. Green, Jeanty, McAlister and wide receivers Latrell Caples and Stefan Cobbs are all expected back next season.
Add to that a 2023 recruiting class led by offensive weapons Jambres Dubar and Franklyn Jonhson, and it looks like the pieces are in place to make new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s return to his alma mater a memorable one.
Player of the game: Boise State was without Holani for most of the game. He left the game in the first quarter and didn’t return, and he finished with just seven touches. That left Jeanty to carry the load, but as has been the norm this season, he didn’t look like a freshman. He burst through the line for a 34-yard run on the Broncos’ first play of the second half, sparking a drive that ended with a touchdown run by Green. Jeanty moved the chains again with an 18-yard gain on the drive that ended with McAlister’s touchdown catch, and he finished the Frisco Bowl with a career-high 178 rushing yards on 28 carries. Stat of the game: Boise State scored just six points in the first half, but the Broncos put 22 points on the board in the third quarter. That’s more points than the Broncos had scored in a quarter of a bowl game in program history.
Play of the game: Boise State’s defense struggled to contain North Texas’ high-powered offense, but a turnover changed the complexion of the game. Redshirt freshman cornerback Jaylen Clark, playing because Kaonohi Kaniho was out with an injury, intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter, setting up Jeanty’s touchdown run that gave the Broncos a two-possession lead with a little more than 12 minutes to play.
What’s next: Boise State’s season is over, but the Broncos are in for a hectic couple months before spring practice begins in early March.
SMU scored a touchdown with 8 seconds left, but Jakob Robinson made an open field tackle on the ensuing two-point conversion as BYU held on in a 24-23 win in the New Mexico Bowl.
Sol-Jay Maiava started at QB in place for an injured Jaren Hall and led a steady ground attack for the Cougars. Maiava finished 7/12 for 47 yards passing, but led the BYU ground attack with 96 rushing on 14 carries and 1 TD. Senior Christopher Brooks complemented Sol-Jay with 88 rushing yards on 1 TD.
BYU had just 256 yards of total offense, and the defense stepped up to win the game. Ben Bywater had a pick six in the third quarter and BYU held SMU star QB Tanner Mordecai to just 218 passing yards.
BYU’s 8-5 season may have been overall disappointing, but BYU heads into a vital offseason with some momentum. BYU will be active in the transfer portal and have an offseason with a new defensive staff to retool the roster ahead of BYU’s Big 12 debut. BYU’s next game will be Saturday, September 2 at home versus new C-USA member Sam Houston.
LONDON, Ont. – Kevin Mital turned into a dual threat on Saturday, as he made eight catches and threw for the decisive touchdown as the Laval Rouge et Or downed the Saskatchewan Huskies 30-24 in the 2022 Canada Life Vanier Cup before a sellout crowd of 8,420- at Western Alumni Stadium.
The second-year receiver, who won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the U SPORTS player of the year on Thursday night, captured the Ted Morris Trophy as the Vanier Cup MVP. He is only the second player ever to complete the Hec-Ted double in the same year, following Calgary’s Don Blair in 1995.
“There's no way to take this away from us. We are the Vanier Cup champions of 2022,” said Mital. “We've worked hard for this, and now we go down in the history books as being the best team in Canada this year. Everything that I said this year and set up in terms of goals, we did. It's a sweep. I said we are going to win the Dunsmore, the Mitchell and the Vanier Cup, and that's what we’ve done.”
Mital’s 142 receiving yards led all players, but it will be his turn as a passer that may be most remembered. With Laval holding a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, Mital took a direct snap and connected with Daniel Dallaire on a jump pass to break the game open.
“He's very proud,” said Glen Constantin, the Laval head coach. “He'll back up what he says and forces everyone on the team to do it too. He's just a really good football player and competitor. When he came back from Syracuse, he told me two things – ‘I want #8 and to win the championship.’ He breathes confidence, and it transcribes onto our team. He’s a generational talent for us, probably the best receiver we’ve ever had.”
The win is the 11th for Laval, extending their national record but their first since 2018.
“It doesn't get old for the simple reason that it's a different group, different story, different challenge and a different road,” said Constantin after the win, his 10th as head coach. “Every cup has its own stories.”
Laval kicker Vincent Blanchard played a large role in getting the Rouge et Or to that point, as he kicked for five field goals – tying the Vanier Cup record – and connected on a 49-yarder on the stroke of halftime that tied the game at 17. His 49-yard boot was the second-longest in Vanier Cup history, behind only a 50-yarder kicked in 1995. Blanchard added two conversions and an 85-yard kickoff single to finish with 18 points, the second-highest by a kicker in a Vanier Cup.
Laval quarterback Arnaud Desjardins completed 27 of his 36 pass attempts for 397 yards – the fourth-highest total in Vanier Cup history. Desjardins’ favourite targets were Mital and Antoine Dansereau-Leclerc, who had eight catches for 119 yards.
“He's a cool customer,” said Constantin of his quarterback. “He's a young quarterback, only in his second year. His future is bright. He's got this calmness, and he is a cool customer under pressure.”
For Saskatchewan, Mason Nyhus had an outstanding performance in his final U SPORTS game, completing 34 of 43 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Caleb Morin led the Huskies receivers with seven carries for 97 yards.
While the Huskies offence appeared to be rolling after a first half that saw them put up 281 total yards, they stalled in the third quarter.
“The third quarter, we didn't do enough,” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory. “We started to get traction late, and this will be a point of emphasis for sure in our post-season analysis. The third quarter wasn’t one of our best.”
The Huskies offence responded in the fourth quarter, driving 86 yards in seven plays following Mital’s touchdown pass. However, on first and goal from the Laval 6, Nyhus’ pass into the end-zone was intercepted by Félix Petit, elating the Rouge et Or bench as he handed possession back over to the Quebec side.
“[That was] huge,” said Constantin on the play. “It's better to be lucky than good. We had our fair share of luck. We had a couple of tipped balls and made great plays, so that stop in the end zone was huge. [It was] one of the critical stops we needed to make. It was huge for us.”
The Huskies were able to put a scoring drive together later in the fourth, but they could not complete the comeback.
“We marched the field, had a turnover, and then marched it again,” said Flory on his team's determination. “We competed, and it was a tough game. There's a finality [to sports], there is someone who wins and loses. Unfortunately, we are on the other end of it, and it’s not easy.”
The Huskies, who led Canada West from wire to wire and won their second straight bowl game, finish the season with an 11-2 overall record (7-1 CW).
“These games always come down to a handful of plays,” said Flory on the loss. “Credit to Laval, they made those plays. Their quarterback played a great game. They did some really good things. But you look at our side, and I think that Mason was phenomenal out there. He’s an elite-calibre player and leader, and he showed that here today. It's tough and will take time to digest. I'm really proud of our guys and the season and everything we had to overcome.”
Charles-Alexandre Jacques took home the Bruce Coulter Award as the game’s top defensive player. The second-year linebacker finished with 5.5 total tackles (one solo, nine assists.)
Everett Iverson and Daniel Wiebe had the Saskatchewan touchdowns, while Kalenga Muganda had the other Laval major.
Defense wins championships. On Wednesday night in Arkansas, oh boy, did it ever!
Iowa Western (10-2) rode the backs of the Nation's best defensive unit to the program's second national title in a dominating performance over Hutchinson (11-1) at War Memorial Stadium.
The IWCC offense did their part early, scoring 17 first-quarter points and the 'Darkside' defense never allowed the #1 Blue Dragons any offensive momentum as Head Coach Scott Strohmeier's squad cruised to a 31-0 rout of their Jayhawk Conference rival.
"I'm just so happy for the guys that bought in, that took last year's defeat (to NMMI in 2021's NJCAA National Title game) and worked to make sure that they learned from that lesson and to make sure it didn't happen again," said the 14th year head coach after the game. "So many of these guys were here for that one and even when the regular season didn't end the way we'd hoped, they kept working hard, pushing toward the goal they had set for themselves."
Two games prior it was a game of explosive plays for the Reivers against the previously undefeated Blue Dragons, with HCC scoring a late touchdown to propel themselves to a one-point win in Council Bluffs. Those explosive plays never materialized for the Blue Dragons in the rematch, but they certainly did for Iowa Western.
Just five plays into their opening drive, Quarterback James Graham and the Reivers struck. The sophomore from Georgia found LJ Fitzpatrick on a short pass and Fitzpatrick, much like he's done on several occasions this season, raced down the sideline for a 68-yard score and an early 7-0 Reiver lead. The TD was the 800th touchdown in 14 seasons of football in Council Bluffs and Fitzpatrick's third of the season that covered 60 or more yards for a score.
The 'Darkside' allowed Hutchinson a first down on their first drive, but a high snap and continued pressure from Iowa Western forced the Blue Dragons to punt and gave the ball back to IWCC.
In his third start of the season, Graham led the Reivers on a nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive on the next possession, capped by Jaden Koger's 4th career rushing score. Wilber's 34th PAT of the season pushed the 1st quarter lead to 14-0 Reivers.
The Iowa Western pressure continued defensively, keeping Hutchinson QB Dylan Laible from getting comfortable, although the Sophomore didn't get any help from his receivers when he did have time to throw. Trailing 17-0 early in the second quarter, Laible's pass to Malik Benson was dropped by the prize recruit, on what may have been the best chance of the day for the Blue Dragons. It was the most glaring drop of the day for Hutch's high-powered offense, but certainly not the only one.
The Reivers kept the 'Big 3' of Benson, Laible, and running back Dylan Kedzior in check in the game. After scoring against the Reivers in the first match-up, Benson, the Alabama commit, didn't fair well against the Reivers secondary, dropping several passes on the day and losing a fumble on a jet sweep when the 'Darkside' sniffed out the potential wide receiver pass.
The Reivers limited Laible, allowing just 137 yards passing and holding the Walter Jones Trophy nominee below 50% on 37 attempts.
And as good as the pass defense was, The Darkside was even better at locking down the Blue Dragons' running game. Kedzior, the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year, was limited to just 13 yards rushing after he had scored a pair of touchdowns against both the Reivers in November and three against Coffeyville in the semi-final round of the NJCAA playoffs. Those two performances pushed the Oklahoma native past 1,000 yards on the season into the title game. Kedzior's struggles in Little Rock were amplified when Quientrail Jamison-Travis stripped the running back for his first fumble lost of the season.
Travis, out of Minneapolis North high school, recovered two of three fumbles lost on the day by the Hutchinson offense and was awarded postgame Player of the Game honors during the Reivers' celebration. In addition to the pair of fumbles he recovered, the sophomore defensive tackle also turned in four tackles and two and a half of the Reivers' six sacks on the night. Those six sacks helped IWCC set their single-season record at 56, surpassing the 2015 total of 50.5 quarterback sacks.
Iowa Western's second-half offense was deliberate and paralyzing for Hutchinson's comeback chances. Bryant Williams capped a pair of drives with short touchdown runs, while the offense ground the clock down, splitting the time of possession with the Blue Dragons and forcing a pair of turnovers and a pair of turnovers on down as the clock wound to zero.
The Reivers posted their 4th shutout of the year as Rashion Hodge led the team in tackles to finish the season with a team-high 77 on the year. Elijah Elmore joined Travis as the only players with multiple QB sacks in the game as IWCC piled up 11 tackles for loss in the game. Will Lee, Jamorri Colson, and Dylan Reyes were credited with multiple pass breakups as the 'Darkside' turned in their best performance of the season. Hutchinson, averaging over 431 yards into the title game, was limited to just one-third of that yardage in the loss and was shutout in a game for the first time since 2010. In fact, it was the first time a shutout had been posted in an NJCAA National Title game since 1992.
"The coaches I'm able to work with make it easy," said Strohmeier, "If Black's (Mike Blackbourn) not here since day one, AT (Aaron Terry), Finney (Eric Finney), Monthei (Jeff Monthei) and the other guys that come in and know what to do, I don't have to worry about them, I don't have to micromanage and that's huge, especially at this level. We come in as a staff and we go to work, there's no hand-holding. We as an offense can do our job and the defense does theirs, it's a huge advantage for us to be able to have that culture instilled without having to revisit it every recruiting season, every fall camp."
James Graham completed only four passes in the game but piled up 116 yards passing and a touchdown as the Reivers ground out 288 more yards on the ground with Graham leading the way. His 102 rushing yards were the most by a quarterback since Kai Locksley cleared the mark against DuPage to close the 2017 regular season.
"So proud of James, he comes in in the fall and was open to a position change (wide receiver), but took reps at QB and we end up needing him," added Strohmeier, "his confidence level the last two games left me with no doubts about what he was capable of and he backed that up. What a story, barely on the depth chart at the beginning of the season and now a National Champion Quarterback, that's hugely rewarding."
The victory pushed the Reivers to 10 or more wins for the 8th time in 14 seasons of football in Council Bluffs. In two of those seasons, the Reivers played in less than 10 games.
For Strohmeier, it's the second time he's led the Reivers to the title, earning the program's first national championship trophy in 2012. The Reivers have finished runner-up twice since, but each time they've made the game, it's something that the Watkins, Minnesota native won't take for granted. "You know every time you make the game that there may not be another, so for the team to continue to persevere and win this one makes it so rewarding. We all have a family at home, and we all have people that sacrifice in order to make our jobs possible. For them to see these young men, get rewarded for their hard work is a testament to what their sacrifices at home allow us to do." Strohmeier added, "It's just about so much more than getting to wear a ring for winning a game, this game is about opportunities and we made the most out of it this season. I'm really proud of this team and who they are and will be as people."
The Reivers' last national title came just over 10 years ago when they won 27-7 over #2 Butler in the 2012 Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Reivers lost to East Mississippi in 2014 and New Mexico Military in last year's title game, in both of those seasons, the Reivers finished the regular season undefeated.
IWCC ended Hutchinson's 17-game winning streak with the victory and improves to 5-3 all-time versus the Blue Dragons. The two teams are scheduled to finish the 2023 regular season in Kansas at Gowans Stadium next season, a game that both squads hope is a precursor to another playoff run for each.
Iowa Western coaches will head out on the road immediately to finalize their recruiting season, while many players from this year's squad will make known where their next destination will be in the coming weeks. Former Reiver Namdi Obiazor is the only former Reiver playing in the NCAA Playoffs and can be seen wearing #4 for TCU when the Horned Frogs take on Michigan in the semi-finals on New Year's Eve at 3:00 pm CST. That team is led by Quarterback and Council Bluffs native Max Duggan. Duggan played for Lewis Central High School, the team that the Reivers share their field with for home games.
The 2023 season is slated to kick off on the road on August 26th against the Conquistadors of DCCC from Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, KS. The annual Blue-White Spring Game will take place on Friday, May 5th at Lewis Central High School at a time to be determined.
SAN MATEO - Under rainy, stormy and otherwise difficult playing conditions, the College of San Mateo turned in the most one-sided victory in California Community College Athletic Association football championship game history, 55-0, over formerly unbeaten and top-ranked Riverside City College to claim the Bulldogs first official state gridiron title Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium.
The Bulldogs finished their season with a 12-1 overall record while 2019 state champion Riverside City, which was making its impressive third straight appearance in title game, also finished 12-1.
CSM (12-1) scored the only points it needed less than two minutes into the game on a 33-yard run by All-America running back and game MVP Ezra Moleni. That was with 13:14 remaining in the first quarter. It was set up by a 61-yard return of the opening kickoff by Jeremiah Patterson to the Riverside 35. Moleni took three handoffs to reach the end zone with his 17th rushing TD of the season.
"You can't say enough about him, how hard he runs," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch.
After holding Riverside to a quick 3-and-out, it was the same story on San Mateo's second series - another 3-carry Moleni series, capped by his 61-yard scoring run that also broke Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman's season rushing record for the Bulldogs. Moleni now has 1,400 rushing yards this season and 18 touchdowns (to lead the state's National Division in that category), smashing the 1,253 yards by Edelman in 2005.
Later in the first period, J'Wan Evans, an all-state running back for the Bulldogs in 2021, made it 21-0 with his own 2-play series of 18 and 42 yards.
The first quarter stats illustrated the game: CSM 233 yards of offense (all rushing) to 55 for the Tigers.
On a wet day, San Mateo's state-leading defense (allowing only 12.8 points per game coming in) topped Riverside's National Division-leading offense (590.9 yards per game). CSM totaled 446 yards, while limiting the Tigers to 224.
RECORD MARGIN: San Mateo set a state playoff series record, not allowing a touchdown throughout their three-game playoff run while outscoring three foes 115-5. The previous widest game margin of victory and only other shutout came in 1967, the initial CCCAA (single game) state championship when Fullerton beat American River, 41-0.
CSM linebacker Taniela Latu was the defensive player of the game with three tackles for loss, including a sack, plus a forced fumble. San Mateo forced the Tigers to punt 11 times..
San Mateo was in full control at halftime, 35-0. All Bay 6 quarterback Richie Watts connected with tight end Brendan Doyle, the offensive player of the game, on a 33-yard scoring pass, and Evans ran 67 yards to make it 35-0 at the break.
At halftime, Moleni had 164 rushing yards while Evans had 149 – totaling 311 on the ground. Moleni finished with a CSM single-game record 232 yards while Evans finished with 148 for 380 net yards for the all-state duo. The previous Bulldogs game rushing record was 228 yards by George Naufahu in 2013 against De Anza.
Two-time all-state placekicker Gabe Plascencia added fourth-quarter field goals of 31 and 24 yards and had 13 points in the game, giving him a season total of 96 points. That continues to lead Northern California and added to his Bulldogs career kicking record, totaling 195 points.
Doyle also had the final touchdown, a 22-yard pass from back-up QB Jerry Johnson.
WEATHER A FACTOR: Otherwise, neither team accomplished much through the air on the rainy and windy day. Riverside's All-America quarterback Jake Retzlaff had trouble connecting with his cadre of elite receivers, finishing just 7 of 26 for 52 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted by a trio of Bulldogs: Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu, Tyrice Ivy Jr., and Kavika Baumgartner. Baumgartner returned his theft 16 yards for the only third-quarter score and had a fumble recovery as well.
Tulloch had high praise for the 6-3, 275-pound Baumgartner, an All-America selection on the defensive line by coaches this season. "His leadership in the locker room and on the field has been invaluable," said Tulloch. "And he could have left with a scholarship last year."
Retzlaff was also Riverside's top rusher, with 48 yards on 12 carries – for a total offense of 100 yards. Donovan Harvey paced Tigers running backs with 39 yards on eight carries.
For CSM, Watts was 4-of-13 for 44 yards -- with no interceptions or sacks. The Bulldogs did not commit any turnovers.
Arturo Orozco led the Riverside defense with eight tackles while Alonzo Gray-Hall had seven. Each of them had five solo stops. Alex Navarro-Silva had a pair of tackles for loss for the Tigers and finished with five total tackles.
RANKINGS: San Mateo and Riverside will be ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the JC Athletic Bureau's final coaches poll, (by agreement with the California Community College Football Coaches Association) -- which will release a season-ending Top 25.
Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. stayed close to the hurt – relished it, even.
The Golden Eagles' star endured back-to-back three-win seasons in his first two seasons in Hattiesburg, playing for four different head coaches. As he explained throughout the 2022 season, he knew that the perspective acquired from those trials would make the payoff that much sweeter when it eventually arrived.
Saturday night, Gore ensured he got that payoff. He dragged the Golden Eagles (7-6) by their collective ear to a 38-24 LendingTree Bowl victory over Rice (5-8) at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
Gore's heroics
Gore did not merely set a Southern Miss single-game record by rushing for 329 yards and two touchdowns. He also set the FBS bowl record as well.
Just that contribution alone would not befit his importance to a team that has needed him to do just about everything this season, including lining up under center.
Gore also completed two of his three passes, highlighted by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Ty Mims that tied the game at 24 late in the third quarter.
He completed his outrageous performance with a 55-yard touchdown run, weaving in and out of defenders to put the Golden Eagles up 38-24 with 2:57 remaining and surpass the 300-yard threshold on the day.
USM cruises through first half, but Rice fights back
Southern Miss looked well on its way to a nice, easy blowout victory in a game it was comfortably favored to win by the sportsbooks.
The Golden Eagles went into halftime with a 17-3 advantage, having outplayed their opponents by a wide margin. But things are rarely so simple for Southern Miss, and they weren't Saturday night.
The Owls then rattled off three touchdown drives in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, helped by a Southern Miss fumble on its first possession of the half.
That put the Owls up 24-17, but they couldn't hold the lead for long.
Southern Miss defense locks down
The Golden Eagle defense has been the team's rock throughout the season, and it showcased why after it was gashed for that trio of third-quarter touchdowns.
It got a vital stop on its next possession, then forced a turnover-on-downs with a stand inside its own 10-yard line as Rice looked to tie the game early in the fourth quarter.
The Owls then went backward on their next two drives. By then, the Golden Eagles had restored their two-possession lead, and the game was as good as over.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- — Jordan Mims rushed for a career-high 205 yards and two scores, Jake Haener threw two TD passes and Fresno State completed the biggest in-season turnaround in Football Bowl Subdivision history with a 29-6 victory over Washington State in the LA Bowl on Saturday.
Fresno State — which won the Mountain West Conference title — is the first team to get to 10 wins after dropping four of the first five. The Bulldogs (10-4) were 1-4 in early October before winning their final nine games.
Mims accounted for 232 all-purpose yards and outgained Washington State, which had 182 offensive yards. Both of Mims' touchdowns were on direct snaps out of the Wildcat formation.
Early in the second quarter, the senior went 4 yards around left end to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 advantage. In the fourth quarter, he carried it 2 yards up the middle to make it 29-6.
Haener completed 24 of 36 passes for 284 yards in his final game for Fresno State. The senior connected with Zane Pope on a 22-yard touchdown to complete the Bulldogs’ opening possession. He added an 11-yard score to Nikko Remigio late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 22-6.
Cameron Ward was 22 of 32 for 137 yards for Washington State (7-6).
Nakia Watson rushed for 33 yards and had the Cougars only touchdown in the third quarter, when he scored from 1 yard to bring Washington State within 16-6.
LAS VEGAS – The 14th-ranked Oregon State Beavers shutout Florida, 30-0, in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday afternoon to cap a 10-3 campaign. For the third time in program history, the Beavers (10-3, 6-3) have won their 10th game in a season.
Ben Gulbranson threw for 165 yards and a score, completed 12-of-19 passes and ran for another 15 yards and a score on the ground. Deshaun Fenwick led the rushing attack with 107 yards on 21 carries. Jam Griffin and Tyjon Lindsey each added a rushing touchdown.
Kyrei Fisher-Morris led the defense with 11 tackles – including seven solo stops, three for loss and a sack. Jaden Robinson and Omar Speights combined for 13.0 total stops, including Robinson's five solo tackles. Alex Austin and Ryan Cooper Jr. each registered a pass breakup to stifle Florida's passing game.
The Beavers found the scoreboard first following a eight play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a Tyjon Lindsey rush for eight yards for the 7-0 advantage. Jaden Robinson and Omar Speights combined for 13.0 total stops, including Robinson's five solo tackles. Alex Austin and Ryan Cooper Jr. each registered a pass breakup to stifle Florida's passing game.
After keeping the Gators off the board on downs, Oregon State added to the lead after a 59-yard drive set up a 27-yard score from Everett Hayes to make it a 10-0 affair with 4:32 left in the second. The Beaver defense kept the opposition off the board twice to keep the score intact going into the break.
An 11-yard rush by Colletto off a Beaver fake punt set the offense with their second touchdown of the day on the second half's opening drive. Gulbranson found Golden between a pair of Florida defenders for the 15-yard connection to add seven to lead following Hayes' PAT. On the ensuing drive – set up by a punt blocked by Colletto – Gulbranson sprinted seven yards to the endzone for his second score.
Fenwick stretched the lead even further when he found the endzone from two yards out to make it a 29-0 ballgame before Atticus Sappington connected on the PAT to make it 30. The Beavers chewed off 6:33 from the clock and went 98 yards on 33 plays.
Oregon State previously won 10 games in the 2000 and 2006 seasons.
BOSTON, Mass. – The University of Louisville football team will hold on to the Keg of Nails after a 24-7 victory against long-time rivals, Cincinnati in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. The Cardinals finish the 2022 season 8-5 overall.
The Cardinals extend their win streak to three in the Keg of Nails rivalry, which was most recently played in 2013 before Louisville joined the ACC.
Jawhar Jordan was named the Fenway Bowl Offensive MVP and Monty Montgomery was named the Defensive MVP.
The defense had another stellar performance, with Monty Montgomery and Yasir Abdullah leading the team in tackles and sacks. Montgomery recorded eight total tackles and one sack and Abdullah recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, moving up to second on Louisville's career list for tackles for loss (43 total). Yaya Diaby had a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Cards ended with seven sacks, bringing their season total to 50 sacks. This matches the school record for sacks in a single season, set by the 2000 Louisville team.
With his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, Jawhar Jordan scored the first points of the game with a 49-yard rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.
Jordan recorded his second rushing touchdown before the half with a 41-yard run that put the Cardinals up by 14 points. He is the fourth Louisville player to have multiple rushing touchdowns in a bowl game.
Maurice Turner added a career-high 160 rushing yards for the Cardinals, marking the first time that two players have rushed for at least 100 yards in a Louisville bowl game and the second time this season. Turner is the eighth Louisville true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game.
Brock Domann started at quarterback for the Cardinals, throwing for 92 yards and one touchdown on 10-of-18 passing. Domann moves to 3-1 as a starter for the Cardinals this year.
James Turner was a perfect 3-for-3 on points after touchdown and connected on a 48-yard field goal, the longest in Louisville bowl history. His field goal marked the 20th made this year and the second most in a season at Louisville.
Interim Head Coach Deion Branch Said:
"The game didn't start the way that we anticipated. Offensively, we had some struggles early on. The defense held us in, doing the normal deal that they've been doing all season. The bright spot we did have in first half was the rushing yards and we controlled the line of scrimmage. I think that was the most important part about the game. I mentioned to the guys that this game will be won or lost on the frontline, the offensive and defensive line. And that's exactly what happened. Second half we came out and it wasn't the second half I thought we would play. There were only three points scored but we didn't allow anything on their behalf. I take that with a grain of salt. But, overall great performance by our team. Great job establishing the line of scrimmage in the run game. We didn't throw the ball as well as I thought we could of, being that there was a lot of man coverage. Overall, I thought it was a decent game plan and Coach (Josh) Stepp and the offensive staff did a great job the entire week game planning. And clearly we know what Coach (Mark) Ivey and the defensive staff has done all season. Pretty much what it has been all year and I think these guys are looking forward to next season."
How It Happened:
First Quarter
00:21 – UL | On the first play following a Louisville fumble recovery, Jawhar Jordan rumbled 49 yards untouched for the opening score of the game.
Second Quarter
10:58 – UC | Evan Prater found Wyatt Fischer for a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7. Cincinnati's drive went nine plays and 73 yards in 4:23.
05:52 – UL | Brock Domann hit a wide open Marshon Ford from eight yards out to put the Cards back in front. Louisville marched 66 yards in 10 plays and took 4:55 off the clock.
00:42 – UL | Jawhar Jordan got free again down the right sideline, this time for a 41-yard touchdown to extend the lead to two scores just before halftime. The touchdown finished off a 7-play, 74-yard drive.
Third Quarter
03:49 – UL | James Turner drilled a 48-yard field to stretch the lead out to 24-7 late in the third quarter. The field goal finished off a 14-play drive that ran 6:21 off the clock.
ORLANDO – When Troy needed its defense the most, one of the best units in the country stepped up as it had done all season and stuffed UTSA four times from the 5-yard line as No. 23 Troy defeated No. 22 UTSA, 18-12, in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl on Saturday at Experia Stadium.
Troy (12-2) took the six-point lead on a Brooks Buce 27-yard field goal with just over nine minutes to play in the game, but UTSA (11-3) found itself on the Trojan 5-yard line just four plays later following a 53-yard run by Kevorian Barnes.
The Trojans held Barnes to two yards on first down, and the Troy defense forced three straight incompletions from C-USA MVP Frank Harris to turn the Roadrunners over on downs. Troy's offense milked more than four minutes off the clock on the ensuing possession, and the Trojan defense yielded just one first down before again forcing UTSA to turn the ball over on downs and end the game.
Richard Jibunor forced a pair of turnovers, and game MVP KJ Robertson returned an interception 61 yards to pace a Troy defense that forced five UTSA turnovers in the game and shut down one of the nation's most prolific offenses.
The win was Troy's 11th straight dating back to a Hail Mary loss at App State in week three, while the Trojans' 12th win of the season is a new FBS record for the program and ties the school record set by the NCAA Division II National Champion team in 1987 and the 1993 FCS squad.
The 12 points scored by the Roadrunners were their fewest since Oct. 2020, and the loss snapped UTSA's 10-game winning streak. It was Troy's first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 22 LSU in 2017.
UTSA scored the game's first 12 points on a safety, a 2-yard touchdown pass and a 42-yard field goal within the first 21 minutes. From that point on, Troy's defense held the Roadrunners scoreless and forced the five turnovers.
Kimani Vidal put the Trojans on the board with a 2-yard run in the final seconds of an opening half that saw Troy muster just 66 yards of total offense, mainly due to poor starting field position; the Trojans started four drives inside their own 8-yard line.
Robertson turned the game on a dime with his fourth career interception. Leading by five and driving late in the third quarter, UTSA faced a 3rd-and-8 from the Troy 9-yard line when Robertson picked off Harris and returned it 61 yards to the UTSA 37-yard line and an unsportsmanlike penalty moved the ball to the 22-yard line.
Five plays later, Gunnar Watson connected with RaJae' Johnson on a 12-yard strike to put the Trojans in front 13-12; Watson followed with a successful 2-point conversion pass to Clayton Ollendieck extending the Troy lead out to three with 2:34 to play in the third quarter.
The game marked the final one for All-American Carlton Martial in a Troy uniform, and he went out in style. One day after receiving a Senior Bowl invite, Martial posted a game-high 14 tackles as he set the Troy career record with 577 tackles; Martial had previously set the NCAA FBS and Sun Belt career records.
Quotable
"One thing I really wanted – win, lose or draw – was for my daughter to see me play one time," said Robertson, whose two-year-old daughter Layla Drew Hooper was in the stands. "If she remembers it or not, I loved it. It was the best feeling in the world. I really don't know how to even explain it. She was born during COVID, so I didn't want her at the games. Things happened and she wasn't able to make it to any games even after that."
"The turnovers were timely, and we were fortunate enough to get 'em. If we don't get them or those stops, we don't win," Troy head coach Jon Sumrall said. "To hold those guys to 12 points, I don't know what to say. We stayed together all year, and I could not be more proud. I just hope they keep us in the Top 25."
Notable
• Troy extended its winning streak to 11 games with the victory, Troy's longest winning streak since 1995 when that squad also won 11 straight games. Troy's winning streak is tied for the third longest in the country.
• Troy has now won 58 games since the start of the 2016 season; the 18th most wins nationally and the sixth most in the Group of Five over that time.
• Troy has now won five straight bowl games dating back to the 2010 New Orleans Bowl. The Trojans are 6-3 all-time in bowl games at the FBS level and 20-12 in the postseason (NAIA, DII, FCS, FBS).
• Troy's 12 wins are the most in program history at the FBS level and tied for the most in school history (1993, FCS; 1987 DII National Champions).
• Linebacker KJ Robertson was named the game's MVP after recording nine tackles and returning an interception 61 yards setting up Troy's go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. He is the second defensive player to earn the Cure Bowl MVP in the history of the game.
• Left tackle Austin Stidham started his 62nd career game, which is the most in Troy history passing Cameron Kaye's 61 career starts; Dell Pettus' started his team-leading 47th straight game.
• Troy improved to 5-1 this season when trailing at the half and 5-1 when scoring less than 21 points; Troy was 11-73 when trailing at the half and 5-52 when scoring less than 21 points since 2005 prior to this season.
• Troy outscored UTSA 11-0 in the second half; the Trojans entered the game ranked 12th nationally with a +6.69 scoring margin in the second half.
• RaJae' Johnson caught two passes for 41 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. He caught four of his seven touchdown passes on the season in Troy's final three games.
• Troy's 169 yards of total offense was its fewest in a bowl game in program history; previous low was 292 in the 2004 Silicon Valley Classic vs. Northern Illinois.
• Carlton Martial recorded 14 tackles in the game and finished his career with 577; Martial set the Troy school record in the game and already held the NCAA FBS and Sun Belt career records.
• Troy forced five UTSA turnovers in the game, which is the fourth time in Troy's bowl history it has forced five turnovers in a game.
• Troy entered bowl season second nationally having forced 163 tackles since the start of the 2016 season, the Trojans are now tied with UCF for the most in that period. The Trojans were third averaging 1.63 turnovers forced per game.
• Troy held UTSA scoreless in the second half; the Trojans entered the game holding opponents to 8.77 points per game in the second half (14th fewest in the country) and 3.92 points in the fourth quarter (sixth fewest).
• Troy held UTSA scoreless in the fourth quarter; the Trojans held 8-of-13 opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter this season.
• Troy held UTSA to just 12 points ... the Roadrunners lowest output since Oct. 31, 2020.
• UTSA entered the game ranked 12th nationally in scoring offense averaging 38.7 points per game; its previous low scoring output this season was 20 points at No. 20 Texas.
• Brooks Buce improved to 17-of-19 on field goal attempts this season after booting a 27-yard kick against UTSA. His 89.5 field goal percentage is the highest in a single-season in school history.
• Brooks Buce finished his Troy career 25-of-28 after going 1,751 days in between field goal attempts (senior year of high school and ULM in 2021.
It’s 1,050 miles from Muskegon, Michigan, to McKinney, Texas, the site of the 2022 Division II NCAA football title game.
But on Saturday, the two seemed a lot closer as Ferris State wide receivers Brady Rose and CJ Jefferson — who both starred for Muskegon high school teams — delivered big plays in the Bulldogs’ 41-14 mauling of Colorado School of Mines for FSU’s second straight national championship.
Ferris State became the fourth team to win back-to-back D-II titles this century, and the first since Northwest Missouri State did it in 2015-16. (Grand Valley State also won consecutive titles in 2002-03 and 2005-06.)
Rose, the former Mona Shores star, connected with Jefferson, the former Muskegon standout, for a 48-yard gain on a halfback pass early in the second quarter to set up a field goal, and Jefferson had a 19-yard run for a touchdown late in the quarter to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 20.
Meanwhile, Ferris State’s defense harassed Mines QB John Matocha and completely shut down the Orediggers’ offense. Mines entered Saturday’s game averaging more than 40 points a game; it managed just 21 yards in the first half. Matocha, who won the Harlon Hill Trophy (D-II’s version of the Heisman) on Friday night, had just two completions in the first half — and one to a Ferris State player; Matocha’s throw late in the second quarter popped off the hands of his receiver and into the arms of FSU defensive back Sidney McCloud, who took it 31 yards for a 27-point FSU lead.
The Bulldogs’ offense did just fine without a Harlon Hill finalist, as Mylik Mitchell completed 14 of 18 passes for 161 yards to keep FSU moving. Jefferson had seven catches for 95 yards and Rose added four catches for 50 yards and five rushes for 39 yards to his long pass. (He also had a tackle on defense.)
On defense, FSU’s Caleb Murphy, the Harlon Hill runner-up, went without a sack — he had 25½ entering the game — but still had three tackles (1½ for loss) and pressured Matocha all day. Jordan Jones had two sacks and 2½ tackles for loss for the Bulldogs as well. The dominance on defense for FSU was such that the Orediggers didn’t pick up their initial first down until there was 7:26 remaining in the second quarter; the Orediggers’ first third-down conversion didn’t come until there was just 16:27 remaining in the game, after nine straight failures.
Indeed, prior to the third-down conversion — a 6-yard pass from Matocha to T Smith on third-and-4 from FSU’s 16 — Mines’ biggest play had been a 25-yard punt that bounced off an FSU player and was recovered for a 50-yard gain. The Bulldogs’ defense recovered quickly, forcing two incompletions, a run for no gain and, finally, a sack by Jones on fourth-and-10. After the Orediggers got their first third-down conversion, they scored on the next play on a 10-yard pass from Matocha to Michael Zeman.
After another Ferris State touchdown and a swap of fruitless drives by each team, Mines scored its second TD as Matocha found Josh Johnston on a 14-yard pass.
But Ferris State wasn’t done, as Mitchell led the Bulldogs on another clock-killing drive before handing the reins at quarterback in the red zone to Carson Gulker. He scored his third TD of the game on a push by the offensive line that carried him about 6 yards. Gulker had eight carries for 17 yards but scored from 2, 1 and 6 yards out.
The Bulldogs finish the season at 14-1, with their lone loss coming Oct. 15 against Grand Valley State. This is FSU’s eighth straight 11-win season, the fourth-longest active streak in all divisions, behind only Ohio State (10, Alabama (10) and FCS-level North Dakota State (11).
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