Don’t leave early.
If the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl needs a slogan, it could do worse than that.
Six of the past eight bowls at Bronco Stadium have been decided on the final possession, including Ohio’s 24-23 victory against Utah State last year. Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton scored the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left.
Æ In 2009, Idaho scored with four seconds left and added a two-point conversion for a 43-42 victory over Bowling Green. Coach Robb Akey famously told the audience watching on ESPN to stay tuned for the second half. The teams combined for 57 points after halftime.
Æ In 2008, Maryland recovered an onside kick to thwart Nevada’s comeback and win 42-35. Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick scored with 2 minutes, 19 seconds left to set up the onside kick.
Æ In 2006, Miami picked off a Nevada pass at the 33-yard line with 18 seconds left to eke out a 21-20 victory.
Æ In 2005, Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky was intercepted in the end zone with 37 seconds left, giving Boston College a 27-21 win in Dan Hawkins’ final game as the Broncos’ coach.
Eight of the bowl’s 15 games have been decided by seven points or less.
This year’s teams are used to playing close games.
Toledo (9-3) has played seven games decided by seven points or less this year. The Rockets are 4-3 in those games, including a 24-17 overtime loss to Arizona in the season opener and a 31-24 loss to Orange-Bowl bound Northern Illinois last month.
“We’re already in our mind mentally getting prepared to go all the way to the end. We’ve been in a lot of tight games this year,” Toledo senior safety Jermaine Robinson said. “We’re built for it.”
Said coach Matt Campbell, “It’s one thing we have great expectations of and we’ve built our program on is playing those 60 minutes as hard as we can.”
Utah State has played four games decided in overtime or by three points or fewer. The 10-2 Aggies are 2-2 in those games, with overtime wins against Utah and Louisiana Tech and narrow losses at Wisconsin (16-14) and BYU (6-3), plus the memory of last year’s one-point defeat.
“We’ve been in a lot of close games, even last year and this year. We’ve lost some and we’ve won some,” Utah State cornerback Will Davis said. “It will probably come down to the last five minutes.”
At the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, it usually does.
Brian Murphy: 377-6444
