Final: Akron beats Utah State 23-21 in Potato Bowl
Live coverage from the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium in Boise. The Akron Zips and Utate State Aggies face off in the game, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. MT on ESPN. It is the second bowl appearance in school history for the Zips, while the Aggies are making their fifth straight bowl game, and the third appearance in Boise during the streak.
The Aggies’ head coach when the run began, Gary Andersen, is on hand for the game. Andersen was Utah State’s coach from 2009 to 2012 before taking the job at Wisconsin. He recently finished his first season at Oregon State.
It's blurry, but former Utah State coach Gary Andersen (now HC at Oregon State) is here to cheer for Aggies. pic.twitter.com/JDrWnRHeZP
— Dave Southorn (@IDS_Southorn) December 22, 2015Both teams have tough defenses in what could be a low-scoring affair. Utah State is 14th nationally against the pass, and Akron is third against the run. Both are in the top 22 in total defense.
Potato Bowl crowd at kickoff. Akron and Utah State underway. Picture 1 this year, 2 last year. pic.twitter.com/EjhGfv2Wgi
— Michael Lycklama (@michaellycklama) December 22, 2015SCORING SUMMARY
Akron 7, Utah State 0: Akron digs into its bag of tricks as wide receiver Tyrell Goodman throws a reverse pass to quarterback Tyrell Goodman for a 14-yard TD with 10:38 left in the first quarter.
Akron 7, Utah State 0: Utah State lines up for a field goal with 8:27 left in the second quarter. But Utah State’s DJ Nelson bobbles the hold. He tries to scramble and is dropped for a 7-yard loss.
Akron 10, Utah State 0: An offside call negates an interception by Utah State’s Jalen Davis interception. Two plays later, Robert Stein kicks a 33-yard field goal with 2:53 left in the second quarter.
Akron 10, Utah State 7: Utah State’s Kent Myers throws a 9-yard TD pass to Brand Swindall on a crossing route with 1:32 left in the second. Myers entered the game on this drive, which Devante Mays kicked off with a 61-yard run, a career long.
Akron 13, Utah State 7: Akron’s Robert Stein kicks a 29-yard field goal as the first half ends. The field goal was set up when Akron linebacker sacked Utah State QB Kent Myers, forcing a fumble. Rodney Coe picked it up and ran it back 56 yards to the Utah State 12.
Utah State 14, Akron 13: Hunter Sharp with a post-corner route and hauls in an over-the-shoulder catch for a 19-yard TD pass from Kent Myers. Myers scrambled for 37 yards up the middle on the previous play.
Akron 20, Utah State 14: Akron fakes a handoff to fullback/nose tackle Cody Grice and pitches it out to the right to Donnell Alexander for a 2-yard TD run with 5:43 left in the third. Grice was stopped for no gain on the previous play, setting up the fake.
Akron 23, Utah State 14: Akron’s Robert Stein boots a 46-yard field goal with 8:15 left in the fourth to stretch the lead to two scores and become Akron’s all-time leading scorer.
Akron 23, Utah State 21: A pass interference call in the end zone extends Utah State’s drive, and Chuckie Keeton hits Brand Swindall for a 2-yard TD.
FINAL: Akron 23, Utah State 21
More coverage from the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:
Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton’s tough path
From defense to offense, Akron WR Lane excels
MAC defensive player of the year driven by doubters
After car accident, Aggies inspired by D-linemen
This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 1:28 PM with the headline "Final: Akron beats Utah State 23-21 in Potato Bowl."