Passing game lifts Boise state
Wilson’s 10 catches lead victory over Oregon in Las Vegas.
Cedrick Wilson caught 10 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, Kekaula Kaniho returned an interception 53 yards for a score and No. 25 Boise State beat Oregon 38-28 Saturday in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Brett Rypien threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns with two intercep- tions to help the Broncos (11-3) break a three-game losing streak against Power Five opposition.
Troy Dye and Tyree Robinson each scored a defensive touchdown, and Justin Herbert was 26 of 36 pass- ing for 233 yards with two touchdowns and two inter- ceptions for the Ducks (7-6) in new head coach Mario Cristobal’s debut.
Boise State forced four turnovers in the first half, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on Ryan Wolpin’s 1-yard touchdown run and Rypien’s 26-yard scoring pass to Wilson, who was named the game’s most valuable player. Haden Hoggarth added a 39-yard field goal before an off-balance Herbert heaved a pass toward the sideline that was easily picked off and run back by Kaniho, who also had a strip-sack.
Oregon clawed back into it with two defensive touchdowns in the final minute of the first half.
Camellia Bowl: Brent Stockstill passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns and Middle Tennessee (7-6) came up with some key stops to hold off Arkansas State (7-5) 35-30 in Montgomery, Ala.
Punter Matt Bona d ies pinned Arkansas State’s prolific offense 91 yards from the end zone with 1:27 left and no time outs.
Middle Tennessee then sacked Justice Hansen three times, including one by Darrius Liggins on the final play. That capped a wild game that included D J Sanders’ 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown, six turnovers and 17 penalties.
New Mexico Bowl: Keion Davis rushed for 141 yards, including a 68-yard score, and Marshall (8-5) had two other big scoring plays while holding on for a 31-28 victory over Colorado State (7-6) in Albuquerque, N.M.
Chase Litton threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns for the Thundering Herd, and Tyre Brady had 165 yards receiving and gave the them the lead in the second quarter with a 76-yard TD reception.
New Orleans Bowl: Brandon Silvers passed for four touchdowns and ran for another while Troy produced five turnovers as the Trojans (11-2) rolled to a 50-30 victory over North Texas (9-5).
Celebration Bowl: Lamar Raynard scored on a 1-yard sneak with 38 sec- onds left as North Carolina A&T (12-0) won its sec- ond Celebration Bowl in three years with a 21-14 vic- tory over Grambling State (11-2) in Atlanta. N.C. A&T won its fourth Historically Black College and Univer- sity national title.
Cure Bowl: Conner Manning threw for 276 yards and a touchdown to lead Geor- gia State (7-5) to a 27-17 victory over Western Kentucky (6-7) in Orlando, Fla., as the Panthers earned their first bowl win in the program’s eight-year football history.