Inspired Williams powers Wyoming
Playing with a heavy heart in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Wyoming quarterback Levi Williams dedicated the game to his grandmother.
The way he danced past Kent State defenders for 200 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a record-setting performance in the Cowboys’ 52-38 win on Tuesday, it was a fitting tribute. Especially since she taught him how to dance.
“When she was living in a nursing home that’s how we spent time together,” Williams said of his grandmother, who lived with his family while he was growing up. “She was slow, so we did some slower dances, and the box step was probably my favorite.”
After she watched him play his redshirt freshman season at Wyoming, she wasn’t able to attend any games this year. And while preparing for the bowl, Williams felt fortunate he had a chance to say goodbye to her over the phone.
“She never missed any of my games,” Williams said. “And I’m sure she was looking down from heaven watching this one, too.”
Aside from Williams’ yardage record, the MVP’S touchdowns rushing also tied a Potato Bowl record. Through the air, he passed for 127 yards and another touchdown.
“He’s very gifted and can run like the wind,” Wyoming coach Craig Bohl said. “And obviously, it’s great to see him make those plays he’s very capable of making.”
Kent State (7-7), playing in its fifth bowl game in school history, raced out to a 17-7 lead and held a 24-21 advantage at halftime, but the Golden Flashes couldn’t hold up against Wyoming’s relentless rushing attack.
“That’s not the outcome we were looking for,” Kent State coach Sean Lewis said. “Areas that hampered us all year long hurt us today. … But I’m eager and excited to get back to work and build a program that Kent State can be proud of.”
Wyoming (7-6) scored 21 consecutive points to start the second half, including scoring runs of 27 and 80 yards by Williams, to build a 42-24 lead that proved to be too much for Kent State to overcome.
Wyoming senior linebacker Chad Muma and Butkus Award finalist didn’t disappoint in his final college game, leading the Cowboys on defense with 13 tackles and a half sack.
The Cowboys set the Potato Bowl team rushing record with 404 yards, while the two teams combined for 723 yards rushing, also a Potato Bowl record.
Comeback kids: Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Florida State quarterback Mckenzie Milton and Kentucky linebacker J.J. Weaver are the winners of the comeback player of the year award.
The announcement came Tuesday, and the players will be honored Jan. 1 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
Hutchinson returned from a season-ending ankle injury in 2020 to become an All-american and Heisman Trophy runner-up for the playoff-bound, Big Ten champion Wolverines (12-1).
A torn knee ligament cut short Weaver’s 2020 season, but his physical rehabilitation was only part of the challenge he faced in returning to football in 2021. He also had to overcome the grief of losing both his father and high school coach.
Milton’s comeback was more than two years in the making after he suffered a severe leg injury in 2018 while playing for Central Florida. After missing two seasons, he beat the odds by being able to walk again unassisted.
The winners and six other players who received honorable mention were determined by a vote of AP college football poll voters, plus members of the sports information directors association (COSIDA), the Fiesta Bowl organization and the editors of Touchdown Illustrated.
Those who received honorable mention were West Virginia defensive end Taijh Alston; Baylor linebacker Terrel Bernard; Notre Dame QB Jack Coan; Johns Hopkins receiver Ryan Hubley; Utah QB Cameron Rising and Stetson offensive lineman Avery Samuels.