San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
LEGAS LEADS USU TO LA BOWL WIN
Third-string quarterback Cooper Legas threw two touchdown passes, Calvin Tyler Jr. ran for 120 yards and a score and Utah State won the inaugural LA Bowl on Saturday night in Inglewood, 24-13 over Oregon State.
Legas came in when starter Logan Bonner suffered a knee injury during the first quarter. Andrew Peasley was Bonner’s backup throughout the season, but was ruled out prior to kickoff due to a shoulder injury he suffered Nov. 26 against New Mexico.
Legas’ only action this season was late in the New Mexico game. The sophomore’s first collegiate pass couldn’t have gone any better when he connected with Deven Thompkins on a 62-yard touchdown strike to tie it at 7.
Thompkins got a couple steps on Beavers defensive back Jaydon Grant, hauled it in at the Oregon State 25 and was gone to the end zone. The senior had six receptions for 115 yards and set a single-season school record with 102 catches.
Legas completed 11 of 20 passes for 171 yards and an interception. He also had a 34-yard reception on a double pass from Derek Wright.
Utah State finished 11-3, and Oregon State 7-6.
Alabama-birmingham 31, No. 12 BYU 28: Dylan Hopkins broke the Independence Bowl record for completion percentage in wind and driving rain, connecting on 19 of 23 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in UAB’S upset over BYU in the Independence Bowl at Shreveport, La.
With UAB (9-4) facing fourth-and-7 with six minutes remaining, coach Bill Clark passed on a field-goal attempt, and Hopkins threw a 14-yard, goahead touchdown pass to Trea Shropshire, the only player from Louisiana on either roster.
BYU (10-3) appeared to be in good position to at least tie it, but Samson Nacua fumbled after making a catch inside UAB’S 25 with 3:36 remaining.
Fresno State 31, UTEP 24: Jordan Mims ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 71 yards and another score to help Fresno State win the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque. Fresno State (10-3) won the bowl game for the first
Utah State 24, Oregon State 13
time in three tries.
Jake Haener was 26 of 41 for 286 yards and a touchdown. His status had been somewhat in doubt when he briefly entered the transfer portal after coach Kalen Deboer took the job at Washington.
Western Kentucky 59, Appalachian State 38: Bailey Zappe capped his record-setting season by passing for 422 yards and six touchdowns, and Western Kentucky handed Appalachian State its first-ever bowl loss in the Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday.
Zappe finished the season with 5,977 yards and 62 touchdowns for the Hilltoppers (9-5). He topped the previous marks of 5,833 yards set by Texas Tech’s B.J. Symons in 2003 and 60 touchdowns set by LSU’S Joe Burrow in the Tigers’ run to the national championship in the 2019 season.
Chase Brice passed for 317 yards and four touchdowns for Appalachian State (10-4).
Liberty 56, Eastern Michigan 20: Malik Willis showed in the Lendingtree Bowl what NFL scouts have been raving about. The Liberty quarterback passed for 231 yards and accounted for five touchdowns and the Flames rolled over Eastern Michigan at Mobile, Ala.
A potential NFL first-round pick, Willis completed 13 of 24 passes and ran for 58 yards, with touchdowns of 2 and 35 yards. The Flames (8-5) improved to 3-0 in bowls. Eastern Michigan finishes 7-6.
Louisiana 36, Marshall 21: The Ragin’ Cajuns rolled up 20 points in the fourth quarter to finish off the Thundering Herd in the New Orleans Bowl, ending their season with a 13-1 record. Emani Bailey scored two of Louisiana’s three rushing touchdowns in the fourth period, finishing with 94 yards on 17 carries.
South Carolina State 31, Jackson State 10: Cory Fields threw for four touchdowns, three to Shaquan Davis, to lead South Carolina State (7-5) to a stunning victory in the Celebration Bowl at Atlanta in a game considered to be the national championship of historically Black colleges and universities. Jackson State finishes 11-2.
Montana State 31, South Dakota State 17: Montana State freshman quarterback Tommy Mellott accounted for four touchdowns to send the Bobcats to their first title game in 38 years with a win over South Dakota State in a Football Championship Series semifinal game.
Montana State (12-2) will make its first national championship appearance since 1984, facing North Dakota State in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 8. The Bison beat James Madison 20-14 on Friday night.