Best Knight Bowl Moment:
While the outcome didn’t wind up
in its favor, UCF’s lone bowl
appearance was one of the more
exciting games of the 2005 bowl
season. Facing Nevada in the
Hawaii Bowl, the Knights dropped
a 49-48 overtime shootout,
despite getting 11 catches for
210 yards and three touchdowns
from WR Brandon Marshall.
Best Bulldog Bowl Moment:
Playing through a blizzard for
much of the game, Mississippi
State defeated Texas A&M, 43-41,
in the 2000 Independence Bowl,
one of the wilder games of the
postseason. The Bulldogs fought
back from 14 down in the fourth
quarter, winning the game on a
blocked extra point that was
returned for a two-pointer and a
six-yard touchdown scamper from
QB Wayne Madkin.
Houston's best win ...
Houston 34 ... Oklahoma State 25
The two teams put on an offensive show with 955 yards of total
offense, but things slowed down late when a heavy downpour kicked in. The
Cougars were able to break open a close game with a seven-yard touchdown catch
early in the fourth quarter. OSU had two late drives, but misfired on a fourth
down pass and later lost a fumble on the Houston five. Kevin Kolb threw four
touchdown passes highlighted by a 42-yard scoring play to Donnie Avery, but
Oklahoma State's Bobby Reid was up to the ask throwing a 75-yard scoring pass to
Adarius Bowman and two touchdown passes to D'Juan Woods.
Houston's worst loss ...
UL Lafayette 31 ... Houston 28
UL Lafayette got down 21-0 as Kevin Kolb threw two touchdown
passes and ran for another, and then went on a 31-7 run with Jerry
Babb running for a 14-yard score to start and throwing a four-yard
pass to Kevin Belton to finish it off. The Ragin' Cajuns dominated
the second half on offense holding on to the ball for 20:41
highlighted by an 18-play, 85-yard drive for the winning points.
Houston had one final drive, but it stalled before it could get
going. Drew Edmiston nailed field goals from 23, 37 and 51 yards out
for ULL.
South Carolina's best win ...
South Carolina 31 ... Clemson 28
South Carolina scored the last 14
points of the game and held on as Clemson's Jad Dean missed a 39-yard field goal
with 13 seconds to plays. Mike Davis ran for two third quarter scores and Ryan
Succop nailed a 35-yard field goal after Clemson connected on several big
scoring plays. Jacoby Ford started off the scoring with a 76-yard touchdown
catch for the Tigers and C.J. Spiller ran for scores from 80 and 31 yards while
the defense picked off Blake Mitchell three times early taking one for a score.
But Mitchell settled down and was almost flawless in the second half.
South Carolina's worst loss ...
Georgia 18 ... South Carolina 0
Georgia got field goals from 46, 46 and 42 yards from Brandon
Coutu along with a nine-yard touchdown run from Danny Ware to get past South
Carolina in an occasionally ugly battle. The Bulldog defense held USC to only 35
rushing yards and forced five fumbles, recovering three. South Carolina's
defense had its moments after Georgia starting QB Joe Tereshinski got knocked
out with an ankle injury. Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions, but he led
the team on three scoring drives. South Carolina got into the red zone three
times and didn't come away with any points.
2006 Liberty Bowl
Tulsa 31 ... Fresno State 24
Tulsa tied it at 24 early in the fourth quarter on a 54-yard touchdown
pass to Ashlan Davis and got the winning score on a four-yard Paul Smith
run with just under three minutes to play. Fresno State moved
to the Tulsa 35, but QB Paul Pinegar was intercepted by Nelson Coleman.
In a nearly dead-even game, Tulsa held a 14-7 first half lead on a
63-yard touchdown run by Tarion Adams, but Fresno State was able to
comeback and took the lead early in the fourth quarter on a 21-yar
touchdown pass to Joe Fernandez. Player of the game: Tulsa QB Paul Smith completed 18 of 27
passes for 234 yards and a touchdown and ran seven times for 45 yards
and a score. Stat Leaders: Fresno
State
- Passing: Paul Pinegar, 19-30, 213 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Wendell Mathis, 31-117, 1 TD. Receiving: Jason
Fairman, 6-73 Tulsa
- Passing: Paul Smith, 18-27, 234 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Tarrion Adams, 11-102, 1 TD. Receiving: Ashlan
Davis, 8-128, 1 TD
