Western Michigan mauls Kennesaw State in Myrtle Beach Bowl

Western Michigan ran for 303 yards, forced four turnovers and blasted Kennesaw State 41-6 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Friday afternoon in Conway, S.C.

The Broncos (10-4) won their sixth straight game to reach double-digit wins for the second time in program history.

“This team deserves so much recognition,” Broncos coach Lance Taylor said. “What they did this season, a special season, one of the best teams in WMU history. We played to our standard, not to the score. I think you saw them do that on the field. All three phases, multiple guys stepped up and made plays today.”

Jalen Buckley started the game with a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. He finished with eight carries for 174 yards and a score, all in the first half. Devin Miles added 68 yards and a score on 19 carries.

Western Michigan quarterback Broc Lowry completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

The Owls (10-3) were only outgained 423-378 but saw two turnovers returned for touchdowns. Amari Odom completed 18 of 35 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and two fumbles.

Kennesaw State’s Chase Belcher carried the ball 16 times for a career-high 148 yards, and Javon Rogers had three catches for 111 yards and a score.

Western Michigan jumped all over the Owls from the start, leading 14-0 just 76 seconds in and 27-0 before the end of the first quarter.

Rodney McGraw had a strip sack of Odom on Kennesaw State’s fourth play which Kershawn Fisher returned 47 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.

The Broncos kept piling on from there, following up a pair of punts by the Owls with drives which ended in touchdown passes.

First, Lowry connected with Mareyohn Hrabowski for a 4-yard TD pass to make it 21-0 with 7:39 left in the first. Then he found Blake Bosma for a 3-yard score which made it 27-0.

Devin Miles capped off the first-half onslaught with a 2-yard TD run with 7:45 left in the half to make it 34-0.

The Broncos picked up right where they left off after halftime, with Joey Pope intercepting Odom on the opening possession and returning it 75 yards for a touchdown and a 41-0 lead.

Kennesaw State broke up the shutout in explosive fashion when Odom found Rogers for an 82-yard touchdown pass with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Surging foes Western Michigan, Kennesaw State set for Myrtle Beach Bowl

Kennesaw State and Western Michigan were somewhat surprising winners of their respective conferences this season.

Western Michigan (9-4) had a breakthrough in Lance Taylor’s third season as coach, beating Miami (Ohio) 23-13 for the Mid-American Conference title Dec. 6 after being picked seventh out of 13 teams in the league. It was the Broncos’ first conference championship since PJ Fleck’s final season in 2016.

Kennesaw State (10-3) was an even bigger surprise. The Owls won just two games in their first FBS season in 2024 and fired Brian Bohannon, who had been the program’s only head coach.

Just four of 24 voters in Conference USA’s preseason bowl confidence index thought Kennesaw State would even make a bowl in Jerry Mack’s first season as coach. The Owls proved that wrong when they went 7-1 in conference play and won 19-15 at Jacksonville State in the Conference USA championship game on Dec. 5.

These two overachievers will meet Friday in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C., in a battle of Group of Five conference champions. Each team is on a winning streak — Western Michigan at five games and Kennesaw State at three.

“Any time you can take two G5 conference champions, I think it makes for great TV, I think it makes for a great storyline, I think it makes for a great bowl matchup,” Taylor said. “I’m glad to see it. I hope we do more of this in the future.”

This will be Kennesaw State’s first bowl game, but the team has a history of postseason appearances despite this being just the program’s 11th season. The Owls made four straight FCS Playoff appearances from 2017-20, including quarterfinal appearances in 2017 and 2018.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are in a bowl for the second straight season and the fifth time in nine years since Fleck left to take the Minnesota job. They’ve never played in the Myrtle Beach Bowl and have lost four of their last five bowl games entering this matchup.

Kennesaw State’s offense is anchored by its passing game.

Sophomore quarterback Amari Odom, a Wofford transfer, has thrown for 2,385 yards and 18 touchdowns, with six interceptions. He also has 376 rushing yards and seven scores. In his last three games, he’s thrown for 847 yards with 10 touchdowns and no picks.

“Protecting the football,” Mack said of what led to Odom finishing the regular season strong. ” … His ability to protect the football is what transforms him, it transforms our team into the best version of ourselves.”

Odom’s favorite target, Gabriel Benyard, has had a breakout senior season in which he led CUSA with 898 receiving yards and was tied for the conference lead with nine touchdown catches.

Western Michigan’s offense, conversely, has been led by its ground attack. The Broncos ranked 11th in the MAC in passing offense (139.9 yards per game) but second in rushing offense (196.6).

Quarterback Broc Lowry, who had just 1,683 passing yards and seven passing TDs, is tied for the MAC lead with 14 rushing touchdowns and ranks fifth in rushing yards (940). He’s supplemented by Jalen Buckley, who had 829 yards and eight rushing TDs this season.

However, the Broncos’ defense is the real reason they won the MAC, ranking second in the conference in average yards (299.9) and points allowed (18.2) per game.

–Field Level Media

UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor during the NCAA college football game at Tennessee on Saturday, September 23, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn.

UTSA throttles Coastal Carolina to win Myrtle Beach Bowl

Owen McCown completed 23 of 30 passes for 254 yards and UTSA rolled up 257 yards on the ground in a 44-15 demolition of Coastal Carolina to win the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday in Conway, S.C.

Will Henderson III led the rushing attack with 81 yards and a touchdown on five carries. McCown added a 35-yard rushing touchdown while throwing one TD and one interception for the Roadrunners (7-6), who won a bowl game for the second straight year.

Chris Carpenter ripped off a 93-yard kick return touchdown for UTSA to seal the deal.

Tad Hudson went 17-for-26 passing for 173 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Coastal Carolina (6-7), which was playing in the bowl game hosted on its campus for the first time. Hudson made his first collegiate start after quarterbacks Ethan Vasko and Noah Kim entered the transfer portal.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hudson sailed a pass to a wide-open Bryson Graves for a 50-yard score that finally put the Chanticleers on the board, cutting the margin to 27-7.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Carpenter started to his left, veered right and had nothing but daylight for his third career kick return touchdown.

With Coastal trailing 37-7, Hudson hit Senika McKie for a 9-yard TD and completed a two-point conversion pass to Brooks Johnson with 4:43 to go.

UTSA responded again, as on the next play from scrimmage Henderson broke off a 51-yard sprint to the end zone.

In the first minute of the second quarter, UTSA running back Brandon High got help from his linemen on a 9-yard touchdown push. On the Roadrunners’ next drive, McCown kept the ball on an option and chugged down the right sideline, scoring just his third rushing touchdown of the season.

UTSA ripped off runs of 19 and 16 yards on its following possession, which lasted just 1:04. Using play-action, McCown tossed a 6-yard touchdown to a wide-open Patrick Overmyer for a 21-0 lead.

Before halftime, Coastal Carolina marched down to UTSA’s 4-yard line, but on a would-be halfback pass on fourth-and-goal, the Roadrunners disrupted the play and kept Braydon Bennett out of the end zone.

UTSA’s Tate Sandell made field goals from 38 and 27 yards to account for the third-quarter scoring. He kicked a 29-yarder during the fourth.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA;  Coastal Carolina Chanticleers head coach Tim Beck looks on from the sidelines in the first half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Coastal Carolina preps untested QB for UTSA, Myrtle Beach Bowl

Coastal Carolina will enjoy an extra home game of sorts when it faces UTSA on Monday in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C.

It marks the Chanticleers’ (6-6) first appearance in the bowl game held on their campus. But they’ll do so without their first- and second-string quarterbacks, Ethan Vasko and Noah Kim, who both entered the transfer portal.

Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck said redshirt freshman Tad Hudson likely is the next man up. Hudson has not appeared in a game this season.

“Tad Hudson will probably be the starter. We have Alex Walker as well,” Beck told reporters, “and then after this meeting, I’m taking all of you outside for tryouts.”

It was an opportunity for Beck to say college football “free agency” makes it impossible to build a program in the current age; instead, coaches are building a new team each year.

“There was a lot of excitement at practice because there are a lot of guys that haven’t played a lot that know they are going to,” Beck added.

With Hudson under center, the Chanticleers may lean on their rushing offense that ranked 46th in the country with 178.7 yards per game. Braydon Bennett led with 727 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and Christian Washington added 537 and five.

UTSA (6-6) has far fewer defections to deal with than its opponent.

“Our kids intend to play and we are rooting and hoping that everybody passes their classes, stays healthy and chooses to play in the bowl game,” coach Jeff Traylor said.

The Roadrunners recovered from a 3-5 start to the season and won three straight home conference games in November to become bowl-eligible.

“The world is telling (players) to collect (social media) posts and collect more offers and collect more attention,” Traylor said. “Our guys want to collect bowl wins, so I’m very excited to be coaching these guys.”

Owen McCown powered the offense by throwing for 3,170 yards on a 62 percent completion rate, with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Eleven different players caught a touchdown over the course of the season.

Anchoring the UTSA defense is Brandon Brown, a defensive tackle who declared for the NFL draft but is not electing to skip the bowl game.

“I know people consider not playing, but it didn’t even cross my mind,” Brown said. “Some people may not want you to play, but I always wanted to play for my brothers. That’s who I came in with, and that’s who I want to finish with.”

Brown had 24 tackles with two sacks this season. Jimmori Robinson racked up a team-high 10.5 sacks.

Both programs, which transitioned up to the FBS level during the 2010s, are making their fifth straight bowl appearance. UTSA lost three straight before capturing last year’s Frisco Bowl for its first bowl win in program history. Overall, UTSA is 1-4 in bowl games, while Coastal Carolina is 2-2.

This will be the first meeting between the programs.

–Field Level Media

Dec 16, 2023; Conway, SC, USA; Ohio Bobcats running back Rickey Hunt (28) is lifted into the air by Ohio Bobcats offensive lineman Parker Titsworth (69) after a touchdown in the first half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Brooks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Rickey Hunt (5 total TDs) powers Ohio past Georgia Southern

Rickey Hunt rushed for four touchdowns and was on the receiving end of another as Ohio beat Georgia Southern 41-21 on Saturday at the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C.

Hunt came into the game with six carries for 19 yards on the season, but he broke out on Saturday with the Bobcats’ top two running backs inactive after entering the transfer portal. His five touchdowns set a single-game program record.

Ohio (10-3) received 133 total yards of offense (115 rushing, 18 receiving) from Hunt, and it needed every single one of them after the Eagles mounted a ferocious second-half rally.

Hunt seemingly put the game away with a 40-yard rushing TD with 2:04 left in the third quarter. Georgia Southern answered just 45 seconds later, however, as Davis Brin connected with Derwin Burgess Jr. for a 65-yard score that pulled the Eagles within 34-14.

Georgia Southern (6-7) then recovered an onside kick and, seven plays later, Brin connected with Jjay Mcafee for a 15-yard TD, cutting the Eagles’ deficit to 13.

But the comeback bid stalled when Georgia Southern failed to convert on a fourth-and-2, handing the ball back to the Bobcats with 6:32 left in the game. Hunt capped the ensuing drive by rushing for his fifth touchdown, from 9 yards out, to seal the victory.

Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro completed 11 of 16 passes for 120 yards and a TD. Brin threw for 350 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions on 32-for-42 passing.

Burgess finished with six catches for 117 yards and the score, but the Eagles totaled just 33 yards on 21 carries.

Gianni Spetic opened the scoring with a 27-yard field goal before Hunt rushed for a 2-yard touchdown and hauled in an 18-yard score to give the Bobcats a 17-0 lead with 3:16 left in the second quarter.

Spetic added a 26-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to send Ohio into the break up 20-0.

After Hunt rushed for a 6-yard TD, Georgia Southern finally got on the board with 7:54 remaining in the third quarter thanks to David Mbadinga’s 3-yard scoring scamper. That made it 27-7, and Hunt broke off for his 40-yard run to the end zone nearly six minutes later.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Athens, Ohio, USA;  Ohio University Bobcats quarterback Kurtis Rourke (7) during the second quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at Peden Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Lunsford-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio shoots for historic win in Myrtle Beach Bowl vs. Ga. Southern

Although Ohio finds itself in the same situation it was in a season ago, program history is on the line this time.

After prevailing in last year’s Arizona Bowl, the Bobcats (9-3) will look to record back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time ever when they face Georgia Southern (6-6) in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Saturday in Conway, S.C.

Ohio was 9-4 in 2022 before edging Wyoming 30-27 in the Arizona Bowl in Tucson to punctuate the campaign.

The Bobcats used a late-season surge to move into position to reach the 10-win plateau again in 2023, rattling off three consecutive victories ahead of bowl action.

“Winning a bowl game is one of our goals, one of the expectations here, and we have an opportunity to do that,” Ohio coach Tim Albin said. “Sure, we’re gonna try to win the game and … that’s an opportunity that we have in front of us.

“It won’t be the sole motivation, but (we) certainly have an opportunity to get that done for these guys.”

Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Bobcats and Eagles, and the clock is ticking for Albin and his coaching staff as they try to learn about a Georgia Southern program that lost 23-21 to Buffalo in the 2022 Camellia Bowl.

The Myrtle Beach Bowl is the first bowl game of the postseason, kicking off at 11 a.m. ET.

“Georgia Southern, a tradition-rich program,” Albin said. “Six national championships in the FCS level. Don’t know much about them; we’re diving into them right now. … Coach (Clay) Helton will have them ready to go, but we’re looking forward to the matchup.”

Helton has had to use a little extra elbow grease to have his guys ready, though.

“Our coaches, half of them are on the road, half of them are back here (in Georgia) prepping for the game so we can produce a game plan by Wednesday when we go to that first practice,” Helton said. “You basically get six practices here, and you’ll get three practices there, then you put the ball down and get the chance to play.”

Although it might be hard to tell by their record, the Eagles have been bowl-eligible since Oct. 26, when they beat Georgia State 44-27. Georgia Southern then dropped its final four games of the regular season, most recently 55-27 to Appalachian State on Nov. 25.

The Eagles surrendered an average of 39.5 points per game during their skid, well north of their season average of 24.6 before that.

Georgia Southern sports a high-powered offense led by quarterback Davis Brin, who threw for 3,431 yards and 22 touchdowns in the regular season but was picked off 16 times. Jalen White led the rushing attack with 891 yards and nine TDs.

Meanwhile, Ohio has leaned on its defense for the bulk of its success in 2023.

Opponents averaged just 15.4 points against the Bobcats through their first 12 games, fifth-best in the country. Linebacker Bryce Houston had the 16th-most tackles (119) in the FBS.

Offensively, Kurtis Rourke had 2,207 passing yards and 11 TDs through the air, with five interceptions. Sieh Bangura totaled 811 yards and seven scores on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2022; Conway, South Carolina, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Rasheen Ali (22) looks for some running room in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies in the Myrtle Beach Bowl at Brooks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Marshall tackles UConn 28-14 in Myrtle Beach Bowl

Freshman quarterback Cam Fancher threw for two touchdowns Monday as Marshall established a 28-0 third-quarter lead and held off UConn 28-14 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C.

Rasheen Ali rushed for 92 yards and a score for the Thundering Herd, which finished with a 9-4 record that included a September win at Notre Dame and a season-ending five-game winning streak.

The Huskies (6-7) got 75 yards and two touchdowns from Victor Rosa on 16 carries, but they couldn’t consistently crack Marshall’s physical defense. Quarterback Zion Turner completed just 9 of 27 passes for 166 yards with three interceptions, including a game-sealer in the end zone by Micah Abraham with 5:09 left in the game that thwarted UConn’s last chance to rally.

Marshall melted the remaining time down with a running game that was its best source of offense. Fancher was 10 of 20 for just 93 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, but the Herd ran for 210 yards.

The Huskies actually outgained the Herd 316-303 but continually hurt themselves with mistakes. They committed four turnovers that led to 14 points and were flagged 10 times for 115 yards.

Marshall initiated scoring just 3:45 into the game, two plays after recovering a fumble on a bad option pitch. Fancher zipped a 9-yard touchdown pass to Corey Gammage on a slant.

The Herd’s defense made it 14-0 at the 3:23 mark of the first quarter when Damion Barber intercepted Turner and raced 34 yards for a touchdown. Fancher upped the cushion to 21-0 with 7:05 left in the half when he found Devin Miller on a 10-yard scoring strike.

Ali capped a 79-yard drive on Marshall’s first possession of the second half, plowing in from the 2 with 9:51 on the clock to increase the lead to 28-0.

At that point, the UConn offense finally displayed some life with consecutive touchdown drives of 75 and 40 yards. Rosa finished them off with runs of 14 and 24 yards, the latter coming on the final play of the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2021; Conway, South Carolina, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane running back Shamari Brooks (3) is tackled by Old Dominion Monarchs safety Terry Jones during (13) in the 2021 Myrtle Beach Bowl at Brooks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Tulsa storms past Old Dominion to win Myrtle Beach Bowl

Davis Brin passed for 285 yards and two touchdowns to help Tulsa post a solid 30-17 victory over Old Dominion on Monday afternoon in the Myrtle Beach Bowl at Conway, S.C.

Josh Johnson caught eight passes for 129 yards and a touchdown as the Golden Hurricane (7-6) won their fourth consecutive game. Shamari Brooks rushed for 107 yards and a score on 26 carries to move into second place in school history with 3,729 yards, passing Tarrion Adams (3,651 yards from 2005-08).

Ethan Hall also caught a touchdown pass and Zack Long booted three field goals for Tulsa, which outgained Old Dominion 529 to 247 while controlling the contest. The Golden Hurricane had a huge edge in plays (99 to 47) and first downs (35 to 10) while controlling the ball for 39 minutes, 43 seconds.

LaMareon James returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for the first of Old Dominion’s two touchdowns. Hayden Wolff completed 19 of 28 passes for 176 yards and one interception and Blake Watson rushed for 77 yards and a score for the Monarchs (6-7), who had a five-game winning streak halted.

James supplied electricity at the outset by navigating his way down the field for his second kickoff return of the season.

But the Golden Hurricane needed just 1:42 to answer and Brooks capped the seven-play, 74-yard drive by scoring from the 1.

Tulsa moved ahead 14-7 later in the quarter as Brin (22-of-34 passing) tossed a 23-yard scoring pass to Johnson with 4:47 to go.

Old Dominion’s Nick Rice kicked a 32-yard field goal with 12:50 left in the second quarter, but Long countered with a 35-yarder with nine seconds remaining to give the Golden Hurricane a 17-10 halftime lead.

Long added field goals of 25 and 32 yards in the third quarter to boost Tulsa’s advantage to 23-10.

The Monarchs threatened early in the fourth quarter as Wolff connected with Ali Jennings III for 30 yards. But Tulsa’s Tyon Davis punched the ball out of Jennings’ grasp inside the 5-yard line, and it rolled into the end zone and out the right side for a touchback.

The Golden Hurricane responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that increased their lead to 30-10. Brin capped it with a 4-yard toss to Hall with 9:04 left in the contest.

Watson scored on a 2-yard run to pull Old Dominion within 13 with 7:15 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Appalachian State Mountaineers defensive back Shemar Jean-Charles (8) celebrates a broken up pass during the third quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

North Texas, Appalachian State kick off bowl season in Myrtle Beach

Appalachian State is accustomed to memorable finishes.

A chance for another dramatic ending awaits the Mountaineers in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl. Appalachian State will take on North Texas on Monday afternoon at Conway, S.C.

“Anytime you go to postseason play, you have a chance to play for a championship,” Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark said. “A bowl game is a big deal.”

The game will take place at Coastal Carolina’s Brooks Stadium. Appalachian State lost a regular-season Sun Belt Conference game Nov. 21 in this location. The Mountaineers will use the visiting locker room that they’re familiar with and have the potential edge of familiarity.

Appalachian State (8-3) and North Texas (4-5), which was fourth in Conference USA’s West Division, meet for the first time.

“I think it’s great for your program,” Clark said. “It’s going to be on national TV. It’s a way to showcase our program and our university.”

Accepting a bowl bid was always on the table for the Mountaineers, who relish the opportunity to play again and still have team members home for the Christmas holiday. This marks the sixth bowl in six seasons in which Appalachian State has been eligible for bowls since moving to this level.

“We were full ‘go’ the whole time,” Clark said. “It’s a way to send our seniors out on the right note.”

It won’t be the normal bowl experience. The team is spending only two nights on the road for this trip.

North Texas is no stranger to bowl games, claiming a postseason spot for the fourth time in five seasons under coach Seth Littrell. Overall, it’s the Mean Green’s 12th bowl and ninth in a 20-year period.

“Through all the uncertainty that we’ve had all season, I’m happy that we are able to continue our season for one more game and we are extremely excited for the opportunity to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl,” Littrell said.

“This has been a challenging year for sure, but we’ve tried to stay focused on the things that we can control, and the resiliency of this team has been outstanding. To have a chance at a bowl game to finish the season is validation for this team and I’m extremely proud of them.”

The Mountaineers are 5-0 all-time in bowls, though recent outings came as league champions. Like the past two years in the New Orleans Bowl, Appalachian State takes on a Conference USA opponent again in the postseason.

The game comes just nine days after the Mountaineers concluded the regular season by winning 34-26 at Georgia Southern.

“It’s the first game this year we came out healthy, which was nice,” Clark said.

Appalachian State was second in the Sun Belt’s East Division this year after holding at least a share of the league title the past four years.

North Texas won three of its final five regular-season games, including a 45-43 decision Dec. 11 against UTEP with Austin Aune throwing five touchdown passes. Four of those were caught by Jaelon Darden.

Darden, a senior receiver, leads the Mean Green in career receptions (230), receiving touchdowns (38), receiving yards (2,782) and single-season touchdown catches (19).

“Statistics don’t really mean nothing to me, but I just want my coaches and teammates to look at me and say, ‘He was a great player and gave everything he had,’” Darden said. “That’s how I want to leave my legacy here more than anything.”

Littrell said: “He deserves (the records and recognition) because of the amount of work he puts in. If you’ve been around him, you know he’s a special player but what makes him special is what he does off the field when no one else is around just working out.”

Clark made his head-coaching debut in Appalachian State’s 2019 bowl game after Eli Drinkwitz departed to take the Missouri job.

“It has been a very challenging year,” Clark said, noting the impact of playing during a pandemic. “We had no game plan for it.”

The Mountaineers have seasoned veterans with receiver Thomas Hennigan, center Noah Hannon and offensive lineman Victor Johnson all with at least 50 career starts. Quarterback Zac Thomas is 31-6 as a starter, giving him the second-most victories among active quarterbacks in the Football Bowl Subdivision behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (going into 32 the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game). On defense, senior safety Kaiden Smith of Appalachian State is coming off a performance with a career-high 12 tackles at Georgia Southern.

Going into games of Dec. 19, the Mountaineers’ three defeats this year came against teams holding a combined 27-2 record.

–Field Level Media