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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Sunday, December 16, 2018 3B
BOWL
SCOREBOARD
JOHN LOCHER I Associated Press
Fresno State players celebrate with the
trophy after defeating Arizona State in the
Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Fresno St.
takes Las
Vegas Bowl
Associated Press
Ronnie Rivers rushed for 212 yards and
two touchdowns, Anthoula “Tank” Kelly
had a 70-yard interception return for a
touchdown and No. 19 Fresno State beat
Arizona State 31-20 in the Las Vegas Bowl
on Saturday.
Marcus McMaryion rushed for a touch
down and was 15-of-29 passing for 176
yards to help the Bulldogs (12-2) set a
school record for wins in a season. He also
threw two interceptions.
Eno Benjamin rushed for 118 yards a
one touchdown for the Sun Devils (7-6)
in their third straight bowl loss. Manny
Wilkins threw for 129 yards, with a 3-yard
scoring pass to Kyle Williams and two
interceptions.
Rivers put Fresno State back in front
24-20 with a 68-yard touchdown run up
the middle in the third quarter and had a
5-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter to
seal Fresno State’s second win over a Pac-
12 opponent this season.
Wilkins sustained an apparent knee
injury on the final pass of his college
career, which was intercepted by Juju
Hughes.
NEW MEXICO BOWL
UTAH STATE 52, NORTH TEXAS
13: Jordan Love threw for 359 yards and
four touchdowns and Jalen Greene had six
catches for 151 yards and a score to help
Utah State rout North Texas in the New
Mexico Bowl.
Interim coach Frank Maile directed the
Aggies (11-2) after Matt Wells left to take
the Texas Tech job.
Love completed 21 of 43 passes with one
interception. D.J. William had two inter
ceptions, helping Utah State ground high
flying North Texas (9-4).
Aaren Vaughns caught two passes for
109 yards and two scores for the Aggies,
Gerold Bright ran for 103 yards and two
touchdowns on 16 carries, and Darwin
Thompson added 93 yards on 21 carries.
North Texas quarterback Mason Fine
was injured in the first quarter, and the
Mean Green ended up using four quarter
backs. Jalen Guyton had four catches for
103 yards a score.
CURE BOWL
TULANE 41, LOUISIANA-
LAFAYETTE 24: Darius Bradwell rushed
for a career-best 150 yards and two touch
downs to lead Tulane to its first postsea
son victory in 16 years, a 41-24 win over
intrastate rival Louisiana-Lafayette in the
Cure Bowl. Justin McMillan improved to
5-1 as the Green Wave’s starting quarter
back, tossing a first-quarter TD pass to
Terren Encalade and running for a late
score while accounting for 217 yards total
offense —145 passing and 72 rushing.
Bradwell scored on runs of 15 and 4
yards while setting bowl records for rush
ing attempts (35) and yards for Tulane
(7-6), which won a bowl game for the first
time since the 2002 Hawaii Bowl.
The Green Wave also got a rushing
TD from Amare Jones and outgained
the Ragin’ Cajuns 337 yards to 84 on the
ground.
Lousiana-Lafayette (7-7) rallied from a
24-7 deficit to pull within three points on
Jarrod Jackson’s 15-yard TD reception
with just over 10 minutes remaining.
McMillan put the game away, leading a
75-yard drive Bradwell finished with his
second TD and later scoring himself on a
16-yard run that put Tulane up 41-24.
CELEBRATION BOWL
Lamar Raynard passed for 292 yards
and two touchdowns and Malik Wilson
returned a kickoff for the game-sealing
touchdown Saturday as North Carolina
A&T held off Alcorn State to win the Cel
ebration Bowl 24-22, and the Aggies cap
tured their second straight HBCU national
championship and third in four years.
The Celebration Bowl kicks off the
bowl season by matching up the champi
ons of two historically black leagues, the
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the
Southwestern Athletic Conference, at Mer
cedes-Benz Stadium.
Raynard, a senior who finished his
career with a 35-2 record as a starter, did
most of his damage in the first half with
touchdown passes of 17 yards to Zachary
Leslie and 27 yards to Elijah Bell as North
Carolina A&T (10-2) built a 17-3 lead in the
second quarter.
Associated Press
DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP I Valdosta State 49, Ferris State 49
Blazers claim national title
Valdosta State QB
threw for five TDs
ROSE BACA I Dallas Morning News
The Valdosta State football team celebrates after beating Ferris State for the Division II
national championship on Saturday in Denton, Texas.
Associated Press
Ninety-six points were scored in the
NCAA Division II championship game Sat
urday. Two points that weren’t scored made
the difference.
Rogan Wells tied the championship
record with five touchdown passes and Val
dosta State won its fourth national title with
a 49-47 victory over Ferris State.
Ferris State’s rally from an 11-point defi
cit fell short when Jevon Shaw’s two-point
conversion pass sailed wide of Keyondre
Craig at the back of the end zone with 40
seconds left.
“When I saw the ball high and wide, that
was a great feeling,” Valdosta coach Kerwin
Bell said.
Ferris State coach Tony Annese said his
team practiced “probably eight” differ
ent two-point plays every week during the
season. The play he picked was a double
reverse designed for wide receiver Shaw,
a high school quarterback, to throw back to
quarterback Jayru Campbell.
“We haven’t used a two-point conversion
this year,” he said. “We’re 0 for 1.”
Sophomore Wells, the runner-up for the
Harlon Hill Trophy for Division II’s out
standing player, outplayed junior Campbell,
the Hill Trophy winner.
Wells passed for 349 yards, ran for 39
and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from
backup quarterback Ivory Durham IV.
Campbell ran for 122 yards and a touch
down and had 99 yards passing and another
TD. He was high on Division I recruiting lists
before two arrests for assault in 2014.
Wells said the Hill voting wasn’t a
motivator.
“(Campbell’s) a great player. He can
throw it. He can run. I just wanted to come
out and win the championship game.”
Bell was diplomatic.
“I thought both guys deserved it.”
Ferris State couldn’t stop Valdosta’s
championship-game-record 374-yard pass
ing attack, and the champions gave up 270
rushing yards to Ferris State.
The lead changed hands seven times
before Valdosta (14-0) overcame a 34-31
deficit with two consecutive third-quarter
touchdowns on passes from Wells to Joe
Fortson Jr. and Travis Taylor.
In winning their first title since 2012, the
Blazers overcame a missed field goal, a
muffed punt, 114 penalty yards and a Ferris
State pass that VSU cornerback Cory Rob
erts batted back into the end zone to Craig
for a touchdown that pulled Ferris State to
42-38.
Valdosta stretched the lead back to 11
points when Wells lateraled to Durham and
ran to the left sideline for a return pass and
his touchdown. He’s the first player in the
championship’s 46-year history responsible
1996 — Northern Colorado
1995 — North Alabama
1994 — North Alabama
1993 — North Alabama
1992 — Jacksonville State
1991 — Pittsburg State
1990 — North Dakota State
1989 — x-Mississippi College
1988 — North Dakota State
1987 —Troy
1986 — North Dakota State
1985 — North Dakota State
for six total touchdowns.
“Rogan was special at quarterback,” Bell
said. “Our defense made the stop at the end
to win this championship.”
Ferris State (15-1) missed a chance to
become the first college team since 1899
to win a record 16 games in a season at any
level. Amos Alonzo Stagg’s University of Chi
cago team went 16-0-2 in 1899. Yale had two
16-win seasons in the 19th century. No team
has ever finished 16-0.
In the first quarter of its first champion
ship game, Ferris State set records for the
longest pass play, 80 yards from Shaw to
Craig, and longest field goal, 52 yards by
Jackson Dieterle.
Craig and Valdosta’s Lio’undre Gallimore
each caught two touchdown passes. Galli
more had 111 yards on four catches.
1984 —Troy
1983 — North Dakota State
1982 — Texas State
1981 —Texas State
1980 — Cal Poly
1979 — Delaware
1978 — Eastern Illinois
1977 —Lehigh
1976 — Montana State
1975 — Northern Michigan
1974 — Central Michigan
Associated Press
Division II champions
2018-
2017 -
2016-
2015 -
2014 -
2013 -
2012 -
2011 -
2010-
2009-
- Valdosta State
- Texas A&M-Commerce
- Northwest Missouri State
- Northwest Missouri State
- Colorado State-Pueblo
- Northwest Missouri State
- Valdosta State
- Pittsburg State
- Minnesota-Duluth
- Northwest Missouri State
2008-
2007-
2006-
2005-
2004-
2003-
2002-
2001 -
2000-
1999 -
1998 -
1997 -
- Minnesota Duluth
- Valdosta State
- Grand Valley State
- Grand Valley State
- Valdosta State
- Grand Valley State
- Grand Valley State
- North Dakota
- Delta State
- Northwest Missouri State
- Northwest Missouri State
- Northern Colorado
FCS PLAYOFFS I Eastern Washington 50, Maine 19
Eagles advance to championship game
Associated Press
This wasn’t the first
time that Eastern Wash
ington quarterback Eric
Barriere threw seven
touchdowns in a game. Or
even the second.
But both those were in
high school.
Barriere threw seven
touchdown passes as
Eastern Washington beat
Maine 50-19 in the semi
finals of the FCS playoffs
on Saturday, to advance
to the national title game
against powerhouse
North Dakota State.
“This time is way
better,” Barriere said.
“We’re going for a
championship.”
The sophomore did
not become a starter
until midseason, when
Gage Gubrud was lost
to an injury. But he has
improved quickly.
Eastern Washington
coach Aaron Best said he
was “on Cloud 10” after
the Eagles broke a three-
game losing streak in
semifinal playoff games.
“We were in control
from the start,” Best said.
“We made a statement on
offense.’
Nsimba Webster
caught four touchdown
passes for third-seeded
Eastern Washington (12-
2), which was playing in
the national semifinals
for the fifth time in nine
years.
He had nine catches for
188 yards.
Barriere completed 21
of 30 passes for 352 yards
and tied the school record
for scoring passes in
a game.
“I can’t believe he is
the backup,” Maine coach
Joe Harasymiak said.
Chris Ferguson threw
for 325 yards for Maine
(10-4), which was mak
ing its first appearance
in the semifinals. But he
also committed some key
turnovers early.
“You can’t start that
way early in the first
quarter,” Harasymiak
said. “They were the bet
ter team today. I’m proud
of these seniors for tak
ing us to a level we have
never been to. We’ll be
back.”
It was the ninth road
game of the season for
the seventh-seeded Black
Bears of the Colonial Ath
letic Association.
KATHY PLONKAI Associated Press
Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere (3)
celebrates a touchdown with Jayce Gilder (89)
during the second half of Saturday’s game against
Maine in Chaney, Washington.
Bowl glance
Saturday’s games
Celebration Bowl
At Atlanta
N.C. A&T 24, Alcorn State 22
Cure Bowl
Orlando, Fla.
Tulane 41, Louisiana-Lafayette 24
New Mexico Bowl
Albuquerque
Utah State 52, North Texas 13
Las Vegas Bowl
Fresno State 31, Arizona State 20
Camellia Bowl
Montgomery, Ala.
Georgia Southern 23, Eastern Michigan
21
New Orleans Bowl
Middle Tennessee (8-5) vs.
Appalachian State (10-2), late
Ibesday’s game
Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl
UAB (10-3) vs. North Illinois (8-5), 7
p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday’s game
Frisco (Texas) Bowl
San Diego State (7-5) vs. Ohio (8-4),
8 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday’s game
Gasparilla Bowl
At St. Petersburg, Fla.
Marshall (8-4) vs. South Florida (7-5),
8 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, Dec. 21
Bahamas Bowl
Nassau
Toledo (7-5) vs. FIU (8-4), 12:30 p.m
(ESPN)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Boise
Western Michigan (7-5) vs. BYU (6-6),
4 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, Dec. 22
Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl
Memphis (8-5) vs. Wake Forest (6-6),
Noon(ESPN)
Armed Forces Bowl
Fort Worth, Texas
Houston (8-4) vs. Army (10-2), 3:30
p.m. (ESPN)
Dollar General Bowl
Mobile, Ala.
Buffalo (10-3) vs. Troy (9-3), 7 p.m.
(ESPN)
Hawaii Bowl
Honolulu
Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Hawaii (8-5),
10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday, Dec. 26
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Dallas
Boston College (7-5) vs. Boise State
(10-3), 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Quick Lane Bowl
Detroit
Minnesota (6-6) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5),
5:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Cheez-lt Bowl
Phoenix
California (7-5) vs. TCU (6-6), 9 p.m.
(ESPN)
Thursday, Dec. 27
Independence Bowl
Shreveport, La.
Temple (8-4) vs. Duke (7-5), 1:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
Pinstripe Bowl
Bronx, N.Y.
Miami (7-5) vs. Wisconsin (7-5), 5:15
p.m. (ESPN)
Texas Bowl
Houston
Baylor (6-6) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6), 9
p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, Dec. 28
Music City Bowl
Nashville, Tenn.
Purdue (6-6) vs. Auburn (7-5), 1:30
p.m. (ESPN)
Camping World Bowl
Orlando, Fla.
West Virginia (8-3) vs. Syracuse (9-3),
5:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Alamo Bowl
San Antonio
Iowa State (8-4) vs. Washington State
(10-2), 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, Dec. 29
Peach Bowl
Atlanta
Florida (9-3) vs. Michigan (10-2), Noon
(ESPN)
Belk Bowl
Charlotte, N.C.
South Carolina (7-5) vs. Virginia (7-5),
Noon (ABC)
Arizona Bowl
TUcson, Ariz.
Arkansas State (8-4) vs. Nevada (7-5),
1:15 p.m. (CBSSN)
Cotton Bowl Classic
Arlington, Texas
CFP Semifinal, Notre Dame (12-0) vs.
Clemson (13-0), 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Orange Bowl
Miami Gardens, Fla.
CFP Semifinal, Oklahoma (12-1) vs.
Alabama (13-0), 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Monday, Dec. 31
Military Bowl
Annapolis, Md.
Cincinnati (10-2) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6),
Noon (ESPN)
Sun Bowl
El Paso,Texas
Stanford (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (7-6), 2
p.m. (CBS)
Redbox Bowl
Santa Clara, Calif.
Michigan State (7-5) vs. Oregon (8-4),
3 p.m. (FOX)
Liberty Bowl
Memphis, Tenn.
Missouri (8-4) vs. Oklahoma State
(6-6), 3:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Holiday Bowl
San Diego
Northwestern (8-5) vs. Utah (9-4), 7
p.m. (FS1)
Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, Fla.
NC State (9-3) vs. Texas A&M (8-4),
7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Ihesday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl
Tampa, Fla.
Mississippi State (8-4) vs. Iowa (8-4),
Noon (ESPN2)
Citrus Bowl
Orlando, Fla.
Kentucky (9-3) vs. Penn State (9-3),
1 p.m. (ABC)
Fiesta Bowl
Glendale, Ariz.
LSU (9-3) vs. UCF (12-0), 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, Calif.
Washington (10-3) vs. Ohio State (12-
1), 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Sugar Bowl
New Orleans
Texas (9-4) vs. Georgia (11-2), 8:45
p.m. (ESPN)
Monday, Jan. 7
College Football Championship
Santa Clara, Calif.
Cotton Bowl winner vs. Orange Bowl
winner, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, Jan. 19
East-West Shrine Classic
At St. Petersburg, Fla.
East vs. West, 3 p.m. (NFLN)
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
At Pasadena, Calif.
American vs. National, TBA (NFLN)
Saturday, Jan. 26
Senior Bowl
At Mobile, Ala.
North vs. South, 2:30 p.m. (NFLN)
Associated Press
Notre Dame coach
favors CFP doubling
to eight-team field
If it’s any consolation to Ohio
State, Washington, Georgia and
UCF, Notre Dame coach Brian
Kelly feels their pain — some
what — of not being in the Col
lege Football Playoff.
“We’re forcing out a confer
ence champion,” Kelly said
Saturday before the No. 3 Irish
went through their first post
finals workout for the Dec. 29
Cotton Bowl against No. 2 Clem
son (13-0) in a CFP semifinal.
No. 1 Alabama (13-0) and No.
4 Oklahoma (12-1) meet in the
other semifinal that day at the
Orange Bowl.
The CFP is halfway through a
10-year contract for a four-team
playoff to determine a Foot
ball Bowls Subdivision national
champion.
The format was agreed to
by the Power 5 conferences
(Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12,
Pacific-12 and Southeastern)
and independent Notre Dame.
For the second straight sea
son, there will be no representa
tive from the Big Ten or Pac-12.
Last year, SEC powers Ala
bama and Georgia reached
the championship game, with
Alabama surviving 26-23 in
overtime.
This year, Notre Dame went
12-0 and beat out Big Ten cham
pion Ohio State and SEC runner-
up Georgia.
“We’re forcing out confer
ences that are in this CFP, and
so that puts a lot of pressure on
us every year relative to our
schedule and what we need to
do,” said Kelly, who would be in
favor of re-opening the contract.
Kelly favors an eight-team
playoff.
“There are five Power con
ferences and there’s the inde
pendent ranks,” he said.
At-large teams like indepen
dent teams like Notre Dame,
conference runner-up teams
like Georgia, and UCF, the two-
time American Conference
champion currently riding a
25-game winning streak.
Associated Press
