The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was generally boring until the end. Northern Illinois played catch-up all game but came out on top at the end of the second overtime. The Huskies beat the Bulldogs 28-20 to secure the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory. Head coach Thomas Hammock was showered in french fries to symbolize the mascot of the bowl. The potato. Despite playing from behind all game and needing two overtime segments to win, Northern Illinois ended the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl leading in almost all categories. Let’s take a look at what happened.
The Huskies Survived the Bulldogs 28-20
When previewing this contest we outlined that the team that overcame transfers would win. Well, Northern Illinois had to overcome more than transfers to win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. A very slow start, scoring lulls, and two overtime segments headlined this win for the Huskies. By just the stats a first look would think this was a riveting affair, but that is far from the case. However, it is still important to look at. The Huskies totaled 368 yards and 24 first downs, controlled the ball for 39 minutes and 14 seconds, and had one turnover. Despite leading for most of the game, Fresno State totaled 328 yards and 17 first downs, only had the ball for 20 minutes and 46 seconds, and also had one turnover.
All Eyes on the Quarterbacks
Coming into this game it was a tale of two quarterbacks and most didn’t know who would start for the Bulldogs. Northern Illinois lost its starter before the game to the transfer portal but had a backup who played this season. Josh Holst finished the day going 18 for 30 and throwing 182 yards. He also had two touchdowns and one interception. His interception in the first quarter led to Fresno State’s first touchdown of the day three plays later. It took until the third quarter for Holst to throw the first touchdown and the second came to tie the game during the first overtime. He didn’t throw the winning touchdown in the second overtime, but he did catch the two-point conversion to seal the deal. Wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw the touchdown pass to put Northern Illinois on top in the second overtime. He then threw another pass to his quarterback, Holst, for the two-point conversion. The freshman came into the bowl game with just six receptions. In addition, this is only the fifth game he appeared in this season. Dimopoulos didn’t have a reception in this contest, but he was integral in this win.
Fresno State’s quarterback was generally unknown entering this contest. The Bulldogs had two available options, both barely playing throughout the season. Joshua Wood and Jayden Mandal played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Wood took the majority of the snaps, finishing the day with 180 passing yards and two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground. He averaged just under eight yards per pass and kept his stat sheet clean of turnovers. Mandal wasn’t as lucky. He only attempted six passes and threw the team’s interception. This interception resulted in a tying field goal for the Huskies in the third quarter.
Kicking Woes
Both teams struggled in the kicking game during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, but Fresno State didn’t make a single attempt. The Bulldogs’ kicker, Dylan Lynch went zero-for-three on field goal attempts during this contest. Points that would have likely put this game out of the Huskies’ reach. However, he did make both extra-point attempts. The first two misses in the first quarter were both above 40 yards. The final miss in the fourth quarter was from 35 yards. Against the loss to UCLA in November, Lynch made both attempts over 40 yards so these attempts weren’t wishful thinking.
Toward the end of the fourth quarter, Norther Illinois had the ball and was driving downfield. The drive stalled and Coach Hammock decided to try a field goal to go up 17-13. Kanon Woodill had made both field goal attempts so far. The first from 29 yards and the second from 34. This final try would have been a 35-yard field goal. Woodill missed and gave the ball back to the Bulldogs. He also went two-for-two on extra points. Both kickers could have completed the game for their respective teams. Instead, the bowl game went into two overtimes and needed a sack from Huskies’ safety, Jordan Hansen to end the game.
The post Northern Illinois Prevails in Double Overtime appeared first on Last Word on College Football.