Potato Bowl ends in last-minute loss
BOISE, Idaho — Utah State’s 24-23 loss to Ohio in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl came down to the wire, just like nearly every other game this year.
It was the 10th game this season decided by a touchdown or less.
“We had some good luck there for five weeks,” USU head coach Gary Andersen said. “I don’t know if we were pressing it, but what we did do is learn a lot from these wins and losses.”
Bobcat sophomore quarterback Tyler Tettleton scrambled one yard for the final touchdown with 13 seconds left to give Ohio its first ever bowl win.
Tettleton finished with 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 19 of 26 passing, adding 31 yards and a game-winning touchdown on the ground.
Senior running back Michael Smith led the Aggies with a career-high 157 yards and two rushing touchdowns, earning him Most Valuable Player honors for USU.
“Michael Smith is a tremendous, tremendous player,” Andersen said. “To see him make some of those plays was great. I sure hope Michael Smith gets to a camp in the NFL, because I think it’s well deserved.”
Utah State started the game with a drive that stalled after a failed fourth-down conversion on the 1-yard line. A few plays later, a fumbled snap forced Tettleton to run out the back of the end zone for a safety to avoid a touchdown, 2-0 USU.
The Aggies scored after an Ohio free kick on a pass from quarterback Adam Kennedy to tight end Tarren Lloyd to put USU up by nine.
The two teams traded scores through the half and into the third quarter. The Bobcats entered the fourth quarter down 17-23.
Utah State had two chances to extend the lead, but neither drive got closer to the end zone than the Ohio 40-yard line.
The Bobcats took every minute possible to take their first, only and standing lead of the game with the help of senior LaVon Brazill, who was the only receiver on either team with more than 100 yards.
“I didn’t think we did anything wrong,” Aggie senior linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “I think their player made a great play and we didn’t.”
The Ohio MVP caught a touchdown in the third quarter in addition to a 13-yard pass on fourth-and-six on the USU 14-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the game. The Bobcats scored two plays later on Tettleton’s scramble and stole victory away from the Aggies.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu