(Tucson, AZ) Today’s Arizona Bowl marked a few firsts in the evolution of the game.
This was the first game since the covid situation in 2020 where there were fans in the seats. Last year’s game was cancelled at the last minute when Boise State pulled out due to covid protocols.
This game was broadcasted on Barstool Sports, a social media internet site. The wave of the future began here in Tucson in what will lead to more games in all sports to be streamed and not on conventional or cable television.
Coming in, both teams were not at full strength. Ohio was without starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke who was injured in the MAC Championship Game. Wyoming on the other hand was short 6 players who either entered the transfer portal or were no longer with the team.
The Cowboys won the coin toss and quickly asserted themselves at they drove 70 yards on nine plays mixing the run and pass. Jordan Vaughn scooted up the middle for 17 yards into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
At the 8:31 mark of the first quarter, Wyoming cornerback Kolbey Taylor was called for targeting and was disqualified from the game.
The next play after the penalty, C.J. Harris connected with Jacoby Jones for a 34 yard touchdown. The Bobcats went for the 2 point conversion which was successful to give Ohio a 8-7 lead.
On the first punt of the game, Ohio muffed the fair catch and it was recovered by Wyoming’s Mitchell Anderson. Once again, the Cowboys took full opportunity and scored on their first play from Andrew Peasley to Trenton Welch for the go ahead touchdown from 17 yards out. Cowboys up 14-8 with 3:58 left in the opening quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, 22 total points were scored and Wyoming ahead on total yards 118-77. Cowboys took advantage of the turnover that gave them the lead.
With both coaches having worked together on the North Dakota State program, there was little that they didn’t know about each other’s schemes.
Ohio drove to the Cowboy’s 27 yard line before settling for a 43 yard field goal by Nathanial Vakos to cut the lead to 14-11 to open the second quarter.
For more than half the second quarter both teams went back and forth until Ohio attempted a 53 yard field goal which was short and to the right with 4:47 to go till halftime. The pace slowed considerably as there were just two field goals, one by each team.
With the clock at 9 seconds, the Cowboys attempted 53 yard field goal that Vakos had just enough leg and snuck over the crossbar to put Wyoming up 17-10 heading into the half.
Just as the score was tight, the stats evened up as well. Wyoming led in total yards 186-154.
This game was slated as a close contest with the Bobcats coming in as a field goal favorite.
It took till a little over five minutes left in the third quarter for the first score of the second half.
Sieh Bangura took it up the middle through a huge hole 40 yards down to the Wyoming 3 yard line. The next play Bangura sliced in for 3 yards to and the Bobcats were back on top 18-17 with 5;13 left in the quarter.
So just as in the second quarter, the defenses took control and neither team was able to sustain any offensive flow with the only points coming on the Ohio touchdown.
At the beginning of the final quarter, Ohio’s Torrie Cox Jr. intercepted a Cowboy pass just as Wyoming had a drive going. The Bobcats couldn’t take advantage and were forced to punt.
Ohio’s defense buckled down midway through the quarter and kept the Cowboys in the shadow of their own goal line. A monster punt by Clayton Stewart drove Sam Wiglusz back to the Bobcat 35 yard line.
Ohio at this point just needed to run the clock, but Wyoming held them to a 45 yard field goal.
With the score now 21-17, it forced Wyoming to get a touchdown to take the lead. Ohio’s 2 point conversion in the first half now seemed huge.
Peasley’s pass in the middle of the field got the Cowboys to the Ohio eleven yard line.
Jordan Vaughn on a counter play from the five yard line put Wyoming back in lead 24-21 with 2:08 left.
Ohio with only one time out left was 85 yards away from a tie or win.
Harris’s pass over the middle on a second and ten netted 24 yards to put the ball on the Cowboy forty.
On a third and ten, Wyoming was whistled for a pass interference penalty to keep the drive alive but only eight seconds remained.
Nataniel Vakos clutch kick from the Cowboy 35 yard line drilled the field goal that tied the game 24-24 with three seconds left.
Once again, the Arizona Bowl went into overtime.
Ohio won the toss but elected to defer and started on defense. Wyoming after an incomplete pass tried to run but was stuffed by the Bobcat defense. On fourth down the go ahead field goal from twenty nine yards out put the Cowboys up 27-24.
Now it was Oho’s turn to tie it or win it on their first crack in overtime. Harris on a keeper got their initial first down at the twelve yard line.
On third and eight, Harris threw a high pass Tyler Foster in the back of the end zone that sealed the deal and the win for Ohio 30-27. It was Foster’s lone reception of the day.
This marks only the fourth time in school history that the Bobcats have reached the ten win plateau.
After the game, Wyoming coach Craig Bohl discussed the targeting call on Taylor. He and other coaches are petitioning the NCAA to revise the penalty.
Bohl was optimistic for next season, especially with the extra practices his bowl team received. He also had high praise for Tucson and the Barstool Arizona Bowl.
You could tell Ohio coach Tim Albin was extremely happy, but emotional as well when asked, “how did it feel to beat your mentor?” He was very complimentary of Bohl and their friendship.
Backup Quarterback C.J. Harris won the game’s Most Valuable Player Award.
At the end the press conference, Albin said, “tomorrow we get ready for Texas Tech,” the Bobcats opening game in 2023.
Once again, the Arizona Bowl was a smashing success in many ways. From the Opening Ceremonies with the Wings of Blue parachute team to the thrilling last play in overtime, it appeared everything went as planned.
When all is said and done, what will be the impact of the first live-streamed bowl game and how many people watched?
Attendance was 27,691.
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