POSTGAME NOTES & QUOTES: Idaho 61 Colorado State 50

QUOTES from tonight’s game can be found at this link as they become available:
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL NOTES
  • Idaho scored 41 unanswered points spanning the second and third quarters to take a 41-7 lead before withstanding a late charge from Colorado State for a 61-50 victory Thursday (Dec. 22), to win the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
  • Idaho junior quarterback Matt Linehan was unanimously named the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Most Valuable Player. Linehan completed 21-of-31 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns. Linehan also ran for a score.
  • Idaho’s 606 yards of total offense are the most in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl history. Colorado State’s 600 yards of total offense are the second most in bowl history.
  • Idaho (606 yards) and Colorado State (600 yards) combined for 1,206 yards of total offense, the sixth most in a bowl game in college football history. It is the third bowl game in which both teams eclipsed 600 yards of total offense.
  • The teams combined for 84 points in the second half, the most in any half in a bowl game in college football history.
  • The 111 combined points are the third most in a bowl game in college football history.
  • Idaho scored 61 points, the most by any team in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl history. Colorado State’s 50 points are third most in FIPB history and the fourth most points scored by a losing team in any bowl game.
  • Idaho and Colorado State were knotted at zero at the end of the first quarter. It was the first time in FIPB history neither team scored in the first frame.
  • The game featured four passing touchdowns longer than 50 yards, including two of the five longest plays from scrimmage in FIPB history.
  • The attendance of 24,975 is the largest at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl since 2012.

IDAHO NOTES

  • Idaho is now 3-0 in bowl games, with all three bowl appearances coming at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (formerly known as the Humanitarian Bowl).
  • Idaho’s 61 points are its most since 1996, when it scored 64 points at Boise State (Nov. 23). It is Idaho’s second-highest scoring game in 21 seasons playing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
  • Idaho junior quarterback Matt Linehan’s 381 passing yards are the third most in FIPB history and his four passing touchdowns are a career high and tied for third most in FIPB history.
  • Matt Linehan’s 74-yard touchdown pass to Deon Watson in the third quarter was the third-longest passing play in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl history and the second-longest passing touchdown…it was the fourth-longest scoring play of any variety in FIPB history.
  • Idaho sophomore running back Isaiah Saunders rushed for a career-high 147 yards (ninth most in FIPB history) and three touchdowns (tied for second most in FIPB histroy) on 33 carries (FIPB record).
COLORADO STATE NOTES
  • Colorado State scored 36 points in the fourth quarter, the most by a single team in one quarter at a bowl game in college football history.
  • Colorado State junior quarterback Nick Stevens passed for a FIPB-record 445 yards and, tied the game record with five touchdown passes.
  • Colorado State sophomore wide receiver Olabisi Johnson caught seven passes for 265 yards, the most receiving yards in FIPB history and tied for fourth most in any bowl game in college football history.
  • Colorado State wide receivers Olabisi Johnson (265 yards) and Michael Gallup (108 yards) became the third pair of teammates to crack the 100-yard mark in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. (First since 2008)
  • Colorado State junior running back Dalyn Dawkins rushed for 118 yards (14th most in FIPB history) and one touchdown on 16 carries.
  • Colorado State completed a five-play, 91-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter, matching the second-longest scoring drive in FIPB history.
  • Nick Stevens’ 73-yard passing touchdown to Olabisi Johnson in the fourth quarter is the longest passing touchdown in Colorado State’s bowl history.
  • Colorado State is now 6-10 all-time in bowl games.
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Post Game Recap

BOISE, Idaho — Matt Linehan threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a another score to help Idaho beat Colorado State 61-50 on Thursday night in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in the third-highest scoring game in bowl history.

Idaho (9-4) matched its highest victory total since moving to FBS in 1996, but the victory will do nothing to quell the debate over the school’s decision to move back down to FCS play. In April, the Sun Belt informed the school it was dropping Idaho after the 2017 season.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our players,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “They were focused on winning the football game and that helped them come out and play well early. They were told there were a bunch of things they weren’t supposed to be able to do, but they did it anyway.”

Colorado State (7-6) finished with a bowl loss for the second straight year.

“We tried some different things this year in preparation,” Colorado coach Mike Bobo said. “You want to finish up strong. That onus falls on me. That’s the position I’m in as the head coach.

“So, we’ll go back to the drawing board and figure out how to build a team that can be the team we want it to be at the beginning of the year, the middle of the year and at the end of the year.”

After a scoreless first quarter, it appeared that both teams had dug in for a defensive battle. But that quickly dissipated as the teams started rolling up points.

The bowl record for points is 125 in Marshall’s 64-61, double-overtime victory over East Carolina in the 2001 GMAC Bowl. Idaho and Colorado State broke the Potato Bowl scoring record set in 2009 in Idaho’s 43-42 victory over Bowling Green.

The 84 points in the second half are the most combined in a half in any bowl game, breaking the record of 76 set by Tulsa and Virginia Tech last year in the first half of the Independence Bowl.

Linehan, who claimed the game’s MVP honors, tied the bowl record for touchdowns accounted for with five, also matched by Colorado State counterpart Nick Stevens. Linehan, whose father Scott Linehan is the offensive coordinators for the Dallas Cowboys, was 21 of 31 with no interceptions.

Isaiah Saunders led the Vandals on the ground with 147 yards and set another bowl record in the process with 33 carries.

Colorado State wasted a bowl record-setting performance from Stevens. He tied two records — touchdowns accounted for with five, touchdown passes with 5 — and set the passing yards records with 445. He finished 21 of 36 with two interceptions.

Sophomore Olabisi Johnson paced the Rams’ receiving corps with 265 yards — also a bowl record — on seven catches with a pair of touchdowns. The Rams were led on the ground by Dalyn Dawkins with 118 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown.

REVERSAL OF FORTUNES

Coming into the game, Colorado State coach Mike Bobo said a major factor for his team’s defensive success was limiting the big plays. But the Rams were dismal against Idaho, yielding nine plays of 25 yards or more.

The Rams also staked much of their success this season on winning the turnover battle.

However, Idaho, which entered the game 13th in the country in turnover margin, won that category as well. The Rams turned the ball over three times, while the Vandals were turnover free.

UP NEXT

Colorado State: One of the biggest storylines heading into the 2017 season will be the quarterback position.

Freshman Collin Hill won the starting job but suffered a torn ACL in his left knee midway through the season. However, Nick Stevens’ return sparked the Rams’ offense in the latter half of the year. Stevens completed 65 percent of his passes — a 5 percent increase from his sophomore year — and threw only three interceptions.

With Hill likely unable to practice in the spring and Steven returning for his senior year, competition for the starting job promises to be fierce again in fall camp.

Idaho: The Vandals will look to exit FBS with a bang and claim only their second conference title since moving up in 1996. Idaho’s last conference championship came in 1998 when it won the Big West, which competed in FBS at the time.

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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Media

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and Albertsons Designate Two Local Charities as Recipients of This Year’s Bowl for Charity Event

The Idaho Foodbank and Boise Rescue Mission to Receive Hundreds of Pounds of Potatoes, Beef and More Than $1,000 in Gift Cards to Positively Impact Local Community 

BOISE, Idaho, December 19, 2016 The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (FIPB), celebrating its 20th year, held its annual BOWL for Charity earlier this week at PINZ Bowling Center in Meridian, Idaho. Bowl for Charity, a highlight amongst a week of events for the players and teams, directly benefits The Idaho Foodbank and the Boise Rescue Mission for the second year in a row.

As in past years, the annual bowling event pitted the two competing teams, Idaho and Colorado State in a friendly match that resulted in Albertsons recognizing the both teams with a donation in the form of gift cards totaling $1,450 to each charity. CSU won this year’s matchup 264-206. The Bowl for Charity event also resulted in more than 1,100 pounds of fresh and dehydrated potatoes from J.R. Simplot and Potandon Produce to be divided between the two local charities. Agri Beef Co. also donated 400 pounds of ground beef between the two charities.

“We are grateful for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and each of its sponsors that are making a significant impact on our Idaho community,” said Karen Vauk, President and CEO of The Idaho Foodbank. “The financial and food contributions that are raised at this event provide nourishing food to working families, children and seniors who would otherwise go hungry. We are excited to extend our relationship with the Bowl for another year and look forward to participating in a great event.”

The FIPB’s BOWL for Charity consolidates charitable contributions from its title sponsor, Albertsons, as well as various Idaho organizations, including, Agri Beef Co., J.R. Simplot Company, Potandon Produce, and the Idaho Grower Shippers Association into hundreds of pounds of potatoes and beef that will have a positive impact on the Boise market this holiday season. In addition, Albertsons will be contributing gift cards to each charity to be used throughout its stores.

“Albertsons is proud to continue our support of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl,” said Brad Street, President of Albertsons Intermountain. “The Idaho Foodbank and Boise Rescue Mission play a critical role in providing families in need with both food and financial support during the holidays and throughout the year. We are especially excited to host the University of Idaho Football team at Albertsons Stadium, and expect a packed stadium with some very enthusiastic fans. This should be a great football game, and this Bowl for Charity Event will go a long ways to help grow awareness for The Boise Rescue Mission and The Idaho Foodbank.”

“The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl’s mission is to make a positive impact on our local community,” said Kevin McDonald, Executive Director of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. “The Bowl’s alignment of local businesses with charitable organizations helps us to make a real difference in individual lives and our entire community. We are happy that Albertsons has renewed its commitment as our title sponsor to this great event and we are looking forward getting this week’s activities kicked off.”

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will host the University of Idaho of the Sun Belt Conference and Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference on Thursday, December 22 at 5:05 p.m. (MST) at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Tickets for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl are on sale to the general public through famousidahopotatobowl.com or the Albertsons Stadium ticket office. Reservations for premium ticket packages are currently available, which include prime ticket locations, hospitality benefits in tent village and corporate exposure.

For more information, contact the Famous Idaho Bowl office at (208) 424-1011.

About the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, an ESPN Regional Television (ERT) and subsidiary of ESPN, recognizes the positive impact teams, coaches and student-athletes have in their communities and their leadership roles in promoting humanitarian efforts. Each year, the Bowl generates nearly $1 million in direct economic impact for the facilities and charities involved. For more information, visit www.famousidahopotatobowl.com.

ESPN Events

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; 13 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boca Raton, Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

ESPN Events also manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.

Collegiate Football

AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl (Houston); Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl (Atlanta); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); Marmot Boca Raton Bowl (Florida); MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.); Orlando Kickoff (Florida); Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Nassau); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (Nevada); St. PetersburgBowl (Florida); The Home Depot College Football Awards (Atlanta) and Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth)

Collegiate Basketball

AdvoCare Invitational (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Armed Forces Classic (Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan); DIRECTV Wooden Legacy (Orange County, Calif.); College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendys (Los Angeles); Gildan Charleston Classic (South Carolina); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Men’s Classic Presented by Corona (New York City); Jimmy V Women’s Classic Presented by Corona (Storrs, Conn.); NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan) and State Farm Champions Classic (Chicago)

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

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ESPN Media Contact: Rachel Margolis Siegal at 860-766-2798 or [email protected]

FIPB Executive Director: Kevin McDonald at (208) 424-1011 or [email protected]
FIPB Bowl for Charity Media Contact: Bill Cox (208) 863-6302 or [email protected]

Idaho, Colorado State Accept Invites to Play in 20th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

December 4, 2016 / For Immediate Release

Idaho, Colorado State Accept Invites to Play in 20th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Matchup slated for Thursday, Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. MST

BOISE, Idaho – The University of Idaho (8-4) of the Sun Belt Conference and Colorado State University (7-5) of the Mountain West Conference have accepted invitations to play in the 20th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Thursday, Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. MST. The game will take place at Albertsons Stadium on the campus of Boise State University and will be aired by ESPN and ESPN Radio. This is the two schools’ eighth meeting and first bowl matchup. CSU has the edge in the all-time series at 4-3, last hosting Idaho in 2010.

About Idaho

With an 8-4 record the Vandals are bowl eligible for the first time since 2009. Idaho finished the regular season with a 6-2 mark in league action, its first winning record since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. This is the team’s third bowl berth in school history, as well as its third berth to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Vandals hold a 2-0 mark in postseason play, with a win over Southern Mississippi (42-35) in 1998 at what was formerly known as the Humanitarian Bowl, and a thrilling victory over Bowling Green (43-42) in 2009 at the former Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl.

Head Coach Paul Petrino’s squad has won six of its last seven games, averaging 40.7 points in its last three matchups. Idaho is powered by a high-scoring offense led by junior quarterback Matt Linehan. He ranks fifth in the Vandals’ record book with 8,315 career yards. Senior kicker Austin Rehkow is tied for first in the FBS with 2.17 field goals per game, splitting the uprights with a .897 accuracy rating. He holds Idaho’s single-season record with 26 this year. On the defensive side of the ball junior transfer Aikeem Coleman has racked up eight sacks on the season, ranking 35th in the nation.

About Colorado State
Second year Head Coach Mike Bobo has led Colorado State to its fourth consecutive bowl appearance, and first appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Rams (7-5, 5-3 MW) finished the regular season winning five of their last seven games, including a dominant road performance against Mountain West champions San Diego State. CSU is averaging 47.4 points and 520.6 yards over the past 5 contests.

Three players were named first-team all-Mountain West, including CSU’s standout junior wide receiver Michael Gallup, who has scored a touchdown in seven consecutive games and leads the MW with 11 receiving touchdowns on the year. Fellow all-conference teammate Fred Zerblis leads the offensive line, standing guard in front of junior quarterback Nick Stevens, who regained starting responsibilities following an injury to Collin Hill in early October. Stevens has thrown eight touchdowns and just one interception since returning to the starting position against Boise State on Oct. 15. The Rams’ third first-team all-MW recipient is punter Hayden Hunt. The only punter named to ESPN’s Preseason All-America team has downed 50 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line this season, with only two touchbacks.

“We are very excited about this year’s matchup between the University of Idaho and Colorado State University,” said Kevin McDonald, Executive Director, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. “It will be great to host Idaho for the third time with its great local and regional fan base. They always bring excitement to the city of Boise. We are also thrilled to welcome Colorado State for the first time and look forward to its electric offense.”

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is one of 13 owned and operated postseason bowl games by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN.

Tickets for the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. In celebration of the 20th annual bowl game, tickets will start at $20 for reserved seating in the South End Zone. Tickets for reserved seating in the upper curves are on sale for $30, while main stadium seating is priced at $50 and Stadium Club seats are priced at $90. A limited number of suites, club seats and loge boxes are available by contacting the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office at (208) 426-4737. Tickets for those areas start at $100.

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl proceeds provide tickets and/or contributions to Idaho Charities that include the United Way, Optimist Youth Football, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boise School District, Treasure Valley YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Girls Scouts and Armed Forces personnel.

ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 13 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

ESPN Events also manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.

Collegiate Football
AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl (Houston); Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl (Atlanta); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Boca Raton Bowl(Florida); Camping World Kickoff (Orlando, Fla.); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Las Vegas Bowl(Nevada); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Baton Rouge, La.); Montgomery Kickoff Classic (Montgomery, Ala.); Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Nassau); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); St. Petersburg Bowl (Florida); The Home Depot College Football Awards (Atlanta) and Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth)

Collegiate Basketball

AdvoCare Invitational (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s (Los Angeles); Gildan Charleston Classic (South Carolina); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Men’s  Classic presented by Corona (New York City); Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona (Uncasville, Conn.); NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.); PK80 (Portland, Ore.); State Farm Armed Forces Classic (Honolulu); State Farm Champions Classic(New York City); Tire Pros Invitational (Orlando, Fla.) and Wooden Legacy (Orange County, Calif.)

For more information, visit the official websiteFacebookTwitter or YouTube pages.

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ESPN Media Contact: Rachel Margolis Siegal at 860-766-2798 or [email protected]