Foster Farms Bowl, Indiana vs Utah: Highlights, score and recap
Recapping the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl between the Indiana Hoosiers and Utah Utes on Wednesday night.
The Utah Utes kicked a game-winning field goal with under 1:30 remaining to beat the Indiana Hoosiers 26-24 in a hard-hitting Foster Farms Bowl on Wednesday night in Santa Clara.
Indiana set the physical tone on the opening kickoff, as Greg Gooch crushed Utah kick returner Kyle Fulks to force a fumble. Less than a minute later, the Hoosiers were up 7-0 on Richard Lagow’s short touchdown pass to Mitchell Paige.
Utah established the run on its first possession with a lengthy drive that resulted in a field goal. Defensive lineman Pita Taumoepenu came up with a strip sack to give the Utes the ball again right away, and Joe Williams’ 16 yard run on the next play put Utah up 10-7 six minutes in.
That score held until six minutes into the second quarter, as the teams traded turnovers. Following an Indiana fumble near the Utah goal line, the Utes quickly went down the field on a long Williams run and 40-yard flea flicker before Tyler Huntley scored on fourth and goal from the one to put Utah up 17-7.
While both defensive lines continued to wreak havoc, Indiana got back in the game with some explosive plays through the air before half. Ricky Jones set up a field goal with a catch and run before Nick Westbrook reeled in a 36 yard touchdown pass to even things up at 17.
Indiana’s promising opening drive of the second half ended with Lagow being picked by Marcus Williams, as the Hoosiers were held scoreless in the third thanks to the relentless Utes pass rush. Utah went back out in front 20-17 with just under six minutes left in the frame after scratching out a lengthy enough drive to kick a field goal.
Williams converted on a third and 20 run to set up another field goal to make it 23-17 just before the end of the third. With Utah heading towards another score that may have put the game out of reach on its next drive, Indiana came up with a fumble recovery and promptly marched down the field to take the lead on Devine Redding’s three yard touchdown run.
While the Hoosiers generated their fourth takeaway of the game on another fumble to end Utah’s next possession, Griffin Oakes pushed the subsequent field goal wide left to keep it a 24-23 game with 5:34 to go. Needing a score, the Utes fed Williams, who ripped off a Marshawn Lynch-like run on a key third down to set up a first a goal. Strangely enough, the Utes did not give Williams another touch on the series, but still took a 26-24 lead with 1:28 left on Andy Phillips’ field goal.
Utah’s defensive line would hold by coming up with a sack to derail Indiana’s final drive on the first play, sealing the 26-24 victory and third straight nine win season for the Utes. Despite forcing four turnovers in a solid defensive effort, Indiana managed 341 yards of total offense and could not stop Williams.
Highlights
".@HoosierFootball Touchdown + @TheNotoriousMMA walk. 😂 #FFBOWL https://t.co/Uen1JNrk1v— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 29, 2016"
Three Stars
3. Pita Taumoepenu, LB, Utah. Led Utah’s relentless pass rush all game long and forced a key fumble in the first half.
2. Tegray Scales, LB, Indiana. Star defender was consistently in the Utah backfield to limit the Utes passing attack.
1. Joe Williams, RB, Utah. Capped off terrific final season by carrying the ball 26 times for a Foster Farms Bowl record 222 yards and a touchdown.
Next Season
Allen will get his first shot as head coach with the hopes of continuing the bowl streak, while Utah promises to be a factor in the Pac-12 South once again.