Bell scores 3 TDs in Oklahoma victory
TEMPE, Ariz. — Oklahoma dodged a big rally and a falling camera to pull out a gritty win.
Blake Bell ran for his third touchdown in the closing seconds and the No. 19 Sooners survived a late rally, not to mention the crashing camera, to close out a difficult season with a 31-14 victory over Iowa in the Insight Bowl on Friday night.
“It means a lot. These guys persevered,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “(They) came out here tonight and played an excellent game.”
Oklahoma (10-3) didn’t get a particularly great game from quarterback Landry Jones and wasn’t effective on the ground, either. Once considered national-title contenders, the Sooners held off the gritty Hawkeyes, capping a painful year that started with the death of linebacker Austin Box in the offseason.
Jones threw for 161 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and Bell put the game away with a 21-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left.
Pinstripe Bowl Rutgers 27, Iowa St. 13
NEW YORK — All year long Eric LeGrand inspired Rutgers from his wheelchair.
How could the Scarlet Knights ever slack off when their former teammate stayed so positive, was so sure he could overcome a devastating spinal injury and one day walk again?
After Rutgers completed its season with a 27-13 victory over Iowa State in the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday, it was time for the Scarlet Knights to thank LeGrand.
“Hey Big E! Hey Big E!” coach Greg Schiano shouted into the microphone as he stood at midfield at Yankee Stadium with the bowl trophy and pointed toward the press box. “This one’s for you buddy.”
On the field, a couple of redshirt freshmen lit it up for the Scarlet Knights. Brandon Coleman hauled in an 86-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter after Iowa State trimmed the lead to 20-13, and Jawan Jamison ran for 131 yards and two scores on 27 carries.
Armed Forces Bowl: BYU 24, Tulsa 21
DALLAS — BYU quarterback Riley Nelson was thinking about Dan Marino when he ignored the play called by his coach.
Instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock, Nelson faked that move and then threw his third touchdown pass, a 2-yarder to Cody Hoffman with 11 seconds left to give the Cougars a 24-21 victory over Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday.
Nelson’s fake-and-throw was just as effective, wrapping up BYU’s fifth 10-win season in seven years under coach Bronco Mendenhall. The Cougars (10-3) finished their first year of football independence following their departure from the Mountain West Conference after last season.
Music City Bowl: Miss. State 23, Wake Forest 17
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Capping a tough season playing in the Southeastern Conference with a bowl victory means the Mississippi State Bulldogs are celebrating how they finished rather than lamenting what might have been.
Senior Vick Ballard ran for 180 yards and the two longest touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ bowl history, and Mississippi State beat Wake Forest 23-17 on Friday night in the Music City Bowl. The Bulldogs have won five straight bowls, two under coach Dan Mullen.
