PHOENIX (AP) — KD Cannon had 14 catches for a Cactus Bowl-record 226 yards and two touchdowns, helping Baylor end a difficult season with a 31-12 victory over Boise State on Tuesday night.
Baylor (7-6) went into a downward spiral the last half of the season after opening with six straight wins. Quarterback Seth Russell suffered a season-ending ankle injury, the sexual assault scandal that cost coach Art Briles his job continued to linger and the losses piled up, six straight to end the regular season.
The Bears ended on a positive note by revving up their quick-hitting offense again behind freshman quarterback Zach Smith, who threw for 375 yards and three scores.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Baylor interim coach Jim Grobe said. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity together. I love every one of these guys and they know that. This is a family win.”
Boise State (10-3) tried to keep up with the Bears, but struggled in the red zone: two field goals, an interception in the end zone and a failed fourth down try.
Boise State started with single coverage on Cannon and the Bears exploited it throughout the first half.
The Baylor junior scored on a 30-yard pass from Smith in the first quarter, out-leaping Boise State’s Jonathan Moxey in the end zone, then beat him on a 68-yard score in the second to put Baylor up 14-3. Cannon had eight catches for 182 yards and two TDs by halftime.
“We just had to prove a point,” Cannon said. “Coming off a bad season, we had to finish strong for Baylor Nation and coach Briles.”
Smith had some ups and downs in three games after Russell broke his ankle, but had a month to prepare for the Cactus Bowl. The freshman from Texas was sharp with the extra work, completing 28 of 39 passes. He also threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ishmael Zamora in the fourth quarter to put Baylor up 31-6.
Boise State’s Brett Rypien moved the Broncos up and down the field, but had his share of mistakes.
He threw an interception at the Baylor 5-yard line on Boise State’s second drive and had an overthrow on what would likely have been a touchdown later in the first quarter, forcing the Broncos to settle for a field goal.
Rypien also threw an interception in the end zone in the second quarter. He finished with 305 yards and a touchdown on 32-of-51 passing with two interceptions and a lost fumble.
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WAKE FOREST 34 TEMPLE 26
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Wake Forest attached a positive ending to a season marred by scandal, using a strong performance by quarterback John Wolford to beat heavily favored Temple 34-26 on Tuesday in the Military Bowl.
After throwing an interception on the first series of the game — a turnover Temple used to take a 7-0 lead — Wolford helped the Demon Deacons rattle off 31 straight points before halftime.
Wolford left with a neck strain in the third quarter with the score 31-17. Wake Forest (7-6) then withstood a comeback bid by Temple (10-4) to secure its first bowl victory since 2008.
The Demon Deacons snapped a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time since Oct. 8.
Wolford, a junior, completed 10 of 19 passes for 183 yards and two scores.
Seeking the first 11-win season in school history, Temple came in as an 11-point favorite. A 48-yard pass from Phillip Walker to Adonis Jennings on the Owls’ first offensive play gave them their only lead.
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ARMY 38, NORTH TEXAS 31, OT
DALLAS (AP) — Jordan Asberry ran for a 3-yard touchdown on fourth down in overtime, giving Army the win over North Texas in a rematch at the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Asberry’s score was the sixth rushing touchdown in the game for the Black Knights (8-5) and 46th of the season. That broke the school record held by the 1945 national championship that had two Heisman Trophy winners in the backfield. They rushed for 480 yards.
Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 129 yards and a touchdown for Army while Darnell Woolfolk had 119 yards and two TDs.
North Texas (5-8) had its chance in overtime. But after Alec Morris scrambled for 4 yards and Jeffery Wilson lost 3, consecutive incomplete passes followed. Morris threw for 304 yards and three scores, but his desperation fourth-down throw on the run ended the game.
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MINNESOTA 17, WASHINGTON ST. 12
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Shannon Brooks caught a tipped pass from Mitch Leidner for a 13-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and Minnesota, beset by turmoil after 10 players were suspended after a sexual assault investigation, held on for the upset in the Holiday Bowl.
WSU cornerback Marcellus Pippins reached up with his right hand and deflected Leidner’s pass in the end zone but it went right to Brooks for the TD and a 10-6 lead. That capped an 84-yard, 10-play drive on Minnesota’s first possession of the second half.
The Golden Gophers (9-4) were looking to regroup after backing down from a threat to skip this game if 10 teammates suspended after a sexual assault investigation weren’t reinstated. Their boycott lasted less than 36 hours.
WSU (8-5) ended on a three-game losing streak and was held to its lowest point total of the season.
Luke Falk was held to 264 yards — 86 below his average — on 30-of-51 passing.
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BAYLOR 21, BOISE ST. 12
PHOENIX (AP) — KD Cannon had 14 catches for a Cactus Bowl-record 226 yards and two touchdowns to help Baylor end a difficult season with a victory.
Baylor (7-6) went into a downward spiral the last half of the season after opening with six straight wins. Quarterback Seth Russell suffered a season-ending ankle injury, the sexual assault scandal that cost coach Art Briles his job continued to linger and the losses piled up, six straight to end the regular season.
The Bears ended on a positive note by revving up their quick-hitting offense again behind freshman quarterback Zach Smith, who threw for 375 yards and three scores.
Boise State (10-3) tried to keep up with the Bears, but struggled in the red zone: two field goals, an interception in the end zone and a failed fourth down try.
Boise State started with single coverage on Cannon and the Bears exploited it throughout the first half. Cannon had eight catches for 182 yards and two TDs by halftime.
