LAS VEGAS, NV – USC quarterback Jayden Maiava found receiver Kyle Ford for a 7-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining to comeback and defeat Texas A&M 35-31 to win the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night.
It looked like Texas A&M (8-5) was primed for the win after quarterback Marcel Reed capped off a 7 play 75-yard drive with his 19-yard touchdown run to put the Aggies up 31-28 with 1:49 remaining.
Maiava and the Trojans had an up-and-down night but found a way to make the plays when it mattered.
Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News
USC (7-6) put together a 10-play drive for 75 yards that led to Maiava and Ford’s touchdown connection.
Maiava went 8-for-9 on the final drive for 78 yards including a 33-yard pass to receiver Ja’Kobi Lane on 3rd-and-13 from the Aggies’ 46.
“He didn’t play his best there for a while, missed a few things he doesn’t’normally miss, ”USC coach Lincoln Riley said of Maiava, “but he stuck with it. That’s what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to keep fighting.”
Lane was the star of the night with seven catches for 127 yards and a Las Vegas Bowl-record three touchdown catches.
Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News
“At the end of the day we all realized what we came to do in Vegas, and that is come out with a win,” said Lane. “And I think we’re all happy with that, and it’s time to go home and enjoy a little bit of Christmas time that we missed.”
USC trailed 24-7 with 5:12 left in the third quarter before turning it around starting with Lane’s second touchdown of the day making 24-14 late in the third quarter.
Maiva finished the game 22-for-39 passing for 295 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Reed gave everything he could to help knock off the Trojans but he left too much time in the end. He finished the game with a total of 339 yards (293 passing & 46 rushing) and 4 touchdowns ( 3 passing & 1 rushing).
Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News
On Sept. 1 at Allegiant Stadium in the opener, the Trojans overcame a third-quarter deficit and scored with eight seconds left to beat LSU 27-20 and they finished their season in a very similar way.
It was a fitting end for USC to end a season marked by frustration, on a high note from which they hope for a bright future ahead.
“You just kind of feel it within the locker room right now,” Riley said. “A confidence that we’re going to be in every fight, that we’re not going to go away.”
San Diego, CA- The Syracuse football team capped off first year head coach Fran Brown’s inaugural season with an emphatic 52-35 win over Washington State in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl.
It was a dominant effort from the Orange on offense as they combined for 606 total yards.
Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns. McCord broke Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference season passing yards record in the win. On the ground, it was one of the best performances of the season from running back LeQuint Allen. He rushed 17 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Washington State came into the game without their head coach as Jake Dickert accepted the head coaching job at Wake Forest and their starting quarterback John Mateer transferred to Oklahoma as well.
All in all, the Cougars lost over 20 players to the transfer portal, head coach, both coordinators, and their quarterbacks and running backs coach.
Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News
Despite all their losses, the Cougs still performed admirably. Mateer’s backup, Zevi Eckhaus threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the losing effort. In the last game of his WSU career, senior wide receiver Kyle Williams went out with a bang. Williams reeled in 10 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown.
Washington State were +18.5 underdogs coming into the game, but it didn’t matter to them as they came out and put up 21 points in what was an explosive first quarter. The two teams exchanged blow for blow and totaled 35 points in the first quarter alone as the defense seemed to be non-existent early on.
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The Orange didn’t take their foot off the pedal and added an additional three touchdowns in the second quarter to jump into the lead and they didn’t look back. McCord found wide receiver Oronde Gadsen II twice in the endzone for two passing touchdowns.
“The way we practice, there are so many reps that guys are getting a lot of reps,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said postgame. “So when it’s their time to go, they should be ready to play.”
Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News
Gadsden II would finish the game with four receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cougs offense would tail off after their 21-point first quarter, mustering up two touchdowns in the second half after being shutout in the second quarter.
“I mean I’m just thankful for all of them you know I’m happy that we’re we in the position we’re in and uh we set a standard I think the 10 win show that we are becoming a successful program,” said Brown.
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Syracuse would hold on to win the bowl game and improve to a 10-3 record and will undoubtedly finish the season as a ranked team. The win gives Brown and the program momentum heading into year two after posting 10 wins in his first season at the helm.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - DECEMBER 27: Navy quarterback Blake Horvath (11) celebrates the game winning touchdown over Oklahoma at the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
DFW, TX- Navy’s head coach Brian Newberry described Friday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl 21-20 win as symbolic of the Navy football program, especially the seniors.
“It’s a perfect ending; you’re down 14-0; it symbolizes everything these guys have been through, how things started, things looked bleak, things weren’t going great, adversity, and they kept scratching, clawing, and fighting. [They] stayed the course and came out on top.”
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Navy fullback Alex Tecza (46) runs past Oklahoma defensive lineman Damonic Williams (52) during the third quarter of the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in, Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
Friday’s Armed Forces Bowl built up to one final play. Jake Robert caught a touchdown pass with six seconds left, and Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables kept his offense on the field to win it with a two-point conversion.
“We had a chance to win there and had the coverage and defense we hope to get,” Venables said. “[Navy] did a good job of staying back outside the route. I think [if] we’ve been able to hold it a little longer. I think we worked one over the middle [and] working late. I would go for it again every situation.”
Before the game, the Oklahoma Sooners were without two of their top offensive players. Jackson Arnold entered the transfer portal and signed with Auburn 2 weeks ago, and Jovantae Barnes suffered an ankle injury back in early November vs. Maine and was unavailable. However, that didn’t stop the Sooners’ offense from starting out of the gate briskly Friday. Oklahoma’s opening drive took nine plays and sixty-five yards, thanks to a kickoff penalty to start the afternoon. The drive consisted of four carries for Gavin Sawchuk, capped off with a 21-yard touchdown run up the middle for Sawchuk.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Oklahoma receiver Zion Ragins (81) beats a Navy defender for a gain during the first quarter of the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
After the Sooners forced Navy to punt, Oklahoma went down the field for an 85-yard scoring drive. The drive had four incompletions, but on the fifth pass attempt of the drive, Michael Hawkins Jr. found Zion Kearney down the field for a 56-yard touchdown pass and catch. Navy picked up a 37-yard run by Blake Horvath, but the Midshipmen couldn’t make any more on the drive afterward; on a 4th and 5, Horvath missed Eli Heidenreich too tall, and Navy turned it over on downs at the Oklahoma 25. Both Midshipmen drives in the first reached Sooners’ territory, but Navy couldn’t crack the scoreboard.
To start the second, Oklahoma moved the ball in the same brisk manner. The Sooners even managed a successful fake punt pass by Luke Elzinga to Woodi Washington for 28 yards from their own 43. However, the drive stalled on a 4th and 1 at the Navy 20 when the Midshipmen defense bottled up Xavier Robinson and turned the Sooners over on downs. The next string of possessions ended with a 70-yard punt by Navy’s Riley Riethman and another Midshipmen defensive hold on 4th and 1.
The defensive hold propelled Navy down the field, aiding on a perfect play-action fake from Horvath to Cody Howard for 21 yards on a 3rd and 1. Alex Tecza, with a power run up the middle for 11 yards, capped off the drive with Navy’s first score of the afternoon at the 3:40 mark of the second quarter. It was a turnaround for Oklahoma’s offense, which picked up 185 total yards in their first 22 plays (8.41 yards/play) and 79 yards in their last 23 plays of the first half (3.43 yards/play).
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins (9) is taken down by a Navy defender Jordan Sanders (33) during the first quarter of the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
“We had opportunities for a lot of explosive players, which have been hard on this year. Mike did a really great job putting the ball right where it needed to be several times,” Venables said regarding the fast start but offensive struggles afterward on the Sooners offense. The rhythm was affected with several drops [7], had a penalty on one drive, and didn’t convert a couple of fourth downs that we’ve got to convert in order to win.”
Both teams punted in their first possession to begin the second half. However, a Horvath 95-yard touchdown burst up the middle. The 95-yard rush was an Armed Forces Bowl record for the longest touchdown rush, previously held by Rashaad Penny in 2017 for San Diego State and a Navy school record. It was also the longest run of Horvath’s career, previously at 90 yards on September 21st vs. Memphis. The scramble evened the game up at 14 late in the third quarter.
“There’s plenty of guys faster on our team than me,” Horvath said with a smirk when asked about his record-breaking run. “It’s not the longest without Brandon Chapman and the offensive line. I’m going to give him some slack, but Alex Tecza could have gone for 96 the play before it.”
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Oklahoma tight end Jake Roberts (87) hauls in a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter during the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
Hawkins Jr. fumbled the ball on the ensuing play for Oklahoma, forced by Navy’s Colin Ramos, to which Midshipmen’s Andrew Duhart recovered. The fumble resulted in a missed field goal by Nathan Kirkwood.
Oklahoma followed suit and moved down the field right on the fringe of field goal range. The drive featured a 56-yard touchdown run by Hawkins, which was wiped away due to a holding penalty on Febechi Nwaiwu. Zach Schmit attempted a 52-yard field goal, but it was wide right, keeping things even.
Navy took their next drive and moved down the field, similar to Oklahoma’s first touchdown drive. It was an 11-play 66-yard touchdown drive with no plays going for more than 10 yards until their 10th play, a fourth-down 16-yard conversion from Horvath to Eli Heidenreich. On the next play, Horvath too kit 6 yards to give Navy their first lead of the game at 21-14.
After both teams punted, Oklahoma, with under two minutes, converted a fourth down and a third and long to set up a game-tying scoring drive. Hawkins Jr. found Roberts in the corner of the end zone with six seconds on the clock. However, coach Venables went for two for the win, but Justin Reed brought Hawkins Jr. back in the backfield for the sack, securing Navy’s comeback victory.
Navy’s head coach Brian Newberry wasn’t shocked by the decision to go for two.
“[Oklahoma] had a little momentum right there. They struggled to move the ball after the first 14 points or struggled to get into the end zone. I thought it was the right decision by Coach Venables. I think I would have done the same thing.”
The players were a little surprised, but after the past few days of 5-6 overtimes, they were happy about it, especially considering the final result.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: The Navy Midshipmen celebrate their Armed Forces Bowl win over Oklahoma at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
“I didn’t know,” Justin Reed said when asked if he anticipated the Sooners going for two at the end. “But I was glad they did. I didn’t want to go to five [or] six overtimes.”
“That was my thought process,” Colin Ramos said. “It’s something we always talk about, those moments where it’s make or break on the game. Who are you going to be when the pressure is on? Seeing everyone in the secondary doing a hell of a job to cover in the back end gives us time to get the pressure. Everyone had their points to a quarterback. No one blinked, no one hesitated, [and] we all pulled the trigger.”
Navy picks up their first ten-win season since 2019, while Oklahoma’s 6-7 finish is only their second losing season since 1998 (2022, they finished 6-7).
PHOENIX, AZ –– Dylan Edwards rushed for 196 yards and three total touchdowns to lead the Kansas State Wildcats (9-4) to a 44-41 Rate Bowl victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-6) Thursday night before 21,659 at Chase Field.
After opting out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft, Edwards replaced DJ Giddens, one of the premiere running backs in the Big 12.
“I’m just so proud of the guys and their resolve and continuing to fight,” said K-State head coach Chris Klieman, whose team finished with a 9-4 record. “We’re so thrilled with finding a way to get stops on defense and then capitalizing with some big-time plays offensively.”
Kansas State used a 27-point second half to rally past Rutgers.
Photo by Troy Flowers / fi360 News
At the half, Rutgers led 27-17.
Rutgers pushed their lead to 34-17 on their opening drive of the second half when Ja’shon Benjamin caught a 7-yard touchdown from Athan Kaliakmanis.
Edwards rushed for a 65-yard touchdown on the Wildcats third possession, sparking the comeback.
On the ensuing possession, Kaliakmanis was picked off by Daniel Cobbs, setting up a four-play, 42-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 13-yard Johnson touchdown pass to Garrett Oakley.
The Wildcats attempted two-point conversions after their third-quarter touchdowns but were unsuccessful.
Rutgers scored their final points in the early fourth quarter on an Antwan Raymond 1-yard touchdown run.
Kansas State drove 85 yards on the ensuing possession in 14 plays, capped by a 9-yard Johnson pass to Joe Jackson.
Photo by Troy Flowers / fi360 News
Rutgers tried to reclaim the momentum but went three-and-out for -5 yards.
Three plays and 60 yards later, the Wildcats celebrated a 36-yard Edwards touchdown run and a converted two-point Johnson pass to Garrett Oakley in the endzone.
After amassing 319 yards in the first half, Rutgers had 82 yards in the second.
Rutgers over their final six possessions went: punt, interception, punt, touchdown, punt, downs.
“As they say in life, things get rocky,” said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, whose team finished with a 7-6 record. “They played better. We had some issues. I tip my hat to Kansas State. They did a heck of a job and controlled the game in the second half on offense and defense.”
Photo by Troy Flowers / fi360 News
Kaliakmanis was 14 of 32 for 237 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Raymond carried 18 times for 113 yards and three touchdowns. Benjamin had seven carries for 33 yards and one touchdown and caught one pass for seven yards with a touchdown.
Johnson was 15 of 30 for 195 yards, with three touchdowns with an interception, and rushed 11 times for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Junior Vandeross III touchdown to secure the win in the 6th overtime during, GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
Detroit, MI- Junior Vandeross delivered a standout performance with 12 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown, including the game-winning reception in a thrilling six-overtime 48-46 victory over Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field on Thursday.
“It felt like we had to win the game three or four times today, but we are so proud of this team,” Toledo head coach Jason Candle said after the Rockets’ thrilling six-overtime 48-46 victory over Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
In a fast-paced and thrilling first half of the 2024 Gameabove Sports Bowl, the Toledo Rockets surged ahead early, but the Pittsburgh Panthers mounted a strong comeback before Toledo seized control again.
Toledo struck first with an explosive 31-yard run by Jacquez Stuart and a 30-yard reception from Junior Vandeross, capped by Tucker Gleason’s 4th-down touchdown pass to Anthony Torres for a 6-0 lead. Pittsburgh quickly answered as linebacker Kyle Louis blocked a field goal attempt and scooped it up for a score, cutting Toledo’s lead to 6-2 early in the first quarter.
A blocked field goal ignited a 10-0 scoring run for Pittsburgh, with the offense capitalizing on an 11-play drive capped by Desmond Reid’s three-yard touchdown run to take a 9-6 lead. Ben Sauls extended the advantage to 12-6 in the second quarter with a record-setting 57-yard field goal from NFL range.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
But Toledo wasn’t done. They quickly regained the lead with a four-play drive that saw Gleason connect with Vandeross for a 67-yard touchdown, making it 13-12.
In a back-and-forth contest, momentum shifted repeatedly, but the game ultimately came down to dominance in the trenches and sheer determination. Toledo’s star defensive tackle Darius Alexander applied relentless pressure, culminating in a pivotal pick-six by Braden Awls just before halftime. The play capped a 14-0 run, giving the Rockets a 20-13 lead heading into the break.
The second half of the 2024 Gameabove Sports Bowl showcased strong defensive efforts from both teams, with Pittsburgh leveraging two key Toledo turnovers in the third quarter. A quarterback change to freshman Julian Dugger proved crucial for the Panthers. Dugger immediately made an impact, finding Jake Overman for an 11-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20-20.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
The Panthers’ offense, sparked by Desmond Reid’s hard running and electrifying moves, continued to dominate. Reid’s playmaking and Dugger’s arm put the Panthers in position, and Ben Sauls added a field goal to give Pittsburgh a 23-20 lead as the game headed into the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh’s defense held strong in the fourth quarter, while freshman quarterback Julian Dugger showcased poise under pressure, making plays with both his arm and legs. Dugger orchestrated a six-play drive capped by a touchdown pass to Raphael Williams, extending the Panthers’ lead to 30-20. However, Dugger’s only mistake came on a critical 3rd-and-6 when Toledo’s star defensive tackle Darius Alexander intercepted his pass and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. The play cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 30-27, keeping the Rockets within striking distance with less than eight minutes left in the game.
Quarterback Tucker Gleason and wide receiver Junior Vandeross kept the fans on their feet all day. Vandeross, with 11 catches for 184 yards and a touchdown, made a key 27-yard reception on 4th down to set up kicker Dylan Cunanan, who tied the game at 30-30 with under two minutes remaining, sending both teams into overtime for one final shot at victory.
Four quarters weren’t enough to settle this intense matchup, as the game went into overtime with Toledo winning the toss and electing to play defense first. A pivotal moment occurred when Desmond Reid dropped a wide-open touchdown catch. Freshman quarterback Julian Dugger responded by using his legs, scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown to put Pittsburgh up 37-30. Dugger, who had already rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown, continued to make plays.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
Toledo’s offense quickly responded, with quarterback Tucker Gleason leading an 8-play drive capped off by a QB sneak to tie the game at 37, sending it into yet another round of overtime. What started as a thriller seemed destined for more drama. At one point, Toledo stormed the field in celebration, believing they had won, only for the call to be reviewed, leading to a heavyweight battle between the teams.
Both quarterbacks found open targets in the overtime battle, but the defenses refused to give up anything. Pittsburgh’s offense was forced into an incomplete pass on the final play. Ultimately, it was the Gleason and Vandeross connection that sealed the win for Toledo. Vandeross walked off the field as both the game’s MVP and a champion, capping off a memorable performance.
INGLEWOOD, CA. – Hajj-Malik Williams threw two touchdowns and the UNLV Rebels shutout California in the second half to win the LA Bowl 24-13 on Wednesday night.
The first half was full of big plays from both sides providing an exciting first two quarters for the fans in attendance.
It started with UNLV (11-3) trailing Cal (6-7) 3-0 in the first quarter when the Rebels quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams found freshman wide receiver Kayden McGee for a 49-yard touchdown pass to score the first touchdown of the game.
Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News
The Golden Bears answered with a 9 play 89 yards that was culminated by a 29-yard touchdown run by freshman wide receiver Josiah Martin. That gave Cal a 10-7 lead to end the first quarter.
Not to be outdone, UNLV used a fake punt to prolong their drive. Punter Marshall Nichols flipped the ball to Cameron Oliver for 52 yards to get the Rebels to Cal’s 9. On the next play Williams pitched the ball forward wide receiver Jacob De Jesus for the score putting Las Vegas up 14-10.
“My head was in the clouds and (special teams) coach (James) Shilbest said, `Hey, you want to run it?’ I mean, I didn’t’t figure out where the ball was and I said, go I’ve seen it every day in practice for a year or two years, ” UNLV interim coach Del Alexander said. “I think I was facing the wrong way, but I saw it go and said ‘OK, good.’”
Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News
UNLV went into the half leading 14-13 over Cal.
The second half was all UNLV as their defense put the clamps on Cal’s offense keeping them scoreless.
The running game picked up in the second half for the Rebels as they finished the game rushing 143 yards. Running back Jai’Den Thomas led the way with 18 carries for 72 yards.
After forcing and recovering a Cal fumble, UNLV scored the decisive touchdown when running back Kaylin James found a hole to run for a 23-yard touchdown to put the Rebels up 21-13.
UNLV added a late field goal to completely put the game away.
Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News
“The game came down to the fake punt they got a score off of, we had the ball at the 2-yard line and couldn’t quite get it in the end zone,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said.
With the win, the Rebels won a bowl game for the first time since 2000 and the first outside of the Las Vegas Bowl. It also gave the Rebels 11 wins for the first time as an FBS program.
Coach Del gets LA Bowl belt from Gronk after the win. Photo by fi360 News
“This is exactly how we wanted to finish it. I mean, not many people can say they got 11 wins in a season,” said linebacker Jackson Woodard, who the Defensive MVP of the game.
Los Angeles, CA – Following a short power outage that briefly delayed warm-ups, pushing back the game’s tip-off 30 minutes late both teams came out ready with added eagerness to start the game as USC quickly determined the outcome to a blowout end over Elon Phoenix, 88 – 30. Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins dropped a game-high 26 points, despite limping off her home court towards the end of the game, causing much concern for her status against USC’s next matchup against, UCONN.
“They are great guards and we know it’s coming, so just building that confidence and seeing what we are capable of,” Graduate transfer guard Talia Von Oelhoffen explained on preparing for UCONN’s backcourt. “Next up, we know we will be facing veteran, All-American guards and I thought Malia and Kayleigh did a great job ball pressuring to make it easier for the rest of the team.”
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
Despite the expected quick start from USC, Elon hung around for the first few minutes, at one point, getting a steal and quick layup to tie the score until USC defensive pressure turned up a notch with a small lineup to end the first quarter on a 19-2 run, leading 23 – 6 into the second quarter.
“I think we’ve gotten to a point in our season where they know what the expectation is and I think they want to rise to that expectation,” Coach Gottleib said. “I know what we are capable of and just holding us accountable to the standard that we have.”
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
Trojans began the 2nd quarter just like they finished the first quarter with keeping that same small lineup of 4 big guards and one power forward to set off an 8 – 0 run. A few more substitutions from both squads and some game plan adjustments in real time resulted in trading baskets until USC capitalized off forced turnovers and scoring consecutive buckets to end the first half, 40-12.
“Everyone’s talking about chemistry on offensive end, but I think they are finally getting it together on the defensive end while trusting their teammates like Rayah in the back to allow them to try be more aggressive,” Coach Gottleib said.
Getting into 2nd half, both teams found their scoring rhythm again at the same time,hitting back n forth baskets to keep the lead margin the same before Elon went ice cold on offense and USC remain hot in their transition game. Suddenly, USC bursted out into another 18-2 score run to close the quarter, leading 69-23.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
USC got solid contributions from Graduate Transfer KiKi Iriafen, who finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Hannah Heckel had 14 points and four steals on the night, playing passing lanes in their zone press. Three of her steals came within a minute.
With the game decided pretty much, Phoenix became physical and somewhat frustrated, as teams began subbing in bench players late. Trojans finally slowed down from their transition game, before an awkward landing by Watkins midway through the 4th quarter. Watkins immediately wobbled to the bench before abruptly heading to the locker room. During the post-game press conference, no status update was known or given on Watkins. Most attention remained on the game and how USC seized another game opportunity to gain momentum against a more formidable opponent in the Huskies.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
In addition to the 26 points on 7-18 shooting, including 11-12 from the charity stripe, Watkins had 5 assists on the night. With 10 games played this season, Watkins moved up to No. 20 all-time in career scoring at USC.
The Women of Troy record improves to 10-1. USC will travel to Connecticut to face the Huskies (10-1) on Saturday, Dec. 21. Game time is 5:00 p.m., PST. The game will be televised on Fox. The next home game for the Women of Troy will be on Sunday, Dec. 29, at 7:00 p.m., when they face another top-20-ranked team, Michigan, for their first matchup of this season.
Colorado Travis Hunter does the "Heisman" pose after his third quarter interception of Central Florida at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, FL on Saturday September 28, 2024. Colorado won by a score of 48 to 21. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
New York, NY- In the city that never sleeps, the best athlete in college football has finally received the greatest honor as predicted by one of the best athletes that ever play college and professional sports Deion Sanders. As Hunter and Coach Prime hugged after Hunter named winner of the 80th Heisman Trophy winner.
Deion stated two years ago that he had two Heisman trophy candidates on his team and when he came to Colorado and he was bringing his luggage as in Louis Vuitton with him, but he forgot to mention the Lamborghini in Travis Hunter. Hunter has dazzled college football the last four years, two of those years being on a HBCU level where critics said he couldn’t play both ways at a power five school. And ultimately Hunter proved all doubters wrong, game after game year after year.
Now he has the hardware to prove it. Smiling ear to ear Hunter spoke about how important his support system of his fiancée who nursed him back to health when he was injured and his mother instilling belief in him that nothing was impossible . Hunter also flew his team to New York to Celebrate, as Hunter watched his teammates celebrate him he broke down in tears seeing his high school celebrate him on the screen.
No other athlete in college sports has dominated in a manner Hunter has ,this is the first time college player has played almost every major snap on offense and defense and has been effective to the effect of receiving all American honors on both sides of the ball. Hunter will be one of the top picks in the NFL draft along with Sheuders Sanders who was in attendance as well.
When I asked Sanders if him after their last blowout win against Oklahoma State if you will be present, he answered most definitely he stated Travis winning is like me winning because I threw him all those touchdowns and he’s the best player in college football. Sanders spoke how he appreciated how much Hunter gave up to come play with him in Jackson state and Colorado and how much he appreciate him being a brother to him, would be in the top four spots as Heisman finalist. But the brotherhood between Hunter and Sanders has come full circle with them playing together at Jackson State transferring to Colorado and putting the whole football on notice that they are the next franchise stars of the NFL.
Hunter road to the Hesiman came last year in his very first game as Colorado Buffalo against TCU catching 11 passes for 119 yards and a jaw dropping interception that sent shock waves through the internet even Lebron James weighed in on Hunters play saying he is out of this world. Hunter has made highlight play after highlight play in all four of his seasons under Coach Prime at Jackson State and Colorado. I believe Hunter will be the first player in the NFL that’s not a quarterback to draw a salary over the 200 million mark my words.
His Mom made the most powerful statement how what some said was the biggest mistake turned out to be the biggest blessing. With the trophy finally in his hands giving it a little kiss in the press conference. I can’t help but think what team NFL will be blessed enough to Travis apart of their franchise . Hunters Mom also stated that as long as you put God first nothing is impossible. Hunter proved that his family’s move from the inner city of Florida to Georgia was the right move and him picking Jackson State/Colorado and Coach Prime Leadership meant everything and here is the result of it . Ladies and Gentlemen Travis Hunter is HE12MAN your Heisman Trophy winner.
With little to no surprise, Top seeded UCLA handled their business against Long Beach State,102 – 51, at the Walter Pyramid arena, securing their 10th win (10-0) of the season to give head coach, Cori Close, her 297th career win and become UCLA all time winningest women’s basketball coach.
“She doesn’t like to give herself a lot of credit, but she really is an amazing coach and I’m just super grateful to play for you and everything that you’ve done for me, ” Junior transfer Center Lauren Betts said about Coach Close’s milestone achievement.
Long Beach State (5-4) got to celebrate some milestone history too, competing against an outsized, outstanding team whom open the game with a knockout punch in the first few minutes of the game giving the first time host of a No. 1 ranked women’s basketball team their second introduction to another Big 10 league. Not to be overshadowed, Long Beach women’s basketball coach, hall of famer, Joan Bonvicini, received honors during half time for her legendary winning record in 12 seasons.
Meanwhile, Long Beach State headed to their locker room, attempting to figure out a way to come back from down 29-points, 49-20, and how to slow down UCLA’s dominating frontcourt, Betts and Graduate student forward Angela Dugalic.
“It’s hard to simulate that in practice, in terms of their knock down shooters, their patience, their discipline. They’re just a really good, confident team right now,” Long Beach State head coach Amy Wright said.
Offensively, Long Beach State got better the 2nd half and Sophomore forward Jada Crawshaw, got it rolling with buckets from inside the paint and midrange jumpers. Struggling continued on the defensive end for The Beach as no one came close to matching up with 6’7” Betts and 6’4” Dugalic who continued tallying up points, extending Bruin’s lead to 45 points by the end of the 3rd quarter.
“I think it’s just the foundation that Long Beach has built for us,” Crawshaw answered on not giving up despite UCLA height advantage and huge point deficit from beginning to end. “Every time we step in between the lines, we’re always fighting,” Crawshaw added.
Crawshaw carried her team most of the fourth quarter, finishing as the sole double digit scorer, with 19 points. Dugalic and Betts both finished with 22 points apiece and combined for almost half of their team’s 51 rebounds.
“It’s so cool, it’s like a full circle moment,” Betts said of beating her parents’ Alma mater in the arena they once played as basketball and volleyball student- athletes. “We want you to win, but don’t embarrass them,” Betts shared sympathetically about the text messages received from her parents. Both teams kept a heavy rotation with frequent substitutions that resulted in UCLA ending the game with 5 players scoring in double figures.
“Kudos to UCLA. They’re a great team, well balanced, and very deep, and I thought we got better and better as the game went on, it just takes time, “ Coach Wright said.
Crawshaw forced Close to call a 20 second time out mid 4th quarter after exposing weaknesses of UCLA’s defense, leading later to post game recognition for Junior Guards Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones as Close described Jones performance as “winning plays” that don’t show up on any stats sheet.
Close acknowledged coach Wright and Long Beach for providing a great environment that seems to be a collective sentiment felt among other southern Cal collegiate coaches.
“We want to grow this together and that’s really important to us,” Close said.
On a similar note, Coach Wright said,“I think Cori and I’s perspective was, women’s basketball is on such a rise, and it should be shared, but that hasn’t always been. Them coming to us is a big deal.” Wright continued, “USC coming to us last year is a big deal, because it’s highlighting the style of basketball, the level of play in Southern California, and it’s showing it to the entire nation.”
Both teams will be back in action next week before New Year’s, UCLA welcomes Cal Poly to Pauley Pavillion on Monday and Long Beach State welcomes Elon to Walter Pyramid on Thursday.
Los Angeles, CA – USC fired up on all cylinders led by their front court and freshmen, pulling away from Fresno St for a 89-40 win at the Galen Center.
Another in-state opponent home victory, USC continued to bounce back with a 4 game winning streak since that tough home loss to Notre Dame as Coach Lindsay Gottlieb utilized several defensive schemes and lineup rotations to prepare for more upcoming conference matchups.
“I thought we took some more good steps tonight. I thought we really shared the ball and tried to limit our turnovers,” Coach Gottlieb said. “We keep going in the right direction.”
Both teams started off slow, with Fresno able to take an early lead with a couple three-pointers while USC looked conservatively inside to get their frontcourt involved early, scoring their first basket by Senior forward Rayah Marshall. Freshman guard Kayleigh Heckel got into passing lanes for a couple easy fast break points, finishing with a game high 3 steals.
“She [Marshall] has been elite defensively, and it is so much more than her shot blocking,” Gottlieb explained. “In addition to leading us in assist-to-turnover ratio.”
Fresno St. never came close after opening the game with a couple of threes in the first quarter by Mia Jacobs and Mariah Elohim. The Bulldogs broke 30 in the 4th quarter, but USC had cleared their bench already after holding them to only six points in the third quarter, 72-26. Senior forward KiKi Iriafen led all scorers, enroute to her 4th consecutive double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 10-11 from the free throw line. Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins added 21 points and a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe.
USC sent a message early in the second half, drawing multiple fouls in the opening two minutes and using a 8-0 run to seize control of the game. The Women of Troy’s defensive pressure and free throw shooting, 22-of-25 (88%), eclipsed any chance of a comeback or desperate run for the Bulldogs.
“They were kind of running five around the perimeter and not attacking the basket as much and we like to get into the paint both with our guards penetrating and our bigs in there,” Gottleib stated.
Fresno racked up over 20 turnovers which was another key factor in their lopsided loss. “We did our work to get to the free throw line, but they also fouled JuJu on two three attempts, ” Gottleib added. “So I think it was more of a byproduct of the way that we play.”
The Bulldogs (7-4) were led by Jacob’s with 11 points and Holly Griffiths with 11, but they struggled with USC’ defensive intensity, committing 9 turnovers and the team being outrebounded 48-20. Fresno shot 27.1% from the field but close to 50% from three-point range.
For USC, Marshall added 13 rebounds to her 4 assist performance. Freshman forward Avery Howell had 9 points, while Heckel contributed 9 points and 1 block. Sophomore guard Malia Samuels continued improvement in her role off the bench, dishing 4 assists and scoring 4 points in 18 minutes.
“I think one thru 15, anyone on this team can get a bucket” Iriafen said of her confidence in her teammates’ effort. “I have so much confidence especially for my freshmen.”
Next up for the Women of Troy is back to back Sunday home games , beginning with a matchup against Elon University Phoenix, December 15. Then Women of Troy will host the to play their second conference opponent before the New Year.
