Dec 23, 2017; Birmingham, AL, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Quinton Flowers (9) carries the ball Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Vaughnte Dorsey (15) during the 4th quarter in the 2017 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Photo Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Quinton Flowers’ record-setting career ended with the dynamic South Florida quarterback providing big play after big play.
It also ended with him hoisting the Birmingham Bowl trophy after his 26-yard touchdown pass to Tyre McCants provided the game-winning points with 16 seconds left in a thrilling 38-34 victory over Texas Tech to allow the Bulls to finish with a 10-2 record.
The winning touchdown came 1:15 after Texas Tech quarterback Nic Shimonek gave the Red Raiders (6-7) a 34-31 lead with a 25-yard scoring toss to T.J. Vasher. It was that kind of second half.
Flowers finished with 417 yards in total offense and accounted for five touchdowns. Shimonek threw for 416 yards and three touchdowns.
Army 42, San Diego State 35
FORT WORTH, Texas — Kell Walker ran a two-point conversion after Darnell Woolfolk’s 1-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left to lead Army to a scintillating victory over San Diego State in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Raashad Penny’s 4-yard scoring run with 5:47 to play gave San Diego State a 35-28 lead but the Black Knights (10-3) responded with a 72-yard, 15-play drive and a 1-yard TD blast by Woolfolk. Penny rushed for 221 yards and four touchdowns for the Aztecs (10-3).
Army eschewed an extra-point attempt and chose to pitch the ball to Walker, who ran untouched around right end for the winning conversion.
Appalachian State 34, Toledo 0
MOBILE, Ala. — Jalin Moore helped Appalachian State bury Toledo 34-0 in the Dollar General Bowl.
The junior running back and the leading rusher in the Sun Belt Conference churned out 125 yards and recorded his first career three-touchdown game. The Mountaineers became the first team to win three consecutive bowl games after completing its transition to FBS.
Moore was certainly impressive but so was the defense, which held the Rockets’ high-scoring offense in check. Appalachian State (9-4) finished with 458 yards.
Averaging more than 500 yards and ranked 11th nationally in scoring offense, Toledo (11-3) never got going against a swarming and relentless Mountaineers defense that allowed 146 yards and eight first downs.
