The Utah State Aggies get the first win in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl
Utah State Aggies #5 Cooper Legas (QB) is being chased by Oregon State Beavers #2 Andrzej Hughes-Murray (OLB). Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.
INGLEWOOD, CA - The First Inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl held at SoFi Stadium featured the Utah State Aggies (10-3) from the Mountain West Conference and the Oregon State Beavers (7-5) from the Pac-12 Conference. When the dust settled at the end of the LA Bowl Game, Utah State defeated Oregon State 24-13.
Utah State head coach Blake Anderson and his coaching staff put in hard work and finally paid off for the Aggies after having a bad season last year.
"It's been all season," said Anderson. "I mean coming off a 1-5 (season) and nobody giving these guys a chance and just kept working. This is just a story of us, using a third-string quarterback who comes in and plays lights out to get the win."
The Beavers regained the lead 10-7 after Everett Hayes kicked a 37-yard field goal with 8:40 left in the first half.
Oregon State Beavers #13 Jesiah Irish (WR) 20-yard touchdown run against Utah State. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.
The Oregon State Beavers scored first in the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown run by Jesiah Irish to lead Utah State 7-0.
The Aggies tied the game 7-7 in the second quarter when their backup quarterback Cooper Legas threw the first pass of his college career to Deven Thompkins for a 62-yard touchdown.
Legas is maybe the only quarterback in the last 25 years to throw a touchdown in a bowl game with his first collegiate pass.
"I meant I just went out there, and I practice all year long just like everybody else, I've been knowing what to look for all year, "said Legas. "We went out, they gave us the look to check it, so I just did what I've been practicing, and it worked out."
The Beavers regained the lead 10-7 after Everett Hayes kicked a 37-yard field goal with 8:40 left in the first half.
Utah States Aggies #4 Calvin Tyler Jr. (RB) 15-yard touchdown run. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.
Utah State led 14-10 after Calvin Tyler Jr 15-yard touchdown run. The Aggies increased their lead to 17-10 in the third quarter with a 25-yard field goal by Connor Coles.
Oregon State trail Utah State 24-10 after a 5-yard touchdown catch by Brandon Bowling with 3:49 left in the quarter.
The Beavers scored in the fourth quarter with a 35-yard field goal by Everett Hayes, which made the final score 24-13.
Cooper Legas completed 11 of his 20 passes for 171-yards and two touchdowns for Utah State. Chance Nolan completed 21 of his passes for 263-yards. Calvin Tyler Jr. carried the ball 26 times for the Aggies for 120-yards and one touchdown.
The leading receiver for Utah State was Deven Thompson six catches for 115-yards one touchdown, followed by Brandon Bowling four catches for 51-yards and one touchdown.