Boise, Idaho - Georgia State quarterback Darren Grainger threw for three touchdowns and rushed for two more to lead the Panthers past Utah State 45-22 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium, in late December.
The redshirt senior finished with 257 passing yards while completing 19 of his 22 passing attempts, the second-best completion percentage in FIPB history (86.4 percent). Grainger added 111 yards on the ground and his five total touchdowns tied a FIPB record for most touchdowns responsible for. He was unanimously named the Most Valuable Player of the contest.
Georgia State (7-6) running back Freddie Brock had a dominant game on the ground, setting a Panther record with 276 rushing yards. Brock and Grainger became the fourth duo in FIPB history to record over 100 rushing yards each.
The Panthers started the scoring in the first quarter when Grainger scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 7:36 on the clock. Utah State (6-7) responded a little over a minute later with a 45-yard touchdown strike from Levi Williams to Jalen Royals.
Grainger responded by scoring his second rushing touchdown with another 1-yard score with 3:57 left in the opening period. The lead was short-lived, as the Aggies tied the game again 16 seconds later on a Davon Booth 65-yard touchdown dash. Tailique Williams secured a 27-yard reception for Georgia State with 15 seconds left in the quarter to take a 21-14 lead after the first frame, marking the highest scoring opening quarter in FIPB history.
The Panthers created some distance midway through the second quarter with a 31-yard field goal from Liam Rickman. Grainger added to the Panther lead by throwing his second touchdown pass of the day, this time a 23-yard pass to Cadarrius Thompson, as Georgia State took a 31-14 lead into the locker room.
Thompson caught his second touchdown of the day midway through the third quarter to give the Panthers a 24-point lead. Brock delivered the knockout punch with 9:18 left in the final frame, scoring on the ground from five yards out to give Georgia State a 45-14 advantage. Utah State scored the final points of the day, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown pass from McCae Hillstead to Terrell Vaughn.
Game Notes
- The 27th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl marked the first meeting all-time between Georgia State and Utah State … Panthers made their first appearance in the game … Aggies made their fifth appearance, most by any school and dropped to 1-4.
- Georgia State won the toss and deferred … Utah State elected to receive … Panthers defended the south end zone.
- The Sun Belt moved to 2-7 in bowl games this season while the MW fell to 2-2 … Panthers improved to 4-2 in bowl games all-time … Aggies fell to 6-11 … Sun Belt is 2-0 all-time in the FIPB and the MW is 5-5.
- Georgia State’s 21 points in the first quarter tied a FIPB record for most in the opening stanza (Wyoming, 2017) ... Georgia State’s 31 points in the first half is the most in the first half of a FIPB game.
- Teams combined for the most points in the first quarter of a FIPB (21-14 Georgia State) ... both teams scored in double figures during the first quarter of a FIPB for the first time since 2008 (Nevada 14, Maryland 13).
Georgia State Panthers Notes
- Georgia State’s 7.9 yards per carry is the second-most in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl history.
- Senior running back Freddie Brock and redshirt senior quarterback Darren Grainger became the fourth duo in FIPB history to each record 100+ rushing yards.
- Brock rushed for 276 rushing yards, the most in a single game in Georgia State program history and second-most in FIPB history … his rushes of 60 and 58 yards mark the two longest rushes in Panther bowl game history … his 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter was his first touchdown of the season and 11th of his career.
- Junior cornerback Ronald Cooper’s interception in the second quarter marks the first interception of his career.
- Redshirt senior Javon Denis recorded his fifth sack of the season in the second quarter … has 11.5 total sacks in his career.
- Grainger was named the MVP of the FIPB … was 19-for-22 for 257 yards and three passing touchdowns … added two more rushing touchdowns to become the first quarterback in FIPB history to both throw and rush for multiple touchdowns … his five total touchdowns ties a FIPB record … had a completion percentage of 86.4 percent, marking the second-most in FIPB history.
- Redshirt freshman placekicker Liam Rickman’s field goal in the second quarter marked his ninth field goal of the season.
- Redshirt senior wide receiver Cadarrius Thompson caught two touchdown receptions … caught five passes to finish with 117 yards, the 14th most in FIPB history.
- Senior inside linebacker Jordan Veneziale recorded his first sack of the season and seventh of his career in the fourth quarter.
- Redshirt junior wide receiver Tailique Williams’s touchdown reception in the first quarter marked his sixth of the season and the seventh of his career.
Utah State Aggies Notes
- Senior cornerback Michael Anyanwu’s forced fumble in the second quarter was the second of the season and fourth in his career.
- Junior running back Davon Booth’s 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter is the longest in Utah State bowl history … marked his sixth touchdown of the season.
- Freshman defensive end Paul Fitzgerald tied the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl record with three sacks.
- Junior cornerback Jaiden Francois recorded his first career sack in the first quarter.
- Sophomore safety Simeon Harris’s second quarter fumble recovery was the first of his career.
- Freshman quarterback McCae Hillstead’s fourth quarter touchdown was his 11th of the season.
- Junior defensive tackle Clifton Mosley Jr. recorded his first career sack in the second quarter.
- Junior wide receiver Jalen Royals 45-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his 15th of the season.
- Senior wide receiver Terrell Vaughn’s fourth quarter touchdown reception was his 11th touchdown of the season and 16th of his career.
- Junior quarterback Levi Williams’ 45-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter was his fifth of the season and the 18th in his career.