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Arizona vs. Nebraska: Holiday Bowl matchup set Dec. 30 at the ‘Q’
Posted Dec. 19, 2009

The University of Arizona Wildcats (Pac-10) and University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big-12) will square off in the 32nd annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Qualcomm Stadium.

Arizona boasts an 8-4 overall record and finished 6-3 in the Pac-10 after defeating USC, 21-17, Dec. 5 in Los Angeles to secure a share of second place in the conference standings.
Arizona is led by a balanced offense spearheaded by sophomore quarterback Nick Foles and a top 25 defense. Running backs Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin have combined for 1,100 yards.

Taimi Tutogi, a 2009 Chula Vista High School graduate and 2008 Mesa League Offensive Co-Player of the Year, is a freshman on the Wildcat roster. He has 11 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown in his debut season.

Nebraska enters the game with a 9-4 record and is led by senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh who is a finalist for no less than six major national awards. Suh leads the team with 82 tackles, 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hurries, while adding 10 pass breakups and three blocked kicks. Nebraska is also strong on special teams led by junior Alex Henery, a dual threat as a punter and place-kicker, and junior return man Niles Paul who ranks among the Big-12’s best returning both punts and kickoffs.

Nebraska has two San Diego County players on its roster: junior cornerback Anthony West (Point Loma) and freshman tight end J.T. Kerr (Scripps Ranch). West has appeared in 12 games, with 11 tackles and three pass break-ups to his credit.

The game is a rematch of the 1998 Holiday Bowl, when the Wildcats overcame a third quarter deficit and defeated the Huskers, 23-20, in front of 65,354 fans.

“We’re very pleased with this matchup,” Pacific Life Holiday Bowl President Barbara Warden said. “Arizona and Nebraska met here 11 years ago and to date, it’s still one of the most successful games in our bowl’s history. We look forward to welcoming the thousands of fans from these two premier institutions back to our great city.”

“We’re thrilled to earn the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl bid the way we did in the last couple weeks (of the regular season), and excited to be in San Diego,” sixth-year Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. “Our players have worked hard all season for a reward like this, and will work hard to show what Arizona and the Pac-10 Conference are all about in the game itself.”

“Our players are looking forward to the opportunity to play another football game, and a trip to San Diego and the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl is a nice reward for the season they have had,” Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said. “Arizona has had an outstanding season, is extremely well-coached and will be a big challenge for our football team. We have a lot of players in our program from California and I know they will enjoy playing in their home state. I'm sure our Nebraska fans will also travel in full force to San Diego.”

For ticket information, call TicketMaster at 220-8497 or visit the Web site at www.Pacific-LifeHolidayBowl.com.

On the horizon
The Holiday Bowl has extended agreements with the Pac-10 and Big-12 to continue providing teams for the bowl game through 2013. The four-year extension begins with the 2010 game. The bowl will have the second selection of eligible Pac-10 teams after the Bowl Championship Series selection process and the fourth selection after the BCS process in the Big-12.

Since the bowl’s Pac-10 versus Big 12 match-up began in 1998, the average score is 36-25, with six games decided by seven points or less. The outcome of seven games was not decided until the final two minutes of play. Big 12 teams have won six of the 11 games.

“The Big 12 looks forward to the continuation of its partnership with the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, and having the opportunity to annually face a Pac-10 opponent in San Diego,” Big 12 Conference commissioner Dan Beebe said.

“The Pac-10 is delighted to extend the conference’s agreement with the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl,” Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said. “The partnership has proved to be very beneficial for all parties and the bowl has become a favorite among Pac-10 fans. San Diego is an accessible and very attractive destination and the hospitality shown Pac-10 teams by the Holiday Bowl staff and famed ‘red coats’ is unmatched.”

Utah Utes, Cal Bears to meet in 2009 Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23

Posted Dec. 16, 2009
The University of Utah Utes and University of California Golden Bears will provide the showcase teams for the fifth annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Qualcomm Stadium. Kickoff is 5 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

“We’re so pleased that we will be welcoming these two terrific teams and their fans to San Diego later this month,” 2009 Bowl President Barbara Warden said. “With the Utes and Golden Bears, I think it’s safe to expect that we’re in for one heck of a ball game.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham leads his Utes into San Diego with a 9-3 overall record after finishing 6-2 in the Mountain West Conference. This year’s bowl game will be Utah’s seventh straight bowl appearance, including a 35-32 victory over the Navy Midshipmen in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl.

The Utes, who take a No. 23 national ranking into the game, are led by two-time first-team all-conference tackle Zane Beadles and the first 1,000 rushing-receiving tandem at Utah in 18 years: running back Eddie Wide (1,032 yards) and receiver David Reed (1,085 yards), also both first team picks.

Utah’s defense ranks in the top 25 nationally in pass efficiency defense (No. 9), pass defense (No. 13), total defense (No. 19) and scoring defense (No. 22).

The Utes, who allow just 19.7 points per game, are led by three First-Team All-MWC defenders: end Koa Misi (65 tackles, eight tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles), linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (73 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, two sacks) and free safety Robert Johnson (66 tackles, five interceptions, four pass breakups, four tackles for losses, two touchdowns).
Former Oceanside High School quarterback Jordan Wynn has recently taken over signal-calling duties for Utah, recording 991 passing yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in five games.

Wynn, who passed for 195 yards and one touchdown in the Utes’ 38-7 MWC victory against visiting San Diego State on Nov. 21, is joined on the Utah roster by Oceanside teammate Sam Brenner, a freshman offensive lineman.

“We are looking forward to playing in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl for the second time in three years,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “We had a great experience when we played there in 2007 and our players and staff are excited to be going back. We have around 25 players on our roster from Southern California and we hope for a big turnout from our fans, as is typical anytime we play in Qualcomm Stadium. In addition, San Diego is easy to get to from Salt Lake City and a great vacation destination, especially at this time of the year. Cal is a formidable opponent and one we look forward to playing. We like playing Pac-10 teams and we anticipate a great game.”

The Golden Bears, who finished 5-4 in Pac-10 play and are 8-4 overall, are appearing in their school-record seventh consecutive bowl game. Cal has won its last four bowl game appearances and is 5-1 in bowl games under head coach Jeff Tedford.

The 2009 Golden Bear squad features the tailback tandem of Jahvid Best (867 yards) and Shane Vereen (830 yards), though Best has not played or practiced since being injured against Oregon State on Nov. 7 and his status for the Poinsettia Bowl is uncertain. Quarterback Kevin Riley has put together a solid season as the starter in all 12 games, passing for career highs of 2,636 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Riley’s favorite target has been wide receiver Marvin Jones (38 catches, 607 yards, 6 touchdowns). Linebacker Mike Mohamed (Brawley High School) has been the team’s top defensive player and is the Pac-10’s leading tackler with an average of 8.8 per game and a total of 105 stops, while defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (60 tackles) leads the team in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (10) and is expected to be a high pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

San Diego region players include senior offensive lineman Chet Teofilo (Hilltop) and sophomore place-kicker David Seawright (Rancho Bernardo) .

The Viejas Parade of Wishes has been a pre-game staple at the bowl game, which continues its support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego. One dollar from every ticket sold for this year’s game will benefit the foundation. Last year, the beneficiary arrangement generated $41,000 for the foundation.
For tickets call 285-5039 or visit www.PoinsettiaBowl.com.

New horizons
The Poinsettia Bowl announced it has extended its agreement with the Mountain West Conference for the next four-year bowl term, 2010-2013. The nine-member conference will continue to provide the San Diego bowl game with the second pick, as it has since the game’s inception in 2005. The MAACO Bowl Las Vegas has and will continue to receive the first selection.

"The Mountain West Conference has proven to be a terrific match for the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl," Warden said. "They’ve truly put us on the map as one of the exciting, must-see games during bowl season. We’re delighted we were able to extend this partnership."

"San Diego is a great destination city for Mountain West fans," MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson said. "Thanks to the leadership, staff and volunteers of the event, Mountain West teams have had a tremendous experience at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. We look forward to continuing the partnership in the future."

Agreements have also been established for the MWC opponents during the four-year cycle.

In 2010, a bowl eligible Navy Midshipmen squad will travel to San Diego and play in the SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl for the third time. In 2005, the Midshipmen topped Colorado State, 51-30; in 2007 they were narrowly defeated at the hands of the Utes 35-32. The two highest attended Poinsettia Bowls were games in which the Naval Academy participated — 36,842 in 2005 and 39,129 in 2007.

"The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season destination for our team and fans that is especially embraced by our enlisted military all along the West Coast," Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk said. "We know from experience, this is a first-class bowl, a wonderful San Diego experience, and an opportunity to promote a widespread sense of unity within the Navy football family. The entire fleet rallies around the week-long festivities and the match-up versus a Mountain West Conference team is a challenge our student-athletes will enthusiastically embrace."

The 2011 and 2012 games will feature MWC teams going up against top schools from the Western Athletic Conference. A WAC school has played in the bowl game once when the Boise State Broncos came in to the 2008 game unbeaten and ranked ninth in the country but were upset by the 11th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs, 17-16, in front of 34,628 fans. That game garnered a 3.74 national television rating on ESPN — the bowl’s most watched game ever and the highest rated pre-Christmas game ever on the all-sports network.

"We are extremely pleased to be associated with the San Diego Country Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in 2011 and 2012", WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said. "Last year’s bowl game was a big success with Boise State providing a tremendous match-up. Our teams are excited to have the opportunity to play in the game in the upcoming years and to travel to San Diego. The agreement also solidifies our bowl agreements for the next four years giving the WAC four guaranteed slots through the 2013 season."

In 2013 a bowl-eligible Army team will make its first appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl. The last time the Black Knights played in a post-season game was in 1996 in the Independence Bowl when they lost to the Auburn Tigers 32-29.

"We are thrilled to announce this partnership with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl," Army Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson said. "Bruce Binkowski and his staff have done a tremendous job with this bowl game and we are excited to have the opportunity to showcase our program on the West Coast. I feel our players and fans will relish the opportunity to visit San Diego around the holidays."

Should Navy or Army not be bowl eligible in their respective years, the bowl game will receive a team from the WAC. To become bowl eligible a team must earn six wins.

"We believe these agreements will provide our fans with what they’ve come to expect -- competitive, exciting football games," Warden said.

Poinsettia Bowl, Holiday Bowl match-ups set at the Q

Posted Dec. 9, 2009
For the third consecutive year, the Mountain West Conference will send five teams to bowl games. Alas, SDSU fans once again will be home watching the Aztecs’ MWC foes on television rather than traveling to — and spending money in — some far-off city.

SDSU was in contention to join the bowl game party with a 4-4 record through eight games. But the Aztecs finished 0-4 in their pivotal final four games to drop out of bowl eligible status.

SDSU can only blame itself. The Aztecs blew two sizable leads amid fourth-quarter collapses to Wyoming (a 30-27 loss after leading 27-6) and UNLV (a 28-24 loss after leading 24-7). The Aztecs also dropped a 35-19 road contest at Football Bowl Subdivision member Southern Idaho — a no-no for any Division I-A team.

SDSU last played in a bowl game in 1998, losing 20-13 to North Carolina in the Las Vegas Bowl. There are signs that trend might turn around soon. The Aztecs doubled their win total from the previous season under first-year head coach Brady Hoke in finishing 4-8. It’s something the team can build on for 2010 and beyond.

Just to be in position being bowl game eligible deep into the season was a huge positive this season for SDSU, which was led by a large contingent of homegrown players, Castle Park’s DeMarco Sampson among them.

Sampson, a senior wide receiver, was one of five Aztecs to earn All-MWC honors this season, joining wide receiver Vincent Brown (Rancho Cucamonga) and punter Brian Stahovich (Solana Beach) as second team picks, while kick returner Davion Mauldin (Compton) and linebacker Jerry Milling (Palmdale) both earned honorable mention recognition.

Sampson led the conference with eight touchdowns — three more than the next closest player. He finished the season with 62 catches for 851 yards.

Sampson’s breakout game came at Colorado State when he caught 15 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns in the Aztecs’ come-from-behind victory. The 257 receiving yards against the Rams were the most by an MWC player this season and third nationally, while the 15 catches led the conference and tied for eighth nationally.

Other South County players on this year’s SDSU squad included senior quarterback Drew Westling (Southwestern College), junior linebacker Marcus Yarbrough (Eastlake), junior kicker Bryan Shields (Bonita Vista) and freshman tight end D.J. Shields (Bonita Vista).

Yarbrough logged 41 tackles in 12 games while D.J. Shields appeared in six games with 11 catches for 109 yards, including a longest pass reception of 28 yards.

Westling appeared in two games, completing five passes for 64 yards and one touchdown.

Starting QB Ryan Lindley (El Capitan) finished the season with 3,054 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He has the misfortune of playing in a conference laden with fantastic signal-callers, most notably TCU’s Andy Dalton (MWC Offensive Player of the Year) and BYU’s Max Hall (Second Team All-MWC).

As the current college football season heads to a close, it will be interesting to log the performance of the MWC bowl teams. MWC teams have received 41 bowl bids since 1999 and own a 21-15 all-time record.

Wyoming (6-6) will kick off the holiday bowl frenzy with a match-up against Fresno State (8-4) in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 19 in Albuquerque. Fourteenth-ranked BYU (10-2) will tackle No. 18 Oregon State (8-4) in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22, followed by a match-up pitting No. 23 Utah (9-3) against Cal (8-4) in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Dec. 23 at Qualcomm Stadium.

Air Force (7-5) will play Houston (10-3) in the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 31 in Ft. Forth while reigning MWC champion TCU, ranked fourth in the BSC standings, will play No. 6 Boise State (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 4 in Glendale, Ariz.

TCU and Boise State are pairing up for the second consecutive year in post-season bowl action after the Horned Frogs captured a 17-16 victory in last year’s Poinsettia Bowl. TCU has won its last four bowl game appearances.

Poinsettia Bowl
The Utes, who finished 6-2 in MWC play, are led by two-time first-team all-conference tackle Zane Beadles and the first 1,000 rushing-receiving tandem at Utah in 18 years: running back Eddie Wide (1,032 yards) and receiver David Reed (1,085 yards), also both first team picks.

Former Oceanside High School quarterback Jordan Wynn has recently taken over signal-calling duties with Utah, recording 991 passing yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in five games.

Wynn, who passed for 195 yards and one touchdown in the Utes’ 38-7 MWC victory against visiting San Diego State on Nov. 21, is joined on the Utah roster by Oceanside teammate Sam Brenner, a freshman offensive lineman.

The Golden Bears, who finished 5-4 in Pac-10 play, are appearing in their school-record seventh consecutive bowl game. Cal has won its last four bowl game appearances and is 5-1 in bowl games under head coach Jeff Tedford.

The 2009 Golden Bear squad features the tailback tandem of Jahvid Best (867 yards) and Shane Vereen (830 yards) while quarterback Kevin Riley has passed for career highs of 2,636 yards and 17 touchdowns.

San Diego region players include senior offensive lineman Chet Teofilo (Hilltop) and sophomore place-kicker David Seawright (Rancho Bernardo)

Teofilo (6-3, 329 pounds) made a hometown holiday visit when Cal defeated Texas Tech, 45-10, in the 2006 Holiday Bowl. A senior offensive lineman, he has played in 16 games for the Golden Bears with eight starts in a career marred by both injury and position changes. He logged his first career start at left tackle in Cal’s Armed Forces Bowl victory over Air Force in 2007.

A 2004 Hilltop graduate, Teofilo earned first-team All-South Bay League honors as a defensive lineman. He helped his team advance to the CIF San Diego Section Division II playoffs as a senior in 2003 when he had 75 tackles and 9.5 sacks.

An ethnic studies major, Teofilo was listed as one of the Golden Bears’ starting offensive guards on the team’s preseason depth chart.

Holiday Bowl
The University of Arizona Wildcats (Pac-10) and University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big-12) will square off in the 32nd annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl Dec. 30 at Qualcomm Stadium.
Arizona boasts an 8-4 overall record and finished 6-3 in the Pac-10 after defeating USC, 21-17, Dec. 5 in Los Angeles to secure a share of second place in the conference standings.

Arizona is led by a balanced offense spearheaded by sophomore quarterback Nick Foles and a top 25 defense. Running backs Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin have combined for 1,100 yards.
Taimi Tutogi, a 2009 Chula Vista High School graduate and 2008 Mesa League Offensive Co-Player of the Year, is a freshman on the Wildcat roster. He has 11 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown in his debut season.

Nebraska enters the game with a 9-4 record and is led by senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh who is a finalist for no less than six major national awards. Suh leads the team with 82 tackles, 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hurries, while adding 10 pass breakups and three blocked kicks.

Nebraska has two San Diego County players on its roster: junior cornerback Anthony West (Point Loma) and freshman tight ned J.T. Kerr (Scripps Ranch).

For ticket information, visit the Web sites at www.poinsettiabowl.com and www.Pacific-LifeHolidayBowl.com.

2008 Replay

San Diego bowl games are a community-minded production
TCU Horned Frogs set win record, deny Boise State Broncos a perfect season

Posted Dec. 31, 2008
The success of the San Diego region’s two college bowl games — the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl — starts with the men and women who help organize and run them.

South County resident Bruce Binkowski is one of the more visible “red coats” in attendance at Qualcomm Stadium, the venue for both games. Binkowski serves as executive director for both bowl games and has logged countless hours in planning and logistics over the history of these games.

The Holiday Bowl celebrated its 31st anniversary on Tuesday in record-setting fashion as 15th-ranked Oregon stung 13th-ranked Oklahoma State 42-31.The Poinsettia Bowl completed its fourth year of play Dec. 23 as the 11th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs denied ninth-ranked Boise State Broncos a perfect season with a come-from-behind 17-16 victory in front of 34,628 fans.

In winning its fourth consecutive bowl game, TCU scored 17 unanswered points to erase a 13-0 Bronco lead.

The Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl games both paired top 15-ranked teams to make them among the most appealing of all the post-season bowl games. In fact, the Holiday Bowl has evolved into one of the top tier non-BCS bowl games. Tuesday’s game featured five second-half lead changes.

The Poinsettia Bowl had an added South County connection this time: Boise State held practices at Southwestern College.

The bowl games wouldn’t be possible without leadership.

El Cajon resident Larry Baber serves as president of the board of directors of the San Diego Bowl Association, the organization that puts on the two games. He presented the Most Valuable Player awards at both bowl games.

Other 2008 elected officers include president-elect Barbara Warden, secretary Pete Litrenta and treasurer Eric Graves.

The bowl association’s mission for the two bowl games is to create tourism, exposure, economic benefit and civic pride for San Diegans. Both the Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl are televised nationally by ESPN.

“It’s an honor for me to serve as president of this tremendous organization,” Baber said. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with bowl volunteers and staff to ensure the growth of these two important events continues.”

Baber has been involved with the bowl association since 1987 when he volunteered on the bowl’s bike tour committee. He became a Red Coat in 1989 and joined the board of directors in 2003. For the last 10 years, he has served as a member of the bowl game’s team selection committee and has made more than 50 official visits to universities on behalf of both bowl games. For the last 10 years, he has served as a member of the bowl game’s team selection committee and has made more than 50 official visits to universities on behalf of both bowl games.

Strong community ties define both bowl game efforts. Pre-bowl activities include a hole-in-one golf tournament, three-on-three basketball tournament, parades, band showcases, scholarship awards and fan-friendly contests.

The Viejas Parade of Wishes once again lit up the field with hope, strength and joy in gala pre-game ceremonies at the Poinsettia Bowl. One dollar from every game ticket sold was donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego.

Sweetwater High School had the winning entry in the “Rock the Bowl” video contest sponsored by Flo-TV and was honored during a time-out at Tuesday’s Holiday Bowl.

Players on the participating teams are treated with visits to the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld and also take time to take part in community functions before each game.

Poinsettia Bowl
The Boise State roster featured four San Diego region players: sophomore quarterback Michael Coughlin (Mira Mesa), freshman defensive end Zach Gholson (La Costa Canyon), senior wide receiver Vinny Perretta (La Costa Canyon) and freshman cornerback Jamar Taylor (Helix).

Taylor, who earned First Team All-San Diego Section honors his senior year, finished his career with the Highlanders with 155 tackles, 19 pass breakups, nine interceptions and four fumble recoveries. In 12 games for BSU this season, he made 15 unassisted tackles, five assisted tackles and one pass breakup.

The Western Athletic Conference champion Broncos built a 13-0 lead in the game and rallied from a 17-13 deficit to close to within one point on a 33-yard field goal by Kyle Brotzman with less than five minutes left in the game. Boise State got the ball back at its own 17-yard line with just under two minutes remaining but TCU’s Stephen Hodge intercepted Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore to end the threat and preserve the Horned Frog victory. Hodge finished the game with 11 tackles (three for losses), one sack and one interception to earn Defensive MVP honors.

TCU quarterback Andy Dalton was named the game’s Offensive MVP after totaling 276 all-purpose yards in the contest, including 74 rushing yards.

Brotzman booted three field goals but missed a 38-yard attempt in the second half. Ian Johnson scored his 58th career touchdown on a 20-yard run to put Boise State up 10-0. The touchdown broke former SDSU standout Marshall Faulk's WAC record.

For TCU, which finished second in the Mountain West Conference standings, Aaron Brown rushed for a 16-yard touchdown to help the Horned Frogs trim Boise State’s lead to 13-7 at halftime. Ross Evans kicked 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and TCU took its first lead early in the fourth quarter when Joseph Turner capped an 80-yard scoring drive on a 17-yard touchdown run. Brown paced TCU with 105 rushing yards.

Boise State boasts an impressive 60-4 record in WAC games over the past eight seasons, winning six championships and finishing second twice. The Broncos posted undefeated seasons in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

During the regular season, Perretta caught 34 passes for 500 yards with two touchdowns. Against TCU, he had two receptions for 78 yards. Moore comploeted 22 of 35 aerials against the Horned Frogs for 222 yards.

Holiday Bowl
Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli totaled 364 all-purpose yards (258 passing, 106 rushing) and scored four touchdowns, including three rushing TDs (one on a 76-yard scamper), to earn Offensive MVP honors. Ducks defensive Jairus Byrd, who made a key 39-yard interception return in the game, was named Defensive MVP.

The teams combined for 1,034 offensive yards, with Oregon totaling 565 yards and Oklahoma State amassing 469 yards. The teams combined to score 73 points and rack up 49 first downs.

Oklahoma State signal-caller Zac Robinson finished the game with 383 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns while Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant set two Pacific Life Holiday Bowl records as he hauled in 13 receptions for 168 yards. The previous Holiday Bowl record for receptions (11) was held by BYU's David Mills (1984) and Texas' Roy Williams (2001); the receiving yards record (163) was held by Oklahoma State's Hart Lee Dykes (1988).

The Cowboys lead 17-7 in the first half and regained a 31-28 edge early in the fourth quarter but Oregon took the lead for good with just over nine minutes left in the game.

Poinsettia Bowl: TCU sets win record, denies Broncos a perfect season

TCU’s Stephen Hodge intercepted Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore with under two minutes remaining as the Horned Frogs hung on to win the fourth annual Poinsettia Bowl. TCU, which finished second in the Mountain West Conference standings, set a school record with its 11-2 season and spoiled a potential undefeated season by the Western Athletic Conference-champion Broncos (12-1).

Hodge was named the game’s Defensive Most Valuable Player.

The Horned Frogs out-rushed Boise State 278-29 on the ground, with running back Aaron Brown leading TCU with 105 rushing yards and one touchdown.

TCU signal-caller Andy Dalton finished the game with 276 all-purpose yards, including 74 rushing yards, to earn honors as the game’s Offensive MVP.

Kyle Brotzman gave the Broncos an early 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal and BSU went ahead 10-0 on Ian Johnson's 20-yard touchdown run. The TD run was Johnson’s 58th career touchdown, breaking former SDSU standout Marshall Faulk's Western Athletic Conference record.

Brotzman later added a 24-yard field goal to put the Broncos up 13-0.

Brown rushed for a 16-yard touchdown to help the Horned Frogs trim Boise State’s lead to 13-7 at halftime and scored 10 unanswered points in the second half to take a 17-13 lead. Ross Evans kicked 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and TCU took its first lead early in the fourth quarter when Joseph Turner capped an 80-yard scoring drive on a 17-yard touchdown run.

Brotzman booted his third field goal of the game to bring the Broncos within a point at 17-16 with less than five minutes remaining in the game after TCU’s defense held firm in front of its goal line.

Boise State got the ball back with less than two minutes to play but was intercepted by Hodge on the first play from scrimmage to end the Broncos’ bid for a thrilling comeback win and a perfect season.

Brotzman missed a 38-yard field goal attempt early in the second half to deny Boise State additional points.

Poinsettia Bowl, Qualcomm to contribute to local high school music programs
Posted Dec. 11, 2008
In a joint effort, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and Qualcomm have teamed up to make financial contributions to in-need high school music departments at the 26 Title 1 high schools in San Diego County. The San Diego County Office of Education is facilitating the donation.

“The donation from the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and Qualcomm to our local high school music departments is extremely generous,” County Superintendent of Schools Randy Ward said. “I want to thank them for thinking of our local schools. At times like these, when school music programs are faced with severe cuts, a donation like this is nothing short of fantastic.”

A formal presentation will be made on the field during the Poinsettia Bowl. The fourth annual game kicks off at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23,at Qualcomm Stadium and pits the ninth-ranked and undefeated Boise State University Broncos (12-0) against the 11th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs (10-2).

It will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Bowl President Larry Baber called the match-up "undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of the entire bowl season."

“We are ecstatic that teams of the caliber of Boise State and TCU will match up in our bowl game,” he said.

The pairing of two ranked teams is a first for the fledgling bowl game and is being ranked as the fourth-best match-up for the upcoming bowl game this season.

The Broncos -- this year's Western Athletic Conference champions -- concluded a perfect season for the second time in three seasons. Boise State capped an undefeated season in 2006 with a thrilling 43-42 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. This is Boise State’s first appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl.

The Broncos' offense is led by freshman quarterback sensation Kellen Moore, who has has thrown for 25 touchdowns and averaged 272.0 passing yards per game. Sophomore safety Jeron Johnson leads a stingy Boise State defense with 84 total tackles, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

TCU, which finished 7-1 in the Mountain West Conference standings, returns to the Poinsettia Bowl for the second time in three years. In 2006 the Horned Frogs routed the Northern Illinois Huskies 37-7.

TCU coach Gary Patterson said the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl "should be a great game with a lot of national interest.”

A well-balanced TCU offensive attack is guided by sophomore quarterback Andy Dalton, who has thrown for 11 touchdowns against just four interceptions in 10 games. His passing rating for the season is an impressive 132.4. The Horned Frogs boast one of the nation’s best defenses, anchored by defensive end Jerry Hughes. The junior tallied 14 sacks this season, tops in the country. He also forced six fumbles and snagged two interceptions.

This will be the second time these teams have faced one another. The Broncos narrowly defeated TCU in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl 34-31.

Tickets for the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 220-8497 or by visiting www.PoinsettiaBowl.net.

The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl follows on Dec. 30 at Qualcomm Stadium and pits 13th-ranked Oklahoma State (9-3) and 15th-ranked Oregon (9-3). For more information, visit www.PacificLifeHolidayBowl.com.

Oregon Ducks clip Oklahoma State Cowboys, 42-31, in Holiday Bowl thriller

Holiday Bowl press release
In yet another fantastic bowl finish, the Oregon Ducks defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 42-31 in the 31st annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.

In an exciting, back and forth second half, the Ducks took the lead for good over the Cowboys with just over 9 minutes remaining after QB Jeremiah Masoli found Jaison Williams in the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. After getting stopped at the 1-yard line on fourth down by the OSU defense, Oregon got the ball back once more and they took advantage of it as RB LeGarrette Blount hurdled a player and held off two others as he powered his way to a 29-yard touchdown run to seal the victory for the Ducks.

Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli earned Offensive MVP honors, finishing the game with 364 all-purpose yards (258 passing, 106 rushing) and 4 TD's, three of which were on the ground. DB Jairus Byrd was named the game's Defensive MVP, thanks in part to a huge 39-yard interception return.

After the Cowboys dominated the first half, the Ducks came roaring out of the gates in the third quarter as they scored twice to take a 21-17 lead, their first lead of the game. Oregon kick returner Walter Thurmond III returned the second-half opening kickoff 91 yards to the Oklahoma State 3-yard line. Two plays later, QB Jeremiah Johnson rushed into the endzone from one yard out.
From there, both teams' offenses started firing on all cylinders as the game saw five second-half lead changes, as opposing QB's Zac Robinson and Jeremiah Masoli put on a clinic both on the ground and in the air.

In the first half, it was the Cowboys who struck first as they took their opening possession 52 yards to set up Dan Bailey's 45-yard field goal. After forcing an Oregon punt, Oklahoma State got the ball back on their own 1-yard line. The offense then put together an 11-play, 99 yard drive as they marched down the field and scored a touchdown as QB Zac Robinson hit WR Dez Bryant on a 33-yard pass.

The Ducks offense didn't take long to respond. Starting at his own 24-yard line, Oregon's RB Jeremiah Johnson broke loose and rushed for a 76-yard touchdown to get the Ducks on the scoreboard.

Oklahoma State answered right back, as Perrish Cox returned the kickoff 42 yards to give the Cowboys great field position. Then QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter and the Cowboys offense went back to work as they marched down the field and scored on their third straight posession on a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Hunter, stretching the Cowboys lead to 17-7.

Robinson finished the game with 383 all-purpose yards and 2 TD's. WR Dez Bryant set two Pacific Life Holiday Bowl records as he hauled in 13 receptions for 168 yards. The previous Holiday Bowl record for receptions (11) was held by BYU's David Mills (1984) and Texas' Roy Williams (2001), and the receiving yards record (163) was held by Oklahoma State's Hart Lee Dykes (1988).

After a lot of offensive fireworks in the first quarter, the defenses stepped up in the third quarter, combining to force three missed field goals and a turnover. After Oregon turned the ball over on downs to open the quarter, Oklahoma State missed a scoring opportunity as Bailey missed a 43-yard field goal. After Oregon got the ball back, QB Jeremiah Masoli stung the Cowboys defense for a 50-yard pass play to Terence Scott, but then the Cowboy defense held, forcing a 38-yard field goal attempt. But Oklahoma State DB Jacob Lacey blocked Morgan Flint's FG attempt, keeping the score 17-7. After forcing the Cowboys to turn the ball over on downs, Oregon put together a long 14-play, 43 yard drive, only to see Flint's second field goal attempt sail wide right.