In a pretty atypical night in San Diego, California, the Northwestern Wildcats and the Utah Utes battled it out on the gridiron in the 41st Annual San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl.
A cold rainy night in San Diego on New Years Eve, something both schools are a little more accustomed to in their home states, displayed two AP Top-25 teams battle it out.
The first half was dominated by the Utes, after a couple stalled drives by both teams on their first couple possessions of the game. Utah was able to score first, on their second drive of the night, which went 62 yards on 6 plays and took up 1:52 of game time, capped off by a 27-yard touchdown pass from freshman Jason Shelley to freshman Jaylen Dixon. These freshmen Utes were no strangers to each other as they were from the same high school in Frisco, Texas, as they both attended Lone Star High School a season ago.
SHELLEY ➡️ DIXON ➡️ END ZONE.The former high school teammates put @Utah_Football on the board first at the #HolidayBowl. pic.twitter.com/PEAOcJNe9U
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)
January 1, 2019 Quarterback Jason Shelley started tonight’s game for Utah due to usual starter, Tyler Huntley, being a game time decision scratch. In the first half, just like his team, Shelley put on a show and proved why Utah was high on Shelley in recruiting. Shelley finished the first half completing 13 of his 20 pass attempts, for 155 yards with 2 TD. Shelley also impressed with his legs as he was able to rush for 52 yards on 7 attempts, which lead the Utes at Halftime.
Shelley’s second passing touchdown was a four-yard connection to San Diego and La Costa Canyon product, Jake Jackson, which was the junior’s second touchdown of the season.
OK THEN SHELLEY.The freshman QB's acting like he's been here before as @utah_football jumps out to a 14-0 lead. -- pic.twitter.com/xGNWuVpMAa
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)
January 1, 2019 After three consecutive field goals by both teams, they headed to the locker room with Utah leading 20-3 and a San Diego version of a heavy downpour left outside.
While Northwestern’s band played their rendition of Freebird, with half the lights out in SDCCU Stadium to accommodate a great firework show in front of 47,007 fans, Northwestern’s football team made some serious halftime adjustments. (They had enough time with Freebird being played as a halftime show).
Utah had deferred to the second half so they elected to receive the kick to resume play and this is where Jason Shelley turned into a completely different quarterback, and the Utes turned into a completely different team.
Utah’s opening drive ended fairly quickly on an interception thrown by Jason Shelley. Northwestern turned that interception into a 2 play 56 yard :36 drive, capped by a Riley Lees 4 yard pass from Clayton Thorson to make it a 20-10 game in favor of Utah.
* bows * pic.twitter.com/4DbN5snwnP
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily)
January 1, 2019 After back to back stalled drives, Utah had the ball on the Northwestern 6 yard line knocking on the door to get some insurance. On first and goal, Northwestern’s Joe Gaziano sacks Jason Shelley from the blindside at the 14-yard line jarring the ball loose, where teammate Jared McGee would make Holiday Bowl history. McGee scooped the fumble and took it back 82 yards for not only a school record fumble recovery for a touchdown, but a Holiday Bowl record for longest defensive touchdown as well. It also ranks as the fifth longest touchdown in Holiday Bowl history, cutting the Utes lead to 20-17.
SCOOP N' SCORE.Jared McGee takes it 86 yards to the house and @NUFBFamily is right back in this thing. pic.twitter.com/tKDF4qm9Qn
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)
January 1, 2019 Utah’s next drive would end with a turnover as well as Jaylon Dixon coughed up a wet ball after making a reception, which was recovered by Northwestern’s JR Pace and returned to the Utah 31-yard line. Two plays later, the Wildcats would take the lead for the first time in the game on a 20 yard pass from Clayton Thorson to offensive lineman, wearing number thirty-nine, Trey Klock, which was his first reception of the season. Northwestern now led 24-20.
Big man TD? BIG MAN TD.And just like that @NUFBFamily is in the lead. pic.twitter.com/nB7uxsnyJe
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)
January 1, 2019 Utah, who was moving the ball at will in the first half, turned into a completely inept offense in the third quarter. Another short drive done in by the Utes, Northwestern capitalized and took a 31-20 lead on a Riley Lees 8-yard touchdown run.
28 straight points... IN -- THE -- THIRD -- QUARTER --Try to keep up with @NUFBFamily. You can't. pic.twitter.com/oFSBCB3ACf
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)
January 1, 2019 One more turnover would end the third quarter for the Utes, and when it was all said and done, the Wildcats had scored 28 unanswered points in the third quarter, carrying an 11-point lead in the final 15 minutes of action.
Those final 15 minutes resulted in no additional scoring, but many turnovers as the rain finally plauged both offenses.
Northwestern was able to rally from 20-3 at half by scoring 28 points in the third quarter to win the 2018 San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl. Another excinting Holiday Bowl in America's Finest City.
Next up for both teams in 2019:
Utah will open up the 2019 season most likely as the favorite to win the Pac-12 South. Freshman quarterback showed many bright spots that he is going to be a great player in college football. They start 2019 with a mathup against their long-time rival, BYU in Provo on August 29th.
Northwestern will start their 2019 season right back in California, this time in Palo Alto against the Stanford Cardnial.
