Washington State dismantles Utah State in Idaho’s famous potato bowl

Zevi Eckhaus passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns to help Washington State record a 34-21 victory over Utah State Monday afternoon at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

Eckhaus completed 26 of 44 passes and was intercepted three times for the Cougars (7-6), who won for the third time in the last four games. Mackenzie Alleyne, Hudson Cedarland and Landon Wright caught scoring passes, Julian Dugger rushed for a touchdown and Joshua Meredith, who was named Potato Bowl MVP, had eight receptions for 84 yards.

Defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit served as the Cougars’ interim coach for the bowl game and received the celebratory “fry bath” as the final seconds ticked down.

Bobbit coached after Jimmy Rogers left to become head coach at Iowa State. Bobbit will also become Rogers’ defensive coordinator with the Cyclones.

Utah State’s Brandon Barnes completed 9 of 21 passes for 116 yards and an interception and added a rushing score for the Aggies (6-7), who lost their second straight game. Barnes suffered a concussion on a running play with 11:58 remaining and missed the rest of the game.

Jacob Conover came in and threw touchdown passes to Brady Boyd and Javen Jacobs for the Aggies.

Ike Larsen, Dylan Tucker and Gio Kafentzis had interceptions for Utah State, which fell to 1-5 in Potato Bowls.

Matthew Durrance had an interception as the Cougars won their first bowl game since the 2018 Alamo Bowl during Mike Leach’s reign as coach. Maxwell Woods had 114 yards on nine carries and added 35 yards on three receptions.

Washington State led 20-0 and was driving before Kafentzis intercepted Eckhaus. The Aggies then drove 60 yards in five plays, with Barnes scoring on a 2-yard keeper to put Utah State on the board with 2:27 left in the third quarter.

The Cougars responded as Wright beat double coverage to haul in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Eckhaus to make it 27-7 with 14:11 to play.

Barnes was injured on the next drive as he gained 9 yards and was involved in a violent head-on collision with Washington State’s Cale Reeder. He was helped off the field and sent off shortly after.

Conover finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Boyd to bring the Aggies within 13 with 10:09 remaining.

Dugger, the Cougars’ backup quarterback for the bowl game, scored on a 34-yard run to make it 34-14 with 4:06 remaining. Conover responded with a 26-yard scoring pass to Jacobs with 1:48 left.

Eckhaus threw two touchdown passes as Washington State dominated the first half and led 14-0 at the break. The Cougars outscored the Aggies 242-49 at halftime.

The Cougars struck first as Eckhaus connected with Alleyne on a 41-yard scoring pass with 7:08 left in the first quarter.

Washington State increased its lead to 14 when Eckhaus threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Cedarland.

Jack Stevens made field goals of 23 and 25 yards in the third quarter to increase Washington State’s lead to 20.

Washington State edged Utah State 628-254.

–Field level media