Bowl roundup: Kentucky surprises Clemson
Andre Woodson conjured up memories of Tim Couch and made Kentucky a bowl winner for the first time in 22 years.
Woodson threw for three touchdowns and 299 yards Friday as the Wildcats surprised Clemson 28-20 in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.
The junior completed 20 of 28 passes to finish a breakout season with 31 touchdowns – more than five times his total last year. He joins Couch, the former No. 1 NFL draft pick, as the only Wildcats to top 30 TDs in a season.
Behind Woodson, the game’s most valuable player, the Wildcats (8-5) racked up their highest point total in bowl history.
While Kentucky’s offensive fireworks weren’t unexpected, a defense that came into the game ranked second to last nationally made the difference.
“We didn’t get any respect coming into this game,” said linebacker Wesley Woodyard, who led the Wildcats with 12 tackles. “A lot of people expected our defense to come in and curl up, but that’s not a defense. If the game was played on paper, we’d be blown out 50-0.”
The Wildcats held a 4-2 turnover advantage and limited Clemson (8-5) to six points until the final 7 minutes when Kentucky used a prevent defense.
Liberty Bowl
South Carolina and Houston put on a record-setting offensive show the first 30 minutes, but the Gamecocks provided the defense when it mattered most.
Defensive end Jordin Lindsey came up with two turnovers for a defense that slowed Houston in the second half, and South Carolina beat the Cougars 44-36 for its first bowl victory under coach Steve Spurrier.
Blake Mitchell tied a bowl record by throwing four touchdown passes and Cory Boyd ran for two more TDs for the Gamecocks (8-5) and was named the game’s MVP.
Kevin Kolb, making his 50th start at quarterback for Houston (10-4) and leading the nation’s sixth-best offense, finished 26 of 39 for 386 yards and three TDs.
Champs Sports Bowl
Sam Hollenbach passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns and Lance Ball rushed for 98 yards as Maryland beat Purdue (8-6) 24-7 in Orlando, Fla.
The Terrapins (9-4) were able to keep Purdue’s offense, the NCAA’s 10th best, at 425 yards per game, in check and held the ball for 39:48.
Curtis Painter completed 23 of 36 passes for 264 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Purdue that had several costly miscues.