Cowboys lasso Bulldogs in 2 OT

Freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels threw three touchdown passes, the last a 13-yarder to David Leonard in the second overtime Saturday, and Wyoming beat Fresno State 35-28 in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, N.M.

The first of 34 bowls was a high-scoring matchup that was decided by defense.

Wyoming (7-6) stopped the nation’s leading rusher, Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews, on three rushing attempts from the 1 in the first overtime. The Bulldogs (8-5) tried a quarterback sneak on third down, and Mathews came up short again on fourth down.

The Cowboys scored on the first possession in double overtime, then held Fresno State on downs.

Wyoming fans spilled out of the stands to celebrate as the school band played “Cowboy Joe.” This was Wyoming’s first bowl appearance since 2005, and it capped a winning season for first-year coach Dave Christensen.

Mathews, who led the nation in rushing average at 151.3 yards per game, finished with 144 yards rushing on 31 attempts with two touchdowns. But he had a big fumble midway through the fourth quarter, setting up Carta-Samuels to lead a 19-play drive that tied it up.

Wyoming’s Ian Watts kicked a 37-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in regulation. But after the Cowboys stopped Mathews in the first overtime, Watts was wide left a 40-yard field try that would have won it.

St. Petersburg Bowl

Rutgers 45, Central Florida 24

With versatile freshman Mohamed Sanu doing a little bit of everything, the Scarlet Knights extended their string of postseason success with a rout of the Golden Knights in St. Petersburg, Flor.

The multi-threat receiver ran for two TDs out of the wildcat formation and also scored on an 11-yard reception from Tom Savage, another true freshman who threw for a career-best 294 yards.

Rutgers (9-4) claimed a school-record fourth consecutive bowl win to finish with at least nine victories for just the sixth time in 140 years. UCF (8-5) fell to 0-3 in bowl games under coach George O’Leary.

Division III championship

Wisconsin-Whitewater 38, Mount Union 28

Levell Coppage had three TDs and the Warhawks (15-0) scored 10 points in the final 1 minute, 17 seconds to beat the defending champion Purple Raiders (14-1) in the NCAA Division III title game in Salem, Va.

The Purple Raiders had their winning streak snapped at 29 games.

Jeff Donovan threw two touchdown passes for the Warhawks, who won their second national championship in the past three years. This is the fifth straight year the two teams have met for the championship.

NAIA championship

Sioux Falls 25, Lindenwood 22

Braden Wieking kicked three field goals, including a go-ahead 42-yarder in the fourth quarter to give the Cougars (15-0) their second straight NAIA championship with a win over the Lions (13-1) in Rome, Ga.

Ryan Lomiller ran for 115 yards and a tying TD that helped the Lions win their 29th straight game.