Akron vs. Utah State: Score and Reaction for 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

The Akron Zips picked up their first bowl win in school history Tuesday, beating the Utah State Aggies 23-21 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho.    

It looks like French fries and baked potatoes will be on the menu for the Zips players when they celebrate the result later on in the night, per MAC Sports:

Utah State failed to pull out the victory despite having the built-in advantage with the famous blue turf at Boise State, per ESPN CollegeFootball:

The Aggies also lost despite the best efforts of this fan, per Yahoo Sports' Dr. Saturday:

Utah State outgained Akron 363-282 for the game, with the two-headed quarterback monster of Kent Myers and Chuckie Keeton combining for 232 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The Zips forced three turnovers and held the Aggies to 5-of-13 on third downs, in part making up for the difference in total yards.

Neither offense could get going in the first half as the two teams combined for 300 yards and three turnovers. The Zips held on to a 13-7 halftime lead.

Akron head coach Terry Bowden dug deep into the playbook to help get his team on the board at the 10:38 mark of the first quarter. Zips wideout Tyrell Goodman received a pitch from teammate Conor Hundley, and rather than running, he instead found quarterback Thomas Woodson for a 14-yard touchdown pass.

As Ohio.com's George Thomas noted, throwing the football wasn't an altogether unfamiliar action for Goodman:

Following a 33-yard field goal by Robert Stein, wideout Brandon Swindall made it a three-point game, 10-7, with a nine-yard touchdown reception 1:32 from the half.

With the Aggies inside field-goal range, Myers fumbled the ball, and Akron defensive lineman Rodney Coe picked it up and returned it down to the Utah State 12-yard line with four seconds left in the second quarter. The importance of the play wasn't lost on SB Nation's Hustle Belt:

Stein connected on a 29-yard field goal as time expired to increase Akron's advantage to six points. That lead evaporated after Myers found wide receiver Hunter Sharp for a 19-yard touchdown on the Aggies' first drive of the third quarter.

Later on in the quarter, the Zips turned another Utah State turnover into points following a fumble by wideout Andrew Rodriguez. Akron corner Josh Senter recovered the ball at the Aggies' 40-yard line. Eight plays later, running back Donnell Alexander scored on a two-yard run to put the Zips back ahead, 20-14.

SB Nation's college football account had a unique way to visualize how the game was unfolding:

Stein nailed his third field goal of the game at the 8:15 mark of the fourth quarter to put Akron in front by two scores, 23-14. In doing so, the senior kicker made history, per Akron football:

That field goal proved to be the game-winner after a two-yard touchdown pass from Keeton to Swindall with 1:12 left in the game. Akron recovered the onside kick to preserve the victory. Deadspin's Timothy Burke still didn't want to dismiss Utah State's chances until time fully expired:

College football writer Matt Hinton made a strong case for why this is the biggest win for Akron since making the jump full time to Division I-A in 1987:

Bowden has done an impressive job turning around a team that went 1-11 in each of the previous two seasons before he took over.   

The Zips still have a ways to go to challenge Toledo, Northern Illinois and Western and Central Michigan for MAC supremacy, but they're well on their way to respectability.

Utah State took a step backward in Matt Wells' third season as head coach after winning 10 games in 2014. The Aggies should turn things around in 2016, though. They lose Sharp but retain Myers and leading rusher Devante Mays. Leading tackler Nick Vigil and free safety Devin Centers, whose three interceptions are most on the team, will also be back.

Reaching a sixth straight bowl game would be a major accomplishment for a school that reached just five bowls over nearly a century between 1912 and 2010.

Postgame Reaction

"It's a trip we'll never forget, because also of what these players have done," said Bowden after the game, per Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. "Eight wins hasn't been done in 28 years as a Division I team; we haven't won a bowl game in 28 years as a Division I team. We said we're not coming to show, we're coming to win."

On the strength of his three field goals, Stein earned the game's MVP award. The Zips kicker was humble upon getting the trophy.

"I was shocked when I got the MVP," he said. "There are so many great players on our team, it literally could have gone to anybody on offense and defense."