2022 First Responder Bowl Explained

Game Name:First Responder Bowl
Subheader:13th First Responder Bowl
Title Sponsor:Servpro
Date Game Played:December 27
Year Game Played:2022
Football Season:2022
Stadium:Gerald J. Ford Stadium
City:University Park, Texas
Visitor School:University of Memphis
Visitor Name Short:Memphis
Visitor Nickname:Tigers
Visitor Record:6–6
Visitor Conference:AAC
Visitor Coach:Ryan Silverfield
Visitor 1Q:3
Visitor 2Q:21
Visitor 3Q:0
Visitor 4Q:14
Home School:Utah State University
Home Name Short:Utah State
Home Nickname:Aggies
Home Record:6–6
Home Conference:MWC
Home Coach:Blake Anderson
Home 1Q:0
Home 2Q:3
Home 3Q:0
Home 4Q:7
Mvp:Seth Henigan (QB, Memphis)[1]
Odds:Memphis by 8
Referee:Francisco Villar (Pac-12)[2]
Attendance:10,343
Payout:824,545[3]
Us Network:ESPN
Us Announcers:Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Charles Arbuckle (analyst), and Nicole Regoni (sideline)
Intl Network:ESPN Deportes

The 2022 First Responder Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 27, 2022, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas. The 13th annual First Responder Bowl, the game featured Memphis of the American Athletic Conference and Utah State of the Mountain West Conference. The game began at 2:20 p.m. CST and was aired on ESPN.[4] It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season. Sponsored by cleanup and restoration company Servpro, the game was officially known as the Servpro First Responder Bowl.

Teams

Based on conference tie-ins, the game was expected to feature teams from the American Athletic Conference (The American), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), or the Big 12 Conference. Selected for the bowl were Memphis, of The American, and Utah State, of the Mountain West Conference. This was their eighth meeting; entering the game, the Tigers led the all-time series, 4–3.[5]

Memphis Tigers

See main article: 2022 Memphis Tigers football team.

Memphis compiled a 6–6 record in regular-season play, 3–5 in conference play. Their season included a four-game winning streak followed by a four-game losing streak. The Tigers faced two ranked teams, losing to both Tulane and UCF. Entering this game, Memphis had been invited to a bowl game each season since 2014, including the 2021 Hawaii Bowl, which was canceled the day before kickoff.

Utah State Aggies

See main article: 2022 Utah State Aggies football team.

Utah State also recorded a 6–6 regular-season record; they went 5–3 in conference play. After starting the season 1–4, the Aggies then won five of their remaining seven games to become bowl eligible. They faced, and lost to, two ranked FBS teams, Alabama and BYU. This was the Aggies' 10th bowl appearance since the 2011 season.

Statistics

Team statistical comparison[6]
StatisticMemphisUtah State
First downs26 15
First downs rushing11 7
First downs passing14 7
First downs penalty1 1
Third down efficiency7–14 5–13
Fourth down efficiency0–0 0–1
Total plays–net yards76–430 58–261
Rushing attempts–net yards47–146 35–126
Yards per rush3.1 3.6
Yards passing9.8 5.9
Pass completions–attempts20–29 15–23
Interceptions thrown0 3
Punt returns–total yards2–8 1–1
Kickoff returns–total yards1–26 4–121
Punts–average yardage4–148 5–188
Fumbles–lost1–1 0–0
Penalties–yards5–55 8–54
Time of possession34:16 23:54
Memphis statistics
Tigers passing
20–29 284 3–0
Tigers rushing
Jevyon Ducker 13832
Asa Martin 10430
Gabriel Rogers 2260
Sutton Smith 6200
Roc Taylor 150
140
TEAM 3-90
Seth Henigan 11-260
Tigers receiving
Eddie Lewis 5 83 2
Gabriel Rogers 4 58 0
Roc Taylor 4 48 0
Joseph Scates 1 42 0
Jevyon Ducker 1 15 0
Koby Drake 1 12 0
Asa Martin 1 10 0
2 9 1
Cameron Wright 1 7 0
Utah State statistics
Aggies passing
Bishop Davenport 7–9 100 1–1
7–12 34 0–1
1–2 1 0–1
Aggies rushing
Calvin Tyler Jr. 16 79 0
Cooper Legas 12 25 0
Levi Williams 2 15 0
Terrell Vaughn 2 6 0
Bishop Davenport 1 1 0
Jordan Wilmore 2 0 0
Aggies receiving
Brian Cobbs 6 79 1
Terrell Vaughn 4 34 0
Josh Sterzer 2 12 0
Otto Tia 1 9 0
Calvin Tyler Jr. 2 1 0

Notes and References

  1. JacobHRichman . 1607886201293361152 . Seth Henigan is named MVP of the 2022 First Responder Bowl. . December 27, 2022 . December 27, 2022.
  2. Web site: 2022–23 bowl officiating assignments. footballzebras.com. Ben. Austro. December 4, 2022. December 16, 2022.
  3. Web site: 2022 Bowl Schedule . College Football Poll . December 26, 2022.
  4. Web site: 2022 College Football Bowl Schedule . FBSchedules.com . November 1, 2022.
  5. Web site: Winsipedia - Memphis vs. Utah State . Winsipedia.com . December 4, 2022.
  6. Web site: 2022 First Responder Bowl Final Stats . Statbroadcast . December 27, 2022 . December 28, 2022.