Connor Coles Nails Career-Long Field Goal In First Responder Bowl
Dec 27, 2022, 2:11 PM | Updated: Jan 11, 2023, 4:28 pm
Cooper Legas #5 of the Utah State Aggies congratulates teammate Brian Cobbs #8 after he caught a touchdown pass against the Air Force Falcons during the first half of their game October 8, 2022 Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
DALLAS – With 12 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, USU kicker Connor Coles lined up for a 53-yard field goal. Coles stuck the kick, setting a new career-long by one yard and tying the game at 3-3.
Das COWBOY BOOT! @ColesKicking
📺 ESPN#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/tiXIOYpdsw
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 27, 2022
The Aggies defense was tested early after the Tigers made it all the way into the redzone late in the first quarter. Utah State held their ground and forced Memphis to take a field goal.
Memphis take an early 3-0 lead but @USUFootball can hang their hats on the defensive stop.
Despite a cast on his hand, Michael Anyanwu forced a third down pass break up to force the field goal.#AggiesAllTheWay #AggieFootball #USUfootball #AtThePEAK #MWFB @FRBowl pic.twitter.com/u4DsYi60Pt
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) December 27, 2022
Utah State (6-6, 5-3) faces the Memphis Tigers (6-6, 3-5) in the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl.
RELATED: Battle Tested Memphis Brings Talented Defense Into Bowl Matchup With Utah State
GAMEDAY from Dallas‼️
🆚 Memphis
⌚️ 1:15 PM
📺 @ESPN
🔊 https://t.co/vioCVQqmVq#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/mToC1Iyf8F— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 27, 2022
First Responders Bowl Captains
The Aggies have named five captains ahead of the First Responders Bowl.
𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 🏈
▫️Chandler Dolphin
▫️Alfred Edwards
▫️Stephen Kotsanlee
▫️AJ Vongphachanh
▫️Hunter Reynolds#BeatMemphis | #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/HX0lHTkwYA— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 27, 2022
Senior linebacker AJ Vongphachanh; graduate-senior safety Hunter Reynolds; junior punter Stephen Kotsanlee; graduate-senior left tackle Alfred Edwards; & graduate-senior center Chandler Dolphin.
Utah State vs. Memphis Tigers
The First Responders Bowl will be the first meeting between these two programs since 1977 when Utah State fell 31-26 in Memphis. The Aggies are 3-4 all-time against the Tigers.
RELATED: Home for The Holidays: First Responder Bowl Homecoming For Several Aggies
Memphis is 6-8 all-time in bowl games. The program has enjoyed unprecedented success in recent seasons. This is the ninth-straight season in which the Tigers have been bowl eligible, which ranks ninth amongst all NCAA teams and is the best stretch of any non-Power 5 team.
The Tigers are 1-0 in bowls under head coach Ryan Silverfield, who has led the program to three straight bowl appearances as head coach.
RELATED: ‘All Hands On Deck’ As Utah State Prepares For First Responders Bowl
The Aggies are looking for their second straight bowl win after an inspired run in 2021 saw them follow up the programs first Mountain West conference championship with a 24-13 win over Oregon State in the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. USU will play in the postseason for the 10th time in the past 12 years.
How To Watch & Listen
Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. (MST) on Tuesday, December 27 and will be televised on ESPN.
Every Utah State football game can be heard on the KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call.
Coverage of Utah State University Athletics from KSL Sports can be found here.
Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.
