| 2011Gildan New Mexico Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 17, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | University Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Albuquerque, New Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | QB Chris Coyer, Temple LB Tahir Whitehead, Temple | ||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Temple by 7[1] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Tom Tomczyk (Big East) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 25,762 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$750,000 per team | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Clay Matvick (Play-by-Play) Brian Griese (Analyst) Jessica Mendoza (Sidelines) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nielsen ratings | 1.54 | ||||||||||||||||||
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The2011New Mexico Bowl was a post-season Americancollege footballbowl game, held on December 17,2011 atUniversity Stadium on the campus of theUniversity of New Mexico inAlbuquerque, New Mexico as part of the2011-12 NCAA Bowl season.
The game, which was telecast at 12 p.m.MT onESPN, featured theWyoming Cowboys from theMountain West Conference versus theTemple Owls from theMid-American Conference.
Temple made its first trip to the New Mexico Bowl, becoming the first team from the MAC to appear in the game. The Owls made just their fourth bowl appearance in school history, and their second in the last three years. Wyoming appeared in its second New Mexico Bowl. The Cowboys were 35–28 victors overFresno State in the 2009 New Mexico Bowl.
The two schools have only previously played each other on one occasion. Wyoming won the 1990 matchup inLaramie, Wyoming by a score of 38–23.
Temple controlled the game from start to finish in a 37-15 win. The Owls were led by running backBernard Pierce who ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Temple's aggressive defense held Wyoming's spread offense to just 267 yards (127 passing).
The Owls were led by offensively RBBernard Pierce (1,381 yds., 25 TDs), QB Chester Stewart (743 passing yds.) and TE Evan Rodriguez (427 receiving yds.); and defensively by LB Stephen Johnson (113 tackles, 2.0 sacks), DL Adrian Robinson (47 tackles, 6.0 sacks), and DB Justin Gildea (46 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 3 INT).[2]
Making its 13th bowl game appearance, the Cowboys were led offensively by RB Alvester Alexander (678 rushing yds., 6 TDs), QB Brett Smith (385 att., 233 of 385 passes, 2,495 yards, 18 TDs), and WR Chris McNeill (504 receiving yds., 4 TDs); and defensively by SS Luke Ruff (97 tackles),DEGabe Knapton (74 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and DB Blair Burns (48 tackles, 4 INT).
Wyoming wore their home brown uniforms, and Temple wore white visitor uniforms. Temple sophomore quarterback Chris Coyer, the offensive MVP, threw for 169 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 71 yards. Defensive MVP, senior linebackerTahir Whitehead, tallied 11 tackles including 1.5 for a loss. Temple jumped out to a 37-7 lead behind a balanced offensive attack and out-gained Wyoming 424 yards to 267. Bernard Pierce ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns while backup Matt Brown added 49 yards and another score. Wide receiver Rod Streater caught a 61-yard touchdown at the end of the first half.
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| Statistics | Temple | Wyoming |
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| First Downs | 23 | 17 |
| Total offense, plays - yards | 63-424 | 63-267 |
| Rushes-yards (net) | 51-255 | 33-140 |
| Passing yards (net) | 167 | 127 |
| Passes, Comp-Att-Int | 8-12-0 | 20-30-3 |
| Time of Possession | 32:33 | 27:27 |