Eastern Michigan beats San Jose St. in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
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BOISE, Idaho — Taylor Powell threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, Samson Evans rushed for a pair of scores and Eastern Michigan defeated San Jose State, 41-27, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Tuesday.
Eastern Michigan (9-4) won a bowl game for the second time in program history. The team also beat San Jose State in the California Bowl in 1987.
San Jose State (7-5) turned the ball over three times. It was first time this season that the Spartans had multiple turnovers in a game.
The Spartans built a 13-0 lead in the first quarter when Chevan Cordeiro rushed 27 yards for a TD and then found Justin Lockhart with an 8-yard scoring pass.
Then Eastern Michigan stormed back, scoring 30 straight points.
After San Jose State’s second touchdown, Sterling Miles blocked the extra-point attempt and Tristen Hines scooped up the ball and raced 87 yards for a 2-point defensive PAT.
That was the spark Eastern Michigan needed. The offense that had consecutive three-and-out possessions had touchdowns on its next four drives, all but putting the game out of reach.
Evans scored from 1 yard to draw Eastern Michigan within 13-9 by the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Powell found Darius Lassiter with a 1-yard scoring strike, Evans had a 3-yard TD run and Powell and Lassiter connected on a 28-yard scoring play.
Jesus Gomez booted a 51-yard field goal, and Jaylon Jackson scored on a 31-yard run to round out the scoring for the Eagles.
Cordeiro threw TD passes to Nick Nash and Isaiah Hamilton in the second half for the Spartans. Cordeiro led the Spartans offensively, completing 26 of 44 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.