The Arizona Bowl is a college football game that is played annually in Tucson, Arizona. It is a relatively new addition to the postseason lineup, having started in 2015. The inaugural Arizona Bowl took place on December 29, 2015, and was televised on NESN Plus. The matchup featured two teams from the Mountain West Conference and Conference USA, respectively: the Colorado State Rams and the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Both teams came into the game with a 7-5 record and were looking to end their season on a high note. The Colorado State Rams had a high-powered offense that averaged over 32 points per game, while the Nevada Wolf Pack relied on a strong defensive unit that gave up just 25 points per game.
The game got off to a slow start, with both teams feeling each other out in the early going. The first quarter was a defensive battle, as neither team was able to get anything going offensively. However, the Rams were able to strike first early in the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Stevens to wide receiver Xavier Williams.
Nevada answered back with a touchdown of their own on the following drive, as running back James Butler punched it in from two yards out. The score was tied at 7-7 midway through the second quarter.
The Rams took control of the game from there, scoring 17 unanswered points before halftime. Stevens threw two more touchdown passes, one to running back Dalyn Dawkins and another to wide receiver Rashard Higgins, to give Colorado State a 24-7 lead at halftime.
The second half was much of the same, as the Rams continued to dominate on both sides of the ball. Higgins added another touchdown catch late in the third quarter, putting the game out of reach for the Wolf Pack.
Nevada did manage to score a late touchdown to make the final score 28-23, but it was too little too late. The Rams had already done enough damage to secure the victory.
The star of the game for Colorado State was undoubtedly Rashard Higgins, who finished with three touchdown catches and 194 receiving yards. Nick Stevens also had a strong game, throwing for 310 yards and three touchdowns.
For Nevada, James Butler had a solid outing, rushing for 189 yards and two touchdowns. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the strong play of Colorado State.
Overall, the first ever Arizona Bowl was a thrilling game between two evenly matched teams. The Rams came out on top in the end, securing a 28-23 victory over the Wolf Pack. It was a fitting end to a great season for both teams, and a promising sign for the future of the Arizona Bowl.
