1996 Las Vegas Bowl
| 1996 Las Vegas Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 19, 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Sam Boyd Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Whitney, Nevada | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$150,000 per team[1] | ||||||||||||||||||
The 1996 Las Vegas Bowl was the 5th edition of that annual game. It featured the Ball State Cardinals, and the Nevada Wolf Pack. Ball State was 8-3, after winning 8 straight games following an 0-3 start. They also won the MAC football championship.
Nevada scored first following a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Dutton to Damond Wilkins, but the extra point attempt failed leaving the score 6-0 Nevada. Damon Shea made up for his missed PAT by kicking a 22-yard field goal making it 9-0 Nevada in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, LeAndre Moore rushed 62 yards for a touchdown for Ball State, to cut the lead to 9-7. Damon Shea's 33-yard field goal attempt with 44 seconds left in the first half made the halftime score 12-7, Nevada. The teams would go scoreless in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Eric Bennett threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Damond Wilkins, but the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 18-7 Nevada. Brent Baldwin threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Reese, and the 2-point conversion attempt was successful leaving the score 18-15 Nevada. Nevada ran out the clock on its next possession.
Nevada Linebacker Mike Crawford was named MVP due to his 14 tackles, one forced fumble and INT.[2]