2011 New Mexico Bowl

The 2011 New Mexico Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game, held on December 17, 2011 at University Stadium on the campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico as part of the 2011-12 NCAA Bowl season.

The game, which was telecast at 12 p.m. MT on ESPN, featured the Wyoming Cowboys from the Mountain West Conference versus the Temple Owls from the Mid-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 over Fresno State in the 2009 New Mexico Bowl.

The two schools have only previously played each other on one occasion. Wyoming won the 1990 matchup in Laramie, 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 back Bernard Pierce who ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Temple's aggressive defense held Wyoming's spread offense to just 267 yards (127 passing).

Temple
The Owls were led by offensively RB Bernard 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).

Wyoming
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),DE Gabe Knapton (74 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and DB Blair Burns (48 tackles, 4 INT).

Game summary
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 linebacker Tahir 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.

Scoring summary

 * 1st Quarter
 * TEM – Bernard Pierce 1 yard run (Brandon McManus kick), 08:41. Temple 7-0. Drive: 13 plays, 90 yards, 6:19.
 * 2nd Quarter
 * TEM – Bernard Pierce 1 yard run (Brandon McManus kick), 14:28. Temple 14-0. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:11.
 * TEM – Matt Brown 1 yard run (Brandon McManus kick), 10:21. Temple 21-0. Drive: 6 plays, 35 yards, 1:58.
 * WYO – Josh Doctson 21 yard pass from Brett Smith (Daniel Sullivan kick), 00:37. Temple 21-7. Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 5:00.
 * TEM – Rod Streater 61 yard pass from Chris Coyer (Brandon McManus kick), 00:19. Temple 28-7. Drive: 1 play, 61 yards, 0:18.
 * 3rd Quarter
 * TEM – Brandon McManus 34 yard field goal, 01:22. Temple 31-7. Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards, 6:34.


 * 4th Quarter
 * TEM – Brandon McManus 37 yard field goal, 12:50. Temple 34-7. Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 2:48.
 * TEM – Brandon McManus 34 yard field goal, 03:22. Temple 37-7. Drive: 13 plays, 56 yards, 8:23.
 * WYO – Cody Sutton 14 yard pass from Brett Smith (Brett Smith run for two-point conversion), 00:03. Temple 37-15. Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 3:19.

Game Notes

 * Temple's three interceptions tied a New Mexico Bowl record.
 * Temple won its first bowl game since 1979.
 * Wyoming's bowl W/L record dropped to 6-7
 * Bernard Pierce rushed for 1,481 yards and 27 TDs on the season
 * Brett Smith was the Mountain West Freshman of the Year