USU football: Aggies run away late in Potato Bowl victory

USU football • Williams rushed for three TDs in the fourth quarter.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies wide receiver Matt Austin (4) and cornerback Will Davis (17) celebrate during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) runs of for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) is tackled by Toledo Rockets defensive tackle Elijah Jones (8) as Toledo Rockets linebacker Robert Bell (38) jumps over them during the second quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Toledo Rockets kicker Jeremiah Detmer (85) kicks a field goal during the second quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies kicker Nick Diaz (93) is tackled by Toledo Rockets linebacker Chase Murdock (34) during the second quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies head coach Gary Andersen and Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) pose for pictures with the trophy after winning the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) celebrates afar scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) runs past Toledo Rockets linebacker Trent Voss (40) and Toledo Rockets safety Mark Singer (43) during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) scores a touchdown past Toledo Rockets defensive back Cheatham Norrils (11) during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) runs the ball during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Big Blue celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies cornerback Will Davis (17) and Utah State Aggies linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu (55) celebrate during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies head coach Gary Andersen reacts after running back Kerwynn Williams (25) scores a touchdown during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies head coach Gary Andersen whispers in the ear of Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) after he scored a touchdown during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah State Aggies cornerback Will Davis (17) and Utah State Aggies linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu (55) celebrate a turnover during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

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Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies wide receiver Matt Austin (4) and cornerback Will Davis (17) celebrate during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) runs of for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) is tackled by Toledo Rockets defensive tackle Elijah Jones (8) as Toledo Rockets linebacker Robert Bell (38) jumps over them during the second quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Toledo Rockets kicker Jeremiah Detmer (85) kicks a field goal during the second quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies kicker Nick Diaz (93) is tackled by Toledo Rockets linebacker Chase Murdock (34) during the second quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies head coach Gary Andersen and Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) pose for pictures with the trophy after winning the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) celebrates afar scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) runs past Toledo Rockets linebacker Trent Voss (40) and Toledo Rockets safety Mark Singer (43) during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) scores a touchdown past Toledo Rockets defensive back Cheatham Norrils (11) during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) runs the ball during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Big Blue celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies cornerback Will Davis (17) and Utah State Aggies linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu (55) celebrate during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies head coach Gary Andersen reacts after running back Kerwynn Williams (25) scores a touchdown during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies head coach Gary Andersen whispers in the ear of Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) after he scored a touchdown during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. At the end of the first half the Aggies were winning, 10-6. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah State Aggies cornerback Will Davis (17) and Utah State Aggies linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu (55) celebrate a turnover during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Bronco Stadium Saturday December 15, 2012. The Aggies beat the Rockets, 41-15.

By Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune

· December 15, 2012 8:30 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Boise, Idaho • Utah State completed its best season in school history.

By defeating Toledo 41-15 on Saturday night in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the Aggies move to 11-2 to finish the year and almost certainly will finish the season ranked in the final national polls.

Kerwynn Williams scored three touchdowns on his way to an MVP performance. The Aggies scored four touchdowns in the final period to break open what had been a close game.

In what was a slow first half with sloppy play and few big moments, Utah State took a 10-6 advantage into the intermission over Toledo. USU missed on multiple scoring opportunities.

The Aggies led because Chuckie Keeton scored the only touchdown of the half, a 62-yard run toward the end of the first quarter.

tjones@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tjonessltrib —