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Washington State Football: 3 takeaways from Gardner Minshew-led Alamo Bowl win

By John Mitchell

SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 28: Gardner Minshew #16 of the Washington State Cougars celebrates with teammates after a rushing touchdown in the second quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 28, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 28: Gardner Minshew #16 of the Washington State Cougars celebrates with teammates after a rushing touchdown in the second quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 28, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Led by Gardner Minshew, Washington State football held off Iowa State 28-26 in the Alamo Bowl to clinch the program’s first ever 11-win season.

In a thrilling Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Gardner Minshew led Washington State to a two-point win over Iowa State on Friday night in his final collegiate game.

Disappointed by the loss to Washington in the Apple Cup that prevented them from playing for the PAC-12 Championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl, as well as getting spurned by the selection committee for the New Year’s Six, some questioned whether the Cougars would have the requisite motivation for this game against a stingy Iowa State defense that prided itself on frustrating air-raid offenses.

The eccentric Minshew wouldn’t allow a lapse in motivation as he came out firing from the opening gun, helping the Cougars build an early lead that they were able to hold on to down the stretch to capture an 11th win for the first time in program history.

Minshew threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another as he finished his career with numerous school and conference records. His play helped Washington State build two separate two-touchdown leads in the first half, and a 21-10 lead heading into the locker room.

Strong adjustments by Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock frustrated the Cougars offense in the second half and allowed the Cyclones to claw back into the game.

Big plays by David Montgomery and Hakeem Butler brought Iowa State oh-so-close to stealing the game away. Freshman QB Brock Purdy, a revelation all season for Campbell, scored on a QB sneak with 4:02 remaining in the game, but a failed two point conversion prevented Iowa State from tying the game.

With no timeouts remaining for Iowa State, Mike Leach made some gutsy calls to try and seal the game, the last of which coming on a long pass from Minshew to Dezmon Patmon to seal the deal and allow them to run out the clock.

Washington State’s win gave the PAC-12 their first bowl win in over a year, and served as the proper send-off for Minshew in his college football swan-song.

The Alamo Bowl more than lived up to its hype with two good teams trading blows for 60-minutes. Here are three takeaways from the action:

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