The 2021 Quick Lane Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 27, 2021, with kickoff at 11:00 a.m. EST, televised on ESPN.[3] It was the 7th edition of the Quick Lane Bowl (after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and was one of the 2021–22 bowl games concluding the 2021 FBS football season. The game's title sponsor was Quick Lane Tire and auto centers.

2021 Quick Lane Bowl
7th Quick Lane Bowl
1234 Total
Western Michigan 1417714 52
Nevada 3777 24
DateDecember 27, 2021
Season2021
StadiumFord Field
LocationDetroit, Michigan
MVPSean Tyler (RB, Western Michigan)[1]
FavoriteWestern Michigan by 7
RefereeEdwin Lee (AAC)[2]
Attendance22,321
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersBill Roth (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
Quick Lane Bowl
 < 2019 2022

Teams

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While the bowl had tie-ins with the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the Big Ten Conference, the actual participants were from the MAC and Mountain West Conference (MWC). This was the first time that Western Michigan and Nevada ever played each other.[4]

Western Michigan Broncos

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Western Michigan finished its regular season with a 7–5 record (4–4 in MAC games). The Broncos won four of their first five games, then lost four of their final six. The team was 1-1 in games against ranked opponents, with a loss to #2 Michigan, and a shocking win over #12 Pitt.

Nevada Wolf Pack

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Nevada finished their regular season with an 8–4 record (5–3 in Mountain West games). The Wolf Pack played to a 5–1 record in their first six games, then went 3–3 in their final six games. The team played one ranked opponent, losing by two points to San Diego State in mid-November. Following the regular season, head coach Jay Norvell, offensive coordinator Matt Mumme, and multiple other coaches left the Nevada program to take jobs at Colorado State.[5] The team was coached by running backs/interim head coach Vai Taua.

Starting quarterback Carson Strong, who won back-to-back Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021, opted out of the game in order to prepare for the 2022 NFL draft.[6] Multiple other athletes, including starting wide receivers Tory Horton and Melquan Stovall, transferred to Colorado State to remain with Norvell and did not play in the game.[7]

Game summary

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2021 Quick Lane Bowl
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Western Michigan 14 17 71452
Nevada 3 7 7724

at Ford FieldDetroit, Michigan

  • Date: Monday, December 27, 2021
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. EST
  • Game weather: n/a (game played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 22,321
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Bill Roth (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
  • Box score
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP WMU NEV
1 10:17 9 67 4:43 Nevada 32-yard field goal by Brandon Talton 0 3
1 10:04 Western Michigan Sean Tyler 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown, Parker Sampson kick good 7 3
1 6:31 6 95 2:39 Western Michigan Corey Crooms 74-yard touchdown reception from Kaleb Eleby, Parker Sampson kick good 14 3
2 14:15 10 72 5:37 Western Michigan 22-yard field goal by Parker Sampson 17 3
2 11:15 7 57 2:54 Nevada Devonte Lee 1-yard touchdown run, Brandon Talton kick good 17 10
2 7:48 7 63 3:20 Western Michigan Brett Borske 20-yard touchdown reception from Kaleb Eleby, Parker Sampson kick good 24 10
2 2:01 8 72 3:43 Western Michigan Jaxson Kincaide 7-yard touchdown run, Parker Sampson kick good 31 10
3 12:27 5 75 2:33 Western Michigan Kaleb Eleby 1-yard touchdown run, Parker Sampson kick good 38 10
3 1:33 9 70 5:30 Nevada Toa Taua 1-yard touchdown run, Brandon Talton kick good 38 17
4 8:57 9 61 4:25 Western Michigan Jaxson Kincaide 7-yard touchdown run, Parker Sampson kick good 45 17
4 5:05 8 66 3:52 Nevada Jamaal Bell 18-yard touchdown reception from Nate Cox, Brandon Talton kick good 45 24
4 1:36 8 48 3:29 Western Michigan Trae Allen 3-yard touchdown run, Parker Sampson kick good 52 24
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.

Statistics

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Statistics WMU NEV
First downs 23 16
Plays–yards 66–514 54–242
Rushes–yards 52–352 31–121
Passing yards 162 121
Passing: compattint 8–14–1 12–23–1
Time of possession 32:32 27:28
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Michigan Passing Kaleb Eleby 8/14, 162 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Sean Tyler 14 carries, 146 yards
Receiving Corey Crooms 1 reception, 74 yards, 1 TD
Nevada Passing Nate Cox 12/23, 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Devonte Lee 7 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Jamaal Bell 7 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD

References

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  1. ^ @quicklanebowl (December 27, 2021). "The 2021 Quick Lane Bowl MVP: Sean Tyler" (Tweet). Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "2021-22 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Winsipedia - Nevada vs. Western Michigan". Winsipedia.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Jay Norvell to be named CSU Rams football coach, source says". The Denver Post. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "MW Announces 2021 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors". Mountain West Conference. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "Daiyan Henley transfers to Washington State over USC, UW, Kansas State". Nevada Sports Net. December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
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