2017 Boca Raton Bowl

2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
4th Boca Raton Bowl
Akron Zips	Florida Atlantic Owls
(7–6)	(10–3)
MAC	C-USA
3	50
Head coach: ; Terry Bowden	Head coach: ; Lane Kiffin
Date	December 19, 2017
Season	2017
Stadium	FAU Stadium
Location	Boca Raton, Florida
MVP	Jason Driskel (QB, FAU); Azeez Al-Shaair (LB, FAU)
Referee	Kevin Stine (Sun Belt)
Attendance	25,912
Payout	US$800,000
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN; ESPN Radio
Announcers	Clay Matvick, Kirk Morrison, Cole Cubelic; Radio: Steve Levy, Desmond Howard, Paul Carcaterra
Boca Raton Bowl
< 2016	2018 >

The 2017 Boca Raton Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 19, 2017, at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, United States. The fourth edition of the Boca Raton Bowl featured the Conference USA champion Florida Atlantic Owls against the Mid-American Conference East Division champion Akron Zips. Kickoff was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST and the game aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2017–18 bowl games that concluded the 2017 FBS football season. Sponsored by the Cheribundi beverage company, the game was officially known as the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl.^[3]

Teams

The game featured the Akron Zips against the Florida Atlantic Owls and was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.^[4]

Akron Zips

Florida Atlantic Owls

This was Florida Atlantic's third bowl game in school history, first since 2008, and first Boca Raton Bowl; the Owls won both of their previous bowl games (the 2007 New Orleans Bowl and the 2008 Motor City Bowl).

This was Akron's third bowl game in school history, first since 2015, and first Boca Raton Bowl; the Zips previously lost one bowl game (the 2005 Motor City Bowl) and won one bowl game (the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl).

Game summary

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Akron	FAU
1	1:08	13	79	4:44	FAU	Willie Wright 4-yard touchdown reception from Jason Driskel, Greg Joseph kick good	0	7
2	11:14	12	42	4:54	Akron	19-yard field goal by Nick Gasser	3	7
2	5:38	14	75	5:36	FAU	Jason Driskel 3-yard touchdown run, Greg Joseph kick good	3	14
2	00:37	4	87	0:58	FAU	Devin Singletary 6-yard touchdown run, Greg Joseph kick good	3	21
3	9:13	10	52	3:13	FAU	Devin Singletary 2-yard touchdown run, Greg Joseph kick good	3	28
3	06:30	6	40	1:41	FAU	Willie Wright 13-yard touchdown reception from Jason Driskel, 2-point run good	3	36
4	14:35	6	75	1:44	FAU	Jason Driskel 7-yard touchdown run, Greg Joseph kick good	3	43
4	10:47	8	66	3:22	FAU	Devin Singletary 26-yard touchdown run, Ryan Rickel kick good	3	50
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							3	50

Statistics

	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	0	3	0	0	3
Owls	7	14	15	14	50

Statistics	Akron	FAU
First Downs	11	29
Total offense, yards	146	582
Rushes-yards (net)	37–69	60–312
Passing yards (net)	77	270
Passes, Comp-Att-Int	10–21–0	19–26–0
Time of Possession	27:52	32:08

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing	Kato Nelson	9/15, 80 yds
	Rushing	Manny Morgan	17 car, 41 yds
	Receiving	A.J. Coney	2 rec, 28 yds
Florida Atlantic	Passing	Jason Driskel	19/25, 270 yds, 2 TD
	Rushing	Devin Singletary	26 car, 124 yds, 3 TD
	Receiving	Kalib Woods	4 rec, 79 yds

References

^ Kelly, John W. (December 20, 2017). "Owls are Boca Raton Bowl Champions!". FAU.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
^ Bowl payout
^ "Sponsors – Boca Raton Bowl". cheribundibocaratonbowl.com. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
^ Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Akron Zips series history

External links

Box score at ESPN

[1] Kelly, John W. (December 20, 2017). "Owls are Boca Raton Bowl Champions!". FAU.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2019.

[2] Bowl payout

[3] "Sponsors – Boca Raton Bowl". cheribundibocaratonbowl.com. Retrieved December 20, 2017.

[4] Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Akron Zips series history

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