SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: Utah Utes quarterback Troy Williams (3) gets some back field protection during a pass play during the Foster Farms Bowl game between the Utah Utes verses the Indiana Hoosiers on December 28, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Jeremy Kahn

SANTA CLARA-Trailing by two points with little time remaining in the fourth quarter, the Indiana Hoosiers began a final drive towards a possible game-winning field goal, but their rally came up short.

Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow’s final throw towards the end zone fell incomplete, as the Utah Utes (9-4)  held on to defeat the Hoosiers (6-7)  26-24 before an announced crowd of 27,608 at Levi’s Stadium.

The Utes’ second Foster Farms Bowl victory in as many tries also their marked fourth win in as many bowl appearances since joining the Pac-12. The Utes defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 38-10 in the 2005 game, which happened to head coach Kyle Whittingham’s first game as head coach of the Utes.

Utes kicker Andy Phillips kicked a Foster Farms Bowl record four field goals, including the eventual game-winner, a 27-yarder with 1:24 remaining. Utes running back Joe Williams carried the offense despite playing with a cold, gained a Foster Farms Bowl record 222 yards on the ground. Wednesday marked the sixth 200-yard rushing game of the seasons for Williams, who also caught one pass for 56 yards.

Prior to the Lagow incomplete pass that ended the game, Lagow completed two huge passes to Mitchell Paige on third and 19 for nine yards and then got the first down on a huge 11-yard pass to Paige.

Following a incomplete pass from Lagow to Camion Patrick, Lagow found Ricky Jones for 12 yards with five seconds remaining in the game. After a false start on Coy Cronk, Lagow’s desperation final throw that was intended for Donovan Hale was broken up by Kavika Luafatasaga to end the game.

The Hoosiers were unable to extend their 24-23 lead with 5:34 remaining in the game, as Griffin Oakes’ 40-yard field goal attempt went wide right to give the ball back to the Utes that ended with Phillips’ fourth field goal of the game.

With the win, Whittingham improved his bowl record to 10-1, marking the highest winning percentage in bowl games in NCAA history (minimum 10 bowl games).

Although they surged back in the end, the Utes started slowly. Kyle Fulks fumbled the opening kickoff and it was recovered by Hale at the Utes 11-yard line. Just three plays after the Fulks fumble, Lagow found for a seven-yard touchdown pass to give the Hoosiers a 7-0 lead just 47 seconds into the game.

But the Utes later took advantage of the Hoosiers’ sloppiness with the ball, recovering Lagow’s fumble in the first quarter at the Hoosiers 16-yard line. On the first play after the fumble, Williams scored from 16 yards out to give the Utes their first lead of the game. Devine Redding’s second quarter red zone fumble set up another Utah scoring drive, this time a nine play, 95-yard drive capped by a Tyler Huntley one-yard touchdown run, giving the Utes a 17-7 lead. The two teams combined for seven turnovers, a Foster Farms Bowl record.

After the Hoosiers and Utes exchanged punts, Oakes cut the Utes lead down to seven, when he hit a 24-yard field goal.

The Utes went three and out on their next series, and then the Hoosiers went right down the field to tie up the game. Zander Diamont threw his only pass of the night for a 36-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook that tied up the game. On the play, the Utes were called for defensive pass interference; however they declined the penalty due to the touchdown.

Phillips scored the only points of the third quarter, as he hit a 48-yard field goal to give the Utes the lead and then hit a 41-yard field goal to extend the Utes lead up to six points.

Redding got redemption for his earlier fumble inside the Utes five-yard line, as he gave the Hoosiers the last lead of the game when he scored from three yards out. Lagow came up huge on the drive, as he found Westbrook for 19 yards two plays prior to the Redding touchdown.

Williams fumbled the ball on the Utes next drive after replay confirmed he fumbled the ball before his knee hit the ground.

Following the Williams fumble, Oakes missed the 40-yard field goal that setup Phillips eventual game-winner.