Lynn Bowden Jr. set record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a bowl game with help from Landon Young and The Big Blue Wall in Kentucky’s Belk Bowl victory
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lynn Bowden Jr. capped his record-breaking season with a performance for the ages that earned him postseason honors from four outlets, while offensive tackle Landon Young represented The Big Blue Wall that paved the way for the quarterback’s big day in Kentucky’s thrilling 37-30 victory over Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl.
Bowden was named to the All-Bowl Team by the Associated Press, ESPN.com, Sports Illustrated and USA Today after dissecting the Hokies in an unforgettable show. Young was honored by USA Today as the Cats’ offensive line proved once again to be one of the nation’s best units.
In his final collegiate game, Bowden rushed 34 times for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 6 of 12 passes for 73 yards, including the game-winning 13-yard TD with 15 seconds left, earning the game’s Most Valuable Player honors. He handled the ball on 16 of the 18 plays in UK’s game-winning drive, including converting a pair of fourth downs to keep the march alive.
Of note from his Belk Bowl performance:
- Bowden’s 233 rushing yards are an NCAA record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a bowl game.
- It was his third 200-yard rushing game of the season, tying Moe Williams for most 200-yard rushing games in a season and career.
- 306 yards total offense are a career high.
- His 61-yard touchdown run is a career long, eclipsing the 60-yard TD run vs. Louisville.
- Bowden rushed for 1,468 yards this year, second-most for a single season in school history.
- This was his seventh 100-yard rushing game, extending his single-season school record for the most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback.
- During his eight games as the starting QB, Bowden rushed for 1,369 yards – most for a Wildcat in an eight-game span since Moe Williams in 1995 (1,389 in an eight-game span).
- The 1,369 yards during his eight games at quarterback is a school record for most rushing yards in a season by a QB.
- Bowden has 1,530 career rushing yards as a Wildcat, moving into 21st place on the UK career rushing list.
- He averaged 7.94 yards per rushing attempt this season to lead all of FBS, while also breaking Stanley “Boom” Williams’ record of 7.1 per attempt in 2015.
- UK has a 6-2 record since Bowden took over as starting quarterback.
- He now has 4,660 all-purpose yards in his career, finishing his career in fifth place in UK history.
Bowden, the winner of the Paul Hornung Award for the nation’s most versatile player, etched his name into program lore this season after injuries at quarterback forced him to return to the position for the first time since high school. All the junior did was set a school record for career and single-season rushing yards by a quarterback, break the SEC’s single-game rushing mark by a quarterback, turn in the second-highest single-game rushing total in UK history, highest single-season yards per rush attempt average and deliver at least 100 rushing yards in seven of his eight starts at quarterback (and miss an eighth by a single yard vs. Georgia). The Wildcats won six of his eight starts at quarterback while advancing to a fourth-straight bowl game and re-writing the school’s record books for rushing production.
The Youngstown, Ohio native averaged 7.94 yards per rushing attempt, breaking Stanley “Boom” Williams’ record of 7.1 per attempt in 2015 and leading FBS this season. He finished with 4,660 all-purpose yards in his career, fifth in UK history and had 1,530 career rushing yards as a Wildcat, moving into 21st place on the UK career rushing list. He also ranks 13th on UK’s career receptions list with 114 and is 18th on the career receiving yards list with 1,303 yards. His 1,468 rushing yards this season is the second-highest single-season total in school history behind Moe Williams’ 1,600 in 1995.
