1997 Plymouth Holiday Bowl
12/27/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Qualcomm Stadium -- San Diego, Ca.
The Missouri Tigers dodged deficiencies in their kicking game all season, but when the school's first bowl victory since 1981 was on the line, those problems swung the game's momentum in the direction of the Colorado State Rams.
The 20th Plymouth Holiday Bowl eventually turned on a punt return, a fumbled punt, and a fake field goal that enabled the WAC-champion Rams to win a 35-24 decision. After all-WAC quarterback Moses Moreno marched CSU to a touchdown on its first possession of the game, the Tigers got it in gear. A 65-yard drive to the CSU 15-yard line, highlighted by a 34-yard run by Corby Jones, culminated in a 32-yard FG by Scott Knickman.
In the second quarter, Missouri took the lead, first converting a fumble recovery by Donnell Jones into a short TD march that led to a four-yard scoring run by Corby Jones, then producing a 75-yard, all-on-the-ground drive that ended with a seven-yard touchdown run by Ernest Blackwell. Along the way, tailback Devin West got outside for a 40-yard gain.
In between the two MU touchdowns, Moreno passed 22 yards to Corey McCoy for a touchdown, but Missouri held a 17-14 halftime lead.
The second half, though, started ominously for MU. Ricky Ross fumbled the kickoff and the Tigers had to begin their first possession at their own 10-yard line. A 22-yard Jones-to-Kent Layman pass seemed to spark the Tigers, but the drive stalled near mid-field. Vince Sebo, who in the first half had kicked a Holiday Bowl-record 61-yard punt, booted the ball away to CSU's Darran Hall.
He took the ball at the 15-yard line, and avoided a tackle by Mizzou's Shad Criss -- many thought that Criss was clipped -- then sped untouched 85 yards for a backbreaking touchdown.
Just over two minutes later, the Rams padded their lead on a 47-yard Moreno-to-Dallas Davis touchdown pass. That followed a 31-yard run by tailback Damon Washington. Missouri closed to within 28-24 on its next possession. Jones gained 48 of the drive's 55 yards with a pair of runs, then MU career rushing king Brock Olivo stuck it in the endzone from three yards out.
Seemingly with the momentum back on their side, the Tigers were eager to begin the fourth quarter. MU held the Rams on three downs and were ready to accept a punt.
But Mizzou's Ross fumbled at his own 25-yard line and Ula Tuitele recovered at the 23. Again, the Tiger defense stiffened. Barry Odom stopped Moreno for a loss of two, then a holding penalty shoved the Rams back to the 42-yard line. A 19-yard pass from Moreno to Davis, and an incomplete pass, left Colorado State with a fourth-and-10 situation at the Missouri 23-yard line. Allowing a field goal would be a moral victory for the Tigers who would then trail by only a touchdown with nearly 11 minutes to play.
But CSU Coach Sonny Lubick chose to roll the dice. Holder Ryan Eslinger picked up the snap and ran up the middle 23-yards for a touchdown that surprised everyone. Now trailing 35-24, the Tigers had to discard their running game. Missouri managed one late drive in the final minutes, but Jones' final pass was intercepted at the 11-yard line and Colorado State ran out the clock.
Colorado State's Hall, a San Diego native playing in front of his hometown fans, was the game's MVP. In addition to his 85-yard punt return, he rushed once for 14 yards, caught four passes for 20 yards, and returned three kickoffs for 79 yards.
The Tigers gained 314 yards on the ground, including 132 from Jones and 104 from West, but their passing game lacked rhythm. A lengthy layoff since their last game (Nov. 15) was a big factor. Jones completed just 7-of-17 passes for 68 yards.
The experience, though, was good for the Tigers, who hadn't been to a bowl game since 1983. Sixteen returning starters for the 1998 campaign left an air of optimism with the Tiger faithful, who turned out strong in San Diego.
And Larry Smith knew what a prime emphasis would be during spring practice -- special teams.
| COLORADO STATE | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | -- | 35 |
| MISSOURI | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | -- | 24 |
| CS -- Hall 14 run (Franz kick) |
| MU -- 32 Knickman FG |
| MU -- Jones 3 run (Knickman kick) |
| CS -- McCoy 22 pass from Moreno (Franz kick) |
| MU -- Blackwell 7 run (Knickman kick) |
| CS -- Hall 85 punt return (Franz kick) |
| CS -- Davis 47 pass from Moreno (Franz kick) |
| MU -- Olivo 3 run (Knickman kick) |
| CS -- Eslinger 23 run (Franz kick) |
| ATT -- 50,761 |
| CSU | MU | |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 22 | 17 |
| Rushes-Yards | 43-214 | 46-314 |
| Passing | 18-24-0 | 7-17-1 |
| Passing Yards | 206 | 68 |
| Total Offense | 420 | 382 |
| Return Yards | 90 | 0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 | 3-2 |
| Penalties-Yards | 5-59 | 5-35 |
| Third Down Conv. | 5-12 | 7-17 |
| Time of Possession | 32:42 | 27:18 |
| RUSHING -- CS: McGougal 18-110, Washington 16-83, Hall 1-14, Moreno 7-(-16), Eslinger 1-23. MU:Jones 20-132, West 11-104, Olivo 7-38, Blackwell 6-31, Janes 2-9. |
| PASSING - CS: Moreno 18-24-0-206. MU: Jones 7-17-1-68. |
| RECEIVING--CS: Davis 6-115, Hall 4-20, McCoy 2-33, P. Turner 2-16, McDougal 1-12, Workman 1-7, G. Turner 1-3, Washington 1-0. MU: Brooks 2-26, Olivo 2-9, Layman 1-22, West 1-9, Blackwell 1-2. |
