NCAA Football Recap (Colorado St-Missouri)
Posted: Tues December 30, 1997 at 12:44 a.m EST
Darran Hall set a Holiday Bowl record with an 85-yard punt
return early in the third quarter as Colorado State
concluded the best season in school history with a 35-24 victory
over Missouri at San Diego.
The Rams (11-2), who also won just the second bowl game in
school history, surpassed their previous best of 10-2 set in
1994. Since becoming coach in 1993, Sonny Lubick has led
Colorado State to a 41-19 mark.
"I'm so proud of our football team...This is a benchmark for
Colorado State," said Lubick. "It's the first time we've won 11
games in the history of the University."
Hall also scored on a 14-yard reverse on the game's first drive
for Colorado State, which defeated Oregon, 32-31, in the 1990
Freedom Bowl for its only prior bowl win. The Rams were playing
in the Holiday Bowl for the third time in the 1990s, having lost
to Michigan and Kansas State in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
The Rams, who defeated New Mexico, 41-13, on December 6th to
claim their third Western Athletic Conference title in four
seasons, finished the year with nine consecutive victories.
Colorado State quarterback Moses Moreno, who was hampered
throughout with a bad right elbow and sprained right foot,
completed 18-of-24 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
Moreno entered the game ranked ninth in the nation in passing
efficiency.
Missouri finished at 7-5, its best record since posting the same
mark in 1983. The Tigers were appearing in their 21st bowl game
despite a 14-year absence from the postseason. They dropped to
8-13 all-time in bowl games.
Colorado State trailed 17-14 early in the third quarter when
Hall fielded Vince Sebo's punt on his own 15-yard line, broke to
his left and raced untouched for his ninth touchdown of the
season.
As per Holiday Bowl tradition, there were plenty of big plays.
On the Rams' next possession, Moreno found Dallas Davis on a fly
pattern down the left sideline for a 47-yard score.
The Tigers came back just over two minutes later, cutting the
deficit to 28-24 on Brock Olivo's three-yard run.
The turning point occured with just over 12 minutes to play.
Missouri had stopped Colorado State and was set to get back the
ball when returner Ricky Ross muffed Preston Loos' punt inside
his own 30.
A holding penalty backed up the Rams near midfield, but on
4th-and-10 from the 23, Lubick called for a fake field goal.
Backup quarterback Ryan Eslinger took the snap from center and
burst straight up the middle, scampering basicaly untouched for
the score.
"There was kind of a lot of pressure on me," Eslinger said.
"This was may chance. I'd better get my butt through there."
"I blame myself for that," said Ross on the dropped punt. "I've
made much better decisions all season. I wanted to make a play.
I took it upon myself to make big plays.
The Holiday Bowl is known for its wild high-scoring games. Last
year, Colorado defeated Washington, 33-21, and in 1995, Kansas
State routed Colorado State, 54-21. The highest-scoring game in
Holiday Bowl history occurred in 1989, when Penn State beat
Brigham Young, 50-39.
"Everyone on our team gave 100 percent," said Olivo. I do not
question anyone's effort. Things did not to our way. I'm
feeling frustration right now...no satisfaction. Sometimes
things just don't go your way."
Colorado State received the opening kickoff and drove 86 yards
in 13 plays over 6:57, taking the lead when Hall took a reverse
handoff from running back Kevin McDougal and sprinted 14 yards
into the end zone. McDougal led the Rams with 110 yards on 18
carries.
The Tigers cut into the lead with just over two minutes to play
in the first quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Scott Knickman
and took the lead six minutes later on a four-yard run by
quarterback Corby Jones.
Jones gained 132 yards on 20 carries but completed just 8-of-17
for 68 yards and one interception.
The Rams immediately fought back, covering 74 yards in just two
plays and 17 seconds. After McDougal broke a 52-yard run to the
Missouri 22, Moreno hit a streaking Corey McCoy in the back
right corner of the end zone for a 22-yard score and a 14-10
lead.
"The coach called a fade and told me to give the guy a little
move and I just wanted to make a big play," said McCoy. "We
were struggling at that point in the game."
But Missouri responded with a 75-yard drive in just over two
minutes, taking the 17-14 halftime lead with a seven-yard run by
Ernest Blackwell.
"What hurt us the most was that Colorado State made some big
plays on the kicking game and the passing game, and won with the
reverse," Missouri coach Larry Smith said. "We're not good
playing catch-up right now. I think the put return was
definitely the momentum change in the game. The fake field goal
was not unexpected."
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