NCAA Football Recap (Syracuse-Kansas St)
Posted: Wed December 31, 1997 at 11:50 p.m. EST
Michael Bishop threw four touchdown passes and ran for another
score as Kansas State closed out the best season in
school history with a 35-18 victory over Syracuse in
the Fiesta Bowl at Tempe, Arizona.
Darnell McDonald had three touchdowns on seven receptions for a
Fiesta Bowl-record 206 yards for Kansas State (11-1), which was
making just the sixth bowl appearance in school history. The
Wildcats lost in last season's Cotton Bowl, 19-15, to Brigham
Young, their only other appearance in a "major" bowl game.
Bishop, who was ranked 43rd in the nation in passing efficiency,
was 14-of-23 for 317 yards. Both Bishop and McDonald, who tied
a Fiesta Bowl record with three scoring receptions, were
copmleting their first seasons at Kansas State after
transferring from junior colleges. Bishop also was the
Wildcats' leading rusher, gaining 73 yards on 15 carries.
The Wildcats, playing in a bowl game for the fifth straight
season, have won nine or more games during that stretch. Prior
to 1993, they had only won nine or more games in a season once.
Donovan McNabb completed 16-of-39 passes for 271 yards while
gaining 81 yards on 16 carries for Syracuse (9-4), which had its
eight-game winning streak snapped and fell for the first time in
its last seven postseason games, the fifth longest streak in
history.
The Orangemen, who claimed their first-ever outright Big East
Conference title this season, also played in the Fiesta Bowl on
New Year's Day 1993, defeating Colorado, 26-22. They had not
lost in the postseason since falling to Maryland, 35-18, in the
1985 Cherry Bowl.
Kevin Johnson had four receptions for 101 yards and added a
55-kickoff return for Syracuse, while Nathan Trout booted a
Fiesta Bowl record-tying three field goals.
The two teams combined for one of the wildest quarters in recent
bowl history in the second period, producing 33 points,
Johnson's 55-yard return, a bad snap that resulted in a safety
and a field goal four seconds before halftime.
Kansas State survived 12-consecutive Syracuse points in the last
two minutes of the second quarter and appeared to be on the
verge of building on a 21-15 advantage early in the third. But
Bishop, under heavy pressure, threw up a prayer that cornerback
Will Allen intercepted in the end zone.
The teams combined for just 87 total yards in the third quarter,
with Kansas State holding the advantage, 69-18.
Early in the fourth quarter, Bishop, under pressure again,
scrambled right and hit McDonald 30 yards down the sideline.
McDonald was pushed toward the sideline by cornerback Rod Gadson
but remained inbounds and sprinted for a Fiesta Bowl-record
77-yard score.
Syracuse tried to fight back as Trout connected on a 40-yard
field goal with 10 minutes to play. But McNabb's fumble inside
the Kansas State 15-yard line on the next possession killed the
rally.
The Wildcats capped the scoring with 3:17 remaining with Bishop
connecting with McDonald on a 41-yard score.
After the Orangemen took the lead late in the first quarter on
Trout's 27-yard field goal, Kansas State drove to the Syracuse
25 and set up for a field goal attempt. But Martin Gramatica,
who won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker, pushed
the 52-yarder wide right for only his second miss of the season.
He also missed on a second tr in the third quarter.
The Wildcats began the wild second quarter when Bishop lofted a
pass into the left corner of the end zone for McDonald, who
outjumped cornerback Phil Nash for the 19-yard score.
Bishop followed with a 12-yard scrambling TD and a 14-3 lead.
Just over three minutes later, Kansas State reached the end zone
again as Bishop tossed a screen pass for Justin Swift, who broke
several tackles and rambled 28 yards for the score.
But the Orangemen gained the momentum on the ensuing kickoff,
when Johnson broke to his left near the 20 and raced to the
Kansas State 45. The Orangmen cut into the lead two plays later
a s freshman Dee Brown broke through the line and raced 28 yards
for a score.
With the Wildcats at their own 10, Bishop could not handle the
snap from center Kendyl Jacox, resulting in a safety. The
Orangemen converted the free kick into a 33-yard field goal by
Trout four seconds before halftime.
© 1997 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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