5.12/23/83 – 1983 Holiday Bowl: #9 BYU – 21, Missouri - 17
The #9 ranked Cougars (10-1) headed to San Diego sporting a ten game winning streak. Senior QB Steve Young had broken 13 NCAA records en route to winning the Davey O’Brien and Sammy Baugh awards as the nation’s best QB. Unfortunately, their All-American tight end, Gordon Hudson was injured and unavailable for the bowl game. Their opponents, the Missouri Tigers (7-4), finished tied for second in the Big Eight (5-2), and their resume included a 10-0 shutout of then #11 Oklahoma. The two teams featured opposing offensive philosophies: Missouri’s ground assault vs. BYU’s aerial attack.
On the opening drive, Missouri tried to establish their running game, but only managed one first down. BYU, on the other had, came out passing. The Tigers’ defense responded with a sack and an interception. Starting their next possession on the BYU 43-yard line, The Tigers stuck with the run, pounding their way to the Cougar goal line, and scoring when FB Eric Drain pummeled his way into the end zone from two yards out. On BYU’s next drive, QB Steve Young showed off both his legs and his arm, but the drive once again ended with a Tiger interception. Neither team could muster much offense for the remainder of the quarter.
On their first drive of the second quarter, the Cougars made it all the way to the Missouri 10-yard lane with a mix of running and passing plays, as well as a couple of penalties called against the Tigers. From there, Steve Young scrambled up the middle on a quarterback draw, slipping out of grasp of a couple of defenders to twist his way into the end zone to tie the game. Coming the other way, Missouri was able to march into Cougar territory, but were stopped outside of field goal range. Instead, their QB/punter, Marlon Alder, placed his punt on the Cougar 2-yard line. Using their legs, the Cougars managed to get some breathing room with a first down, but then Young gave up his third interception on a deflected pass. Starting at the Cougar 30-yard line, Missouri came close to converting the first down, but on third-and-one, DT Brad Smith slipped through the line and sacked the QB before he could pitch the ball to his fullback. Instead, Missouri had to settle for the field goal. In the final minute of play, Missouri drove to the Cougar 30, but Kyle Morrell was able to knock the pass free of the receiver’s hands and Todd Shell was able to grab it for the Cougars, diffusing the threat.
Down 10-7 in the third quarter, the Cougars’ first drive ended with a fumble in Cougar territory. Missouri drove down to the Cougar 9-yard line on a quarterback keeper that resulted in a first down. Unfortunately for Missouri, their QB was injured on the play. Backup QB Warren Seitz came in to try and put Missouri up by ten; however, on third-and-three, the Tigers fumbled the ball and John Young of BYU recovered. Steve Young drove the Cougars all the way down to the Tiger 15-yard line, but was sacked on third down. Lee Johnson’s FG attempt sliced wide left, leaving the Cougars down by three. On the ensuing drive, Missouri fumbled the ball, and BYU recovered at the Missouri 33-yard line. On their first play from scrimmage, Young dumped the ball over the middle to RB Eddie Stinnett, who raced to the end zone to give BYU their first lead of the game 14-10.
To open the fourth quarter, Seitz orchestrated the Tigers’ longest drive of the half. The 80-yard drive culminated with Eric Drain barreling into the end zone from two yards out - again. Once again, Missouri led by three, 17-14. BYU responded by driving to midfield, but then fumbled the ball away for their fifth turnover of the game. Sniffing blood, the Tigers drove deep into Cougar territory. On third-and-four, camped on the Cougar 10-yard line, Missouri stuck with the run, but the Cougar D kept them from converting the first down despite losing another defender to injury. Rather than kick the FG on fourth-and-one, Missouri went for the first down, but the Cougar D stuffed the leaping Tiger fullback just inches short of the first down marker. With Missouri clinging to a 3-point lead, and 3:57 remaining, BYU took over at their own 6-yard line. After completing a first down pass to Mike Eddo on their first play, Young was sacked, but managed to hang onto the ball. On second-and-long, Young scrambled left and launched a 53-yard pass to Eddo again, who was tackled at the Tiger 36-yard line. On third-and-one, with less than a minute to play, Young was sacked again, and the ball popped loose. Luckily, a BYU player snatched the ball out of the hands of a Missouri defender and the Cougars called their final time out to discuss their fourth down options with 0:37 remaining. Facing fourth-and-ten, at the Missouri 25-yard line, they went for the first down with a short slant pass to Waymon Hamilton, who was knocked out of bounds just past the first down marker. With just over 30 seconds remaining, offensive coordinator Norm Chow called for “fake ride 28 QB screen left” - a trick play the Cougars had practiced mostly for fun. *Young handed the ball off to RB Eddie Stinnett, who sprinted right, suddenly stopped, and heaved an off-balance “flea-flicker pass” to Young, who had run left. Young caught the ball over the outstretched fingers of defensive star Bobby Bell, dodged tacklers, and sprinted over the goal line for the winning touchdown (#3). The Tigers still had 23 seconds left, and got the ball past midfield. Seitz tried several long passes, but the Cougars’ Kyle Morrell intercepted the final pass at the 2-yard line to seal the win.
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Eddie Stinnett Courtesy of BYU Photo |
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Legacy Hall |
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| Steve Young Memorabilia Legacy Hall |
Game link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXR3DDAJjhI
*BYU Tv's Top 100 plays in BYU Football TV history (updated 12/12/20 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYzgPw-bQ_c)
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