The 1997 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 29, 1997, in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Colorado State Rams from the Western Athletic Conference, and the Missouri Tigers from the Big 12 Conference.

1997 Plymouth Holiday Bowl
1234 Total
Colorado State 77147 35
Missouri 31470 24
DateDecember 29, 1997
Season1997
StadiumQualcomm Stadium
LocationSan Diego, California
MVPOffensive: Moses Moreno (Colorado State)
Halftime showMarching bands
Attendance50,761[1]
PayoutUS$1,409,533 per team[1]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersRich Waltz and Rod Gilmore
Holiday Bowl
 < 1996  1998

Colorado State opened the scoring following a 14-yard touchdown run from running back Darran Hall, giving CSU an early 7–0 lead. Scott Knickman got Missouri on the board after he drilled a 32-yard field goal, getting Missouri within 7–3. In the second quarter, Missouri scored on a 4-yard touchdown run from quarterback Corby Jones, giving the Tigers a 10–7 lead.

Colorado State quarterback Moses Moreno found wide receiver Corey McCoy for a 22-yard touchdown pass, and Colorado State reclaimed the lead at 14–10. Missouri's Ernest Blackwell scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, again shifting the lead to the Tigers, 17–14.

In the third quarter, Colorado State reclaimed the lead following an 85-yard punt return from Darren Hall, putting the Rams up 21–17. Moses Moreno later found wide receiver Dallas Davis on a 47-yard pass to increase Colorado State's lead to 28–17. Missouri's Brock Olivo scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, pulling Missouri to within 28–24. Ryan Eslinger's 23-yard touchdown run gave Colorado State a 35–24 lead, and the final score held up.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Holiday Bowl Game History". Archived from the original on November 16, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2008.