The 2003 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 30 in San Diego, California, part of the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Washington State Cougars, and the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns. Washington State pulled off a 28–20 upset,[3][4][5] and moved up to ninth in the final rankings.

2003 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
1234 Total
Washington State 07192 28
Texas 010010 20
DateDecember 30, 2003
Season2003
StadiumQualcomm Stadium
LocationSan Diego, California
MVPOffense: Sammy Moore, WSU
Defense: Kyle Basler, WSU
FavoriteTexas by 9 points[1]
RefereeRandy Smith (Big East)
Halftime showMarching bands
Attendance61,102[2]
PayoutUS$2,013,616 per team[2]
United States TV coverage
AnnouncersESPN
Holiday Bowl
 < 2002  2004

Scoreless after the first quarter, Texas running back Cedric Benson scored in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run. Washington State tied the game following a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Kegel to wide receiver Sammy Moore. Following a 39-yard field goal, Texas held a 10–7 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Washington State outscored Texas by nineteen points. They took their first lead at 13–10 on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Kegel to Moore. Jonathan Smith rushed 12 yards for a touchdown increasing the lead to 20–10, and the Cougars extended their lead to 26–10 lead after Jason David returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown.

Early in the fourth quarter, Texas was held to a field goal; WSU led by thirteen, and the Cougars added a safety as Texas was flagged for holding in their own end zone. Chance Mock threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Roy Williams to pull Texas to within 28–20 with over four minutes remaining, but that was the end of the scoring.[4][5]

References edit

  1. ^ "The Latest Line". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). December 29, 2003. p. E6.
  2. ^ a b "Holiday Bowl History". Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  3. ^ Wilson, Bernie (December 31, 2003). "Cougars make it a special Holiday". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. B1.
  4. ^ a b Grummert, Dale (December 31, 2003). "Cougalicious". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  5. ^ a b Fox, Tom (December 31, 2003). "Happy Holiday". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). p. 1B.