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1997 Fiesta Bowl (December)


FieldValue
year_game_played1997
title_sponsorTostitos
game_nameFiesta Bowl
subheader27th Fiesta Bowl
image[[Image:Fiesta Bowl logo pre-2007.png150px]]
football_season1997
visitor_name_shortKansas State
visitor_nicknameWildcats
visitor_schoolKansas State University
home_name_shortSyracuse
home_nicknameOrangemen
home_schoolSyracuse University
visitor_record10-1
visitor_conferenceBig 12
home_record9-3
home_conferenceBig East
visitor_coachBill Snyder
home_coachPaul Pasqualoni
visitor_rank_AP10
visitor_rank_coaches9
visitor_rank_bowlalliance10
home_rank_AP14
home_rank_coaches14
home_rank_bowlalliance14
visitor_1q0
visitor_2q21
visitor_3q0
visitor_4q14
home_1q3
home_2q12
home_3q0
home_4q3
date_game_playedDecember 31
stadiumSun Devil Stadium
cityTempe, Arizona
oddsKansas State by 4
refereeDavid Witvoet (Big Ten)
attendance69,367
us_networkCBS
us_announcers_linkList of announcers of major college bowl games
us_announcersTim Brando and Ed Cunningham
different_previous[1997 (Jan)](1997-fiesta-bowl-january)
different_next[1999](1999-fiesta-bowl)
Note

the Fiesta Bowl that followed the 1997 season, played on December 31, 1997

The 1997 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Kansas State Wildcats and the Syracuse Orangemen on December 31, 1997, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Kansas State defeated Syracuse, 35-18. The game was part of the 1997-1998 Bowl Alliance of the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season and represented the concluding game of the season for both teams.

First Quarter

The Orangemen jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the first of Nate Trout’s three field goals.

Second Quarter

Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop led the Wildcats to three-consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter. Following a failed fake field goal attempt by Syracuse, Bishop completed a 19-yard pass to Darnell McDonald. Bishop then followed with a 12-yard TD rush on their next possession, and ended with a 28-yard completion to Justin Swift on a tight end screen. Syracuse came back to score 12 points in the final 2:18 to cut the lead to 21–15 at the half.

Third Quarter

No scoring occurred.

Fourth Quarter

McDonald caught a 77-yard TD play from a long pass along the sidelines, and then followed with a 41-yard reception with 3:17 remaining to seal the game away.

Aftermath

Kansas State

Bishop threw for four touchdown passes, completing a career-high 14 passes for a career-best 317 yards. He finished the game with 390 yards in total offense including 317 yards passing and 73 yards rushing.

McDonald caught seven of Bishop’s passes for a school-record of 206 yards and three touchdowns. His 77-yard reception in the fourth quarter was the longest in Fiesta Bowl history.

Swift caught a career-high five passes for a career-high 98 yards and one touchdown.

Bishop earned the Offensive Player of the Game award, while KSU linebacker Travis Ochs, was named Defensive Player of the Game after he had an interception and fumble recovery.

Syracuse

Quarterback Donovan McNabb threw for 271 yards and ran for 81 yards, but completed just 16 of 39 passes.

Syracuse’s eight-game bowl game win streak had ended.

References

References

  1. "Fiesta Bowl Odds and Betting History".
  2. (29 December 2022). "1997 Syracuse football rewind: Orange fall in Fiesta Bowl". [[Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician]].
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