Jack Murphy Stadium -- San Diego, Ca.

The 1983 Holiday Bowl was a clash of two conflicting styles. Missouri, led by sophomore fullback Eric Drain and walkon quarterback Marlon Adler, boasted a tough running game and a feared defense. Brigham Young, on the other hand had highly touted Steve Young at quarterback with 4,216 yards passing and a bag of tricks. In the end, it was the last trick out of the bag which gave BYU a 21-17 victory.

In a see-saw game which saw four lead changes, Missouri held a 17-14 lead and the ball on fourth down at the Cougar 7. The clock showed 3:57 left in the game. Drain, the offensive player of the game with 115 yards rushing and both Mizzou touchdowns, got the call and was stopped short. Still the Cougars had 93 yards to go to win the game.

After defensive player of the game Bobby Bell sacked Young, his fourth sack of the game, on second down, Tiger hopes were high. They went down quickly on the next play, when Young lofted a pass to Mike Eddo for 53 of BYU's 328 passing yards.

The most important yards, though, were yet to come. On fourth and 10 from the MU 25, Young completed a 11-yard strike. Then came the razzle-dazzle.

After throwing for 314 yards in the game, Steve Young suddenly assumed a new role, but one at which he was equally successful. Young became a receiver. As he pitched to halfback Eddie Stinnett, Young went out on a pass pattern. Stinnett floated a pass just over the reach of Missouri's Bell and into Young's waiting arms for the winning touchdown with 23 seconds left.

Despite 314 yards passing from Young, Mizzou contained the Cougar quarterback for most of the game. They sacked him five times and intercepted him three. But in the end, it was Young's pass catching, not throwing, that did in the Tigers.

Mizzou had a chance earlier to pad its lead, but freshman Jon Redd coughed up the ball twice, once at the Cougar three and once at the Tiger 32. The Cougars converted the second fumble into a touchdown to stay within striking distance.