Fiesta Bowl
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2ND ANNUAL FIESTA BOWL
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Dec. 23, 1972 |
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Nobody thought that Fiesta Bowl I could be topped, but it took just one year to better the initial outing. Arizona State and Missouri combined to score more points than the first game, and the Sun Devils gained more yards than any other team in bowl history – 718. The two teams combined to score 84 points with Arizona State coming out on top, 49-35, in front of 51,318 fans.
ASU was unstoppable on offense, as Woody Green ran outside to gain 202 yards rushing and score four touchdowns, and Brent McClanahan ran inside overpowering Missouri defenders to romp for 171 yards. The Sun Devils amassed 452 yards on the ground, far and away a bowl record. ASU quarterback Danny White had another successful Fiesta Bowl, completing 13 of 23 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Both TD strikes went to Ed Beverly on 34- and 53-yard connections.
Missouri was not without its heroes. Defensive back Mike Fink, voted the game’s top defensive player, ran back a fourth-quarter kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and also picked off a White pass to set up another score. Halfback Tommy Reamon accounted for 155 yards on 17 carries, including the game’s final touchdown on a 31-yard jaunt.
Arizona State jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead, but Missouri came out of the locker room after the break and scored two quick touchdowns to pull within 28-21.
ASU took what looked to be a commanding 35-21 lead on a two-yard scamper by Green. But Fink took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to keep the Tigers in the game. However, the Sun Devils added two more fourth quarter touchdowns and walked away with their second Fiesta Bowl victory in as many years.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Arizona State | 14 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 49 |
| Missouri | 0 | 7 | 14 |
14 |
35 |
HOW THEY SCORED
| UM | ASU | |
| 0 | 7 | Woody Green 2 yard run (Juan Cruz kick) |
| 0 | 14 | Green 12 yard run (Cruz kick) |
| 7 | 14 | Don Johnson 1 yard run (Greg Hill kick) |
| 7 | 21 | Brent McClanahan 1 yard run (Cruz kick) |
| 7 | 28 | Ed Beverly 34 yard pass from Danny White (Cruz kick) |
| 13 | 28 | Chuck Link 48 yard pass from John Cherry (kick failed) |
| 21 | 28 | Link 4 yard pass from Cherry (Link pass from Cherry) |
| 21 | 35 | Green 2 yard run (Cruz kick) |
| 28 | 35 | Mike Fink 100 yard kickoff return (Hill kick) |
| 28 | 42 | Beverly 53 yard pass from White (Cruz kick) |
| 28 | 49 | Green 21 yard run (Cruz kick) |
| 35 | 49 | Tommy Reamon 31 yard run (Hill kick) |
YARDSTICK
| UM | ASU | |
| 16 | First Downs | 33 |
| 44-229 | Rushes-Yards | 65-452 |
| 182 | Passing Yards | 266 |
| 12-27-3 | Passes | 13-24-3 |
| 61 | Return Yards | 44 |
| 6-37.8 | Punts | 3-43.6 |
| 1-0 | Fumbles-Lost | 2-1 |
| 2-10 | Penalties - Yards | 6-50 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - MISSOURI: Tommy Reamon 17-155, Don Johnson 12-41, Jimmy Smith 4-16, John Cherry 9-12, Ray Bybee 1-3, Leroy Moss 1-2. ARIZONA STATE: Woody Green 25-202, Brent McClanahan 26-171, Ben Malone 6-29, Danny White 4-25, Alonzo Emery 3-25, Jim Brady 1-0.
PASSING - MISSOURI: John Cherry 12-27-3-182. ARIZONA STATE: Danny White 13-23-3-266, Jim Brady 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING - MISSOURI: Chuck Link 5-80, John Bastable 3-63, Tommy Reamon 2-15, Jim Sharp 1-12, Henry Marshall 1-12. ARIZONA STATE: Joe Petty 5-85, Steve Holden 4-53, Ed Beverly 3-103, Brent McClanahan 1-25.
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