1981 Holiday Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=1981 Holiday Bowl


Date=December 30, 1981
Year=1981
Visitor School=Brigham Young University
Visitor Name Short=BYU
Visitor Nickname=Cougars
Visitor Record=10-2
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=14
Visitor Coach=LaVell Edwards
Visitor1=7
Visitor2=17
Visitor3=7
Visitor4=7
Home School=Washington State University
Home Name Short=Washington State
Home Nickname=Cougars
Home Record=8-2-1
Home

Home Coaches=20
Home Coach=Jim Walden
Home1=0
Home2=7
Home3=21
Home4=8
Type=bg
Stadium=Qualcomm Stadium
City=San Diego, CA
Odds=
MVP=Offensive: Jim McMahon (BYU)
MVP=Defensive: Kyle Whittingham (BYU)
Anthem=
Attendance=52,419 [http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1981.html Holiday Bowl Game History] ]
Referee=
Halftime=Marching bands
US Network=ESPNThe 1981 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 1981 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the 14th ranked BYU Cougars, and the 20th ranked Washington State Cougars.

BYU took a 7-0 lead following a 35 yard touchdown pass from Jim McMahon to Dan Plater, to cap the only scoring of the 1st quarter. He threw a 7 yard pass to Gordon Hudson to increase BYU's lead to 14-0. Washington State got on the board after Ricky Turner scored on a 2 yard touchdown run. BYU's Kurt Gunther kicked a 20 yard field goal before halftime to put BYU on top 17-7. Hamilton scored on a 1 yard touchdown run, and BYU took a 24-7 halftime lead.

BYU cornerback Tom Holmoe intercepted a Washington State pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, as BYU made it 31-7, early in the third quarter. Washington State running back Matt LaBonne scored on an 18 yard touchdown run pulling WSU to within 31-14. Williams scored on a 5 yard run making it a 31-21 game. Ricky Turner scored on a 13 yard touchdown run making it 31-28 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Jim McMahon fired an 11 yard touchdown pass to Scott Pettis to make it 38-28. Mike Martin scored on a 1 yard touchdown run, and Ricky Turner added a 2 point conversion to make it 38-36. BYU recovered the ensuing onside kick to win the game.

External links

*http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1981.html

References

*ESPN College Football Encyclopedia