2004 Fiesta Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Tostitos
Fiesta Bowl, played on January 2, 2004, was the 33rd edition of the Fiesta Bowl
. The game pitted #7 Ohio State
against #8 Kansas State
. It was a match-up between a perennial powerhouse in Ohio State, and a school that was only recently accustomed to winning in Kansas State. Despite Kansas State's historically losing record, head coach Bill Snyder
had turned around the program in the decade prior to the bowl game, and K-State was actually making its second Fiesta Bowl appearance in 7 years.
Kansas State was the Big 12 Conference
Champion, and came into the game on a seven game win streak, winning those games by an average of 39–9. In the game immediately prior to the Fiesta Bowl, Kansas State had soundly defeated #1-ranked Oklahoma 35–7 in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, the K-State team was badly distracted one night before the bowl game when its quarterback
and team leader Ell Roberson
was accused of sexual assault. (No charges were ultimately filed against Roberson.) In fact, it was not known whether Roberson would play until gametime. Kansas State had been favored to win by 7 points, but some casinos pulled the line over the uncertainty about Roberson.
Despite being outgained 378–337 in the bowl game, and having a turnover margin of -1, Ohio State prevailed 35–28. It was Ohio State's second straight Fiesta Bowl
win; they went on to win another one in 2006
.
, and Ohio State opened up an early 7–0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, Ohio State's quarterback Craig Krenzel
fired a pass to Santonio Holmes
for a 6-yard touchdown, and Ohio State extended its lead to 14–0. In the second quarter, Krenzel fired a 17 yard pass to Michael Jenkins for his second touchdown pass. At this point, Ohio State appeared to have the game under control, as it had a 21–0 lead. But Kansas State wouldn't quit. The Wildcats' star running back Darren Sproles
ran 6 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21–7. Kansas State's defense stopped Ohio State on their next position, and the first half ended with the same score.
With 9 minutes to go in the third quarter, Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson scrambled 14 yards for a touchdown, and Kansas State closed the gap to 21–14. It appeared as though Kansas State was back in the game, but Ohio State wouldn't be denied. With 4 minutes to go in the third quarter Krenzel found Michael Jenkins again for an 8-yard touchdown. Ohio State's lead went back to 14, and the score was 28-14. Later, with only 36 seconds left in the third quarter, Craig Krenzel found Santonio Holmes again for a 31-yard touchdown, and Ohio State led 35–14.
Kansas State's Ayo Saba ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and the score was 35–21. Later on, Ell Roberson found the end zone for the second time, and the score was 35–28. However, it was too little, too late for the Wildcats, as there was only 2:47 left to go in the game. Ohio State recovered an onside kick
, and melted the clock to preserve a 35–28 win. Craig Krenzel, with his 4 touchdown passes, was named the Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP.
http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Fiesta_2004.htm
Tostitos
Tostitos is a brand of tortilla chips and dips produced by Frito-Lay and introduced in 1979, with national distribution in the United States reached in 1981. They are made from all-white corn. Traditionally, Tostitos chips contain no extra flavoring or preservatives, and thus are advertised to be...
Fiesta Bowl, played on January 2, 2004, was the 33rd edition of the Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
. The game pitted #7 Ohio State
2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2003-2004. The team's head coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State finished the season with a record of 11-2 and placed second in the...
against #8 Kansas State
2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team
The 2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 2003-2004. The team's head football coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 11 and 4, and a...
. It was a match-up between a perennial powerhouse in Ohio State, and a school that was only recently accustomed to winning in Kansas State. Despite Kansas State's historically losing record, head coach Bill Snyder
Bill Snyder
Bill Snyder is the head football coach at Kansas State University. He was rehired to the position on November 24, 2008, making Snyder one of the rare college football head coaches to have non-consecutive tenure at the same school. Snyder previously served as head coach at the school from 1989 to...
had turned around the program in the decade prior to the bowl game, and K-State was actually making its second Fiesta Bowl appearance in 7 years.
Kansas State was the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Champion, and came into the game on a seven game win streak, winning those games by an average of 39–9. In the game immediately prior to the Fiesta Bowl, Kansas State had soundly defeated #1-ranked Oklahoma 35–7 in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, the K-State team was badly distracted one night before the bowl game when its quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and team leader Ell Roberson
Ell Roberson
Ell Roberson III is a former quarterback for the Kansas State Wildcats from 1999-2003. During his senior year, he was 6'1" tall and weighed 209 pounds...
was accused of sexual assault. (No charges were ultimately filed against Roberson.) In fact, it was not known whether Roberson would play until gametime. Kansas State had been favored to win by 7 points, but some casinos pulled the line over the uncertainty about Roberson.
Despite being outgained 378–337 in the bowl game, and having a turnover margin of -1, Ohio State prevailed 35–28. It was Ohio State's second straight Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
win; they went on to win another one in 2006
2006 Fiesta Bowl
The 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, played on January 2, 2006, was the 35th edition of the Fiesta Bowl, featuring Notre Dame and Ohio State. Ohio State won the game 34–20....
.
Game summary
Kansas State won the coin toss, and elected to defer. Ohio State's first drive stalled, but its punt gave Kansas State horrible field position. On Kansas State's first drive, they went 3 and out, and were forced to punt from their 7-yard line. Harlem Jacobs of Ohio State blocked the K-State punt and John Hollins returned it 7 yards for a touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
, and Ohio State opened up an early 7–0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, Ohio State's quarterback Craig Krenzel
Craig Krenzel
Craig Krenzel is a former college and professional American football quarterback. He is currently a radio commentator for WBNS 97.1 The FAN in Columbus, which broadcasts the Ohio State Buckeyes football games.-High school career:...
fired a pass to Santonio Holmes
Santonio Holmes
Santonio Holmes Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft after playing college football at Ohio State...
for a 6-yard touchdown, and Ohio State extended its lead to 14–0. In the second quarter, Krenzel fired a 17 yard pass to Michael Jenkins for his second touchdown pass. At this point, Ohio State appeared to have the game under control, as it had a 21–0 lead. But Kansas State wouldn't quit. The Wildcats' star running back Darren Sproles
Darren Sproles
Darren Lee Sproles is an American football running back of the NFL who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
ran 6 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21–7. Kansas State's defense stopped Ohio State on their next position, and the first half ended with the same score.
With 9 minutes to go in the third quarter, Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson scrambled 14 yards for a touchdown, and Kansas State closed the gap to 21–14. It appeared as though Kansas State was back in the game, but Ohio State wouldn't be denied. With 4 minutes to go in the third quarter Krenzel found Michael Jenkins again for an 8-yard touchdown. Ohio State's lead went back to 14, and the score was 28-14. Later, with only 36 seconds left in the third quarter, Craig Krenzel found Santonio Holmes again for a 31-yard touchdown, and Ohio State led 35–14.
Kansas State's Ayo Saba ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and the score was 35–21. Later on, Ell Roberson found the end zone for the second time, and the score was 35–28. However, it was too little, too late for the Wildcats, as there was only 2:47 left to go in the game. Ohio State recovered an onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
, and melted the clock to preserve a 35–28 win. Craig Krenzel, with his 4 touchdown passes, was named the Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP.
http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Fiesta_2004.htm