The stage curtains open ...
The question posed at the outset of this game was, "Can the little dog run with the big dog?" The answer was a resounding "Yes!"
In the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Glendale, AZ in the University of Phoenix Stadium (now know as State Farm Stadium) - home to the NFL team Arizona Cardinals - The favored Oklahoma Sooners (#8) faced the underdog Boise State Broncos (#9) in what has become known as one of the greatest games of football to ever be played.
Boise State came out on fire, scoring the first 14 points. The little dog wasn't only running with the big dog, it was out-pacing him. The Sooners bounced back and made it game with a halftime score of 21-10. In the 3rd quarter, the little dog scored again making it 28-10 and had the game well in hand ... or so they thought. The Sooners came storming back with 25 unanswered points to take a late lead 35-28 with only 1:02 left in the game. You could hear the groans of frustration and disappointment echoing across the Bronco Nation. Then the miracles happened.
What has become one of the most famous plays in college football history happened on 4th down - do or die time - with a hook and lateral that carried the Broncos for a 35 yd TD. The extra point was good tying the game with only 7 seconds left in regulation. The game then went into OT. In Overtime, the Sooners struck first with a TD and extra point to take the lead. Boise State answered with a 2nd trick play to score a TD, but then opted to go for the win with a 2-pt conversion attempt. And the final miracle happened - the 3rd trick play which was a variation of the statue of liberty play. QB Jared Zabransky faked a pass to his right and then simply handed the ball off behind his back to Ian Johnson who ran it in untouched for the 2 points and the win. Wow! What a game, what a finish! The little dog beat the big dog.
This was all capped off with a marriage proposal from Ian Johnson to his cheerleader girlfriend who said Yes on national television and the two are still happily married today.
This is the best football game I've ever seen. I immediately went out and bought the DVD for it the next day. It has been one of my favorite games to this day - and one of the most talked about over the years.