1997 Holiday Bowl

The 1997 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 29, 1997, in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Colorado State Rams from the Western Athletic Conference, and the Missouri Tigers from the Big 12 Conference.

1997 Plymouth Holiday Bowl
Colorado State Rams Missouri Tigers (10–2) (7–4) WAC Big 12 35 24 Head coach:  Sonny Lubick Head coach:  Larry Smith AP Coaches BA 18 17 18 AP Coaches BA 19 20 20
1 2 3 4 Total Colorado State 7 7 14 7 35 Missouri 3 14 7 0 24
Date	December 29, 1997
Season	1997
Stadium	Qualcomm Stadium
Location	San Diego, California
MVP	Offensive: Moses Moreno (Colorado State)
Halftime show	Marching bands
Attendance	50,761
Payout	US$1,409,533 per team
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Rich Waltz and Rod Gilmore

Colorado State opened the scoring following a 14-yard touchdown run from running back Darran Hall, giving CSU an early 7–0 lead. Scott Knickman got Missouri on the board after he drilled a 32-yard field goal, getting Missouri within 7–3. In the second quarter, Missouri scored on a 4-yard touchdown run from quarterback Corby Jones, giving the Tigers a 10–7 lead.

Colorado State quarterback Moses Moreno found wide receiver Corey McCoy for a 22-yard touchdown pass, and Colorado State reclaimed the lead at 14–10. Missouri's Ernest Blackwell scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, again shifting the lead to the Tigers, 17–14.

In the third quarter, Colorado State reclaimed the lead following an 85-yard punt return from Darren Hall, putting the Rams up 21–17. Moses Moreno later found wide receiver Dallas Davis on a 47-yard pass to increase Colorado State's lead to 28–17. Missouri's Brock Olivo scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, pulling Missouri to within 28–24. Ryan Eslinger's 23-yard touchdown run gave Colorado State a 35–24 lead, and the final score held up.