2003 Sun Bowl
| 2003 Wells Fargo Sun Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 31, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Sun Bowl Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | El Paso, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Steve Shaw (SEC) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$1.45 million per team[1] | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | CBS | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers |
Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge and Jill Arrington | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2003 Wells Fargo Sun Bowl featured the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and the Oregon Ducks, a rematch of the 1999 Sun Bowl.
After a scoreless first quarter, Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens passed to wide receiver Dante Rosario for a 19-yard touchdown pass, giving Oregon an early 7-0 lead. Minnesota used its power running game to answer back, as they pouded the ball down the field, and capped off the drive with a yard run by fullback Thomas Tapeh, knotting the game at 7-7. Samie Parker, who had a monster game with over 200 yards receiving, caught an 18-yarder from Clemens, putting Oregon up 14-7.
Minnesota continued to use its running game, and Tapeh rushed for his second 1-yarder of the game again tying the game at 14. Jared Siegel's 30-yard field goal before halftime gave the Ducks a 17-14 half time lead. In the third quarter Tapeh recorded his third rushing touchdown of the game, with a 6-yarder, giving Minnesota its first lead at 21-17.
Oregon responded by Samie Parker catching his second touchdown reception of the game, a 40-yarder from Clemens, his third touchdown pass of the game, and Oregon reclaimed the lead 24-21. Lawrence Maroney rushed for a 22-yard touchdown later in the quarter giving Minnesota a 28-24 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Jared Siegel connected on a 32-yard field goal to pull Oregon to within 28-27. His last field goal, a 47-yarder with less than 5 minutes left in the game, gave Oregon a 30-28 lead. Minnesota's kicker, Rhys Lloyd kicked a 42-yard field goal, with 23 seconds left, giving Minnesota a 31-30 win.