Arizona State and Pittsburgh played tug-of-war for almost three quarters, before the Sun Devils broke loose for three touchdowns and a field goal in the final 16:29 to defeat the Panthers, 28-7 in the 1973 Fiesta Bowl, before a sellout crowd of 50,878.
With the score knotted at 7-7, ASU seniors Danny White and Woody Green took over like they had in the previous two Fiesta Bowls to help the Sun Devils win their third straight postseason appearance. Following a 30-yard field goal by Danny Kush that broke a 7-7 tie, White scrambled seemingly forever and hit Greg Hudson on a 38-yard scoring strike that put ASU ahead 16-7 with less than a quarter left in the game. Hudson, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game, had eight receptions for 186 yards, including a 51-yarder in the first quarter that set up the Sun Devils' first score.
With a comfortable 16-7 lead, Arizona State went to the ground, which meant handing the ball to Green. The senior halfback ran for two fourth quarter touchdowns - one from 23 yards out and the other on a one-yard dive over the top - to finish the scoring. Green finished the game with 131 yards and three touchdowns, giving himself 434 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in three Fiestas, records that still stand today.
Pittsburgh had a talented running back in its backfield in freshman Tony Dorsett, who entered the game as an All-America. But after rumbling for 69 yards in the first half, Dorsett ran into the ASU defensive wall and was held to 31 second half yards. He set a college bowl record, carrying the ball 30 times, but was held to just 100 yards.
Arizona State defensive back Mike Haynes earned Defensive Player of the Game honors. The sophomore picked off two passes and came up with a fumble that set up the go-ahead field goal in the third quarter. The Panthers opened the scoring, going just 12 yards following a fumble by White on the game's opening possession. It took Pittsburgh just two plays to score, as Dorsett rumbled in from three yards out to give Pitt the lead.
