Fiesta Sports Foundation

The 50th Anniversary of the Fiesta Bowl was indeed historic. In a matchup that was the first-ever between No. 25 Oregon and No. 10 Iowa State, the Cyclones hit the Fiesta Bowl field for the first time in school history after their most successful regular season ever.

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was played successfully in front of wildly enthusiastic families of the teams, some fans who were able to watch a game in person for the first time this season.

To add some more excitement, both starting quarterbacks were Arizona high school stars – the first time in Fiesta Bowl history that both starting quarterbacks were Arizona natives.

The Cyclones made the most of playing in the biggest game in program history, their first-ever New Year's Six Bowl, defeating the Ducks 34-17 behind solid play on both sides of the ball.

Gilbert Perry High School alumni and Offensive Player of the Game Brock Purdy went 20-of-29 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown, with 39 rushing yards and another score. Star running back Breece Hall carried the ball 34 times (one short of the Bowl record) for 136 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, linebacker Mike Rose picked off his fifth ball of the season while fellow linebacker O'Rien Vance racked up four tackles, one for loss and recovered two fumbles en route to Defensive Player of the Game honors.

The Cyclones struck first when Hall scored from the 1-yard line on the game's opening drive, but Oregon tied things up, when speedy quarterback Anthony Brown ran one in from six yards out. Standout tight end Charlie Kolar pushed Iowa State back ahead when Purdy found him wide open in the endzone for a 14-yard score.

After stopping the Cyclones' on a goal-line stand, Oregon turned to Brown again who rushed for a 16-yard score to tie the game before Purdy gave Iowa State the lead for good with his feet and arm, gaining 44 yards in the first two plays and capping the drive with a 1-yard run to take a 21-14 lead.

With less than two minutes left Head Coach Matt Campbell opted for an onside kick which was recovered and rewarded with a second Hall touchdown three plays later for a 14-point lead.

For the Ducks, Chandler Hamilton alumni quarterback Tyler Shough ended with 7-of-9 passing, 79 yards and an interception while platooning quarterback Brown went 12-of-19 for 147 yards, 36 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.