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 utilize 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, giving Minnesota a 31-30 win.
Famous quotes containing the words sun and/or bowl:
“The sun of a prince’s good graces resembles that in the skies in that it shines most kindly upon the blackest people.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
“It all ended with the circuslike whump of a monstrous box on the ear with which I knocked down the traitress who rolled up in a ball where she had collapsed, her eyes glistening at me through her spread fingers—all in all quite flattered, I think. Automatically, I searched for something to throw at her, saw the china sugar bowl I had given her for Easter, took the thing under my arm and went out, slamming the door.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)