1994 Mobil Cotton Bowl
(#4) Notre Dame 24, (#6) Texas A&M 21
(#4) Notre Dame 24, (#6) Texas A&M 21
January 1, 1994 | Cotton Bowl | Dallas, Texas
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1994 Mobil Cotton Bowl
(#4) Notre Dame 24, (#6) Texas A&M 21 January 1, 1994 | Cotton Bowl | Dallas, Texas
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| SCORE BY QUARTERS | ||||||
| Notre Dame | 7 | 0 | 14 | 3 | -- | 24 |
| Texas A&M | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | -- | 21 |
| Attendance: 69,886 | ||||||
| SCORING SUMMARY | ||||||
| ND: McDougal 19 yd run (Pendergast kick) | ||||||
| A&M: Hill 8 yd run (Venetoulias kick) | ||||||
| A&M: D. Smith 15 yd pass from Pullig (Venetoulias kick) | ||||||
| ND: Zellars 2 yd run (Pendergast kick) | ||||||
| A&M: Thomas 1 yd run (Venetoulias kick) | ||||||
| ND: Edwards 2 yd run (Pendergast kick) | ||||||
| ND: Pendergast 31 yd field goal | ||||||
DALLAS--Both teams scored on their opening drives, with Notre Dame striking first on a 19-yard run by Kevin McDougal and A&M finding paydirt on an eight-yard run by Greg Hill. The Aggies took a 14-7 halftime lead after a 15-yard pass from Corey Pullig to Detron Smith late in the second quarter.
Notre Dame knotted the game, 14-14, early in the third period, but the Aggies came right back to regain the lead, 21-14, on a short plunge by Rodney Thomas. The Fighting Irish returned the favor three minutes later with a scort scoring run of their own to tie the game, 21-21.
With less than four minutes to play, Notre Dame's Michael Miller returned an Aggie punt 38 yards to the A&M 22-yard line, the longest punt return allowed by A&M all season. The A&M defense held firm, but Notre Dame managed a 31-yard field goal by Kevin Pendergast to end the scoring.
With just :24 left, A&M narrowly missed a miracle comeback when, on fourth-and-17 from the Aggie 41, Corey Pullig completed a 14-yard pass to Tony Harrison, who attempted to lateral to trailing Leeland McElroy. However, the pitch sailed high and was recovered by Notre Dame, who took home an exciting 24-21 victory.
The Aggies outgained the Irish in total offense, 341-311, as Pullig passed for 238 yards.