Dec 23, 2022 3 min read

ON THIS DATE

Dec. 24

1950 – Cleveland’s Otto Graham throws four touchdown passes, despite icy footing in Municipal Stadium, and Lou Groza kicks a 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds left to give the Browns a 30-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and the NFL title in their first year in the league.

1961 – George Blanda’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Billy Cannon gives the Houston Oilers a 10-3 victory over the San Diego Chargers for their second AFL title.

1997 – In one of the biggest upsets in college basketball, NCAA Division II American-Puerto Rico defeats No. 12 Arkansas 64-59 in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.

Dec. 25

1971 – Garo Yepremian’s 37-yard field goal at 7:40 of the second overtime gives the Miami Dolphins a 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the AFC playoffs. At 82:40, it’s the longest game in NFL history.

1979 – Eric Schubert kicks three field goals and Dan Marino throws a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Still as Pitt beats Arizona 16-10 in the Fiesta Bowl.

2007 – Ben Roethlisberger passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers clinch a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs with a 34-6 victory over Houston.

2016 – Ben Roethlisberger shakes off a pair of interceptions to throw two late touchdowns, including a 4-yard strike to Antonio Brown with 9 seconds remaining to lift the Steelers to a 31-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Brown catches Roethlisberger’s pass just short of the goal line and stretches the ball into the end zone with his left hand to cap a wild fourth quarter and give Pittsburgh the AFC North title. The win is the 600th regular-season victory in franchise history. Roethlisberger also becomes the 10th player in NFL history to throw for at least 300 career touchdowns.

Dec. 26

1974 – Trinity High School’s John Colombo, who scores 20 goals and has four assists during his senior season, is one of 11 players named first team All-America by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

1975 – Tony Dorsett rushes for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and Elliot Walker contributes 123 and two scores, as Pitt rolls over Kansas 33-19 in the Sun Bowl.

1980 – Curt Warner runs for 155 yards as Penn State erases a 12-point deficit and rallies to beat Ohio State 31-19 in the Fiesta Bowl.

1991 – Chuck Noll retires as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 23 years, 209 victories and four Super Bowl championships.

2005 – Chris Barnes’ baseline jumper with five-tenths of a second remaining gives Washington a 68-66 victory over Trinity in the Chuckie Mahoney Classic at Chartiers-Houston.

2009 – Dion Lewis rushes for 159 yards and one touchdown, and Dan Hutchins kicks a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left, giving Pitt a 19-17 victory over North Carolina in the Meineke Bowl in Charlotte.