ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 3, 1997 TAG: 9702040045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HONOLULU
SOURCE: Associated Press
An investment banker made a kick for a $1 million at the Pro Bowl on Sunday, a day when the NFL all-stars couldn't seem to buy a field goal.
The Indianapolis Colts' Cary Blanchard, who had missed twice, finally hit a 37-yarder 8:15 into overtime to lift the AFC to a 26-23 victory over the NFC.
Blanchard had missed a 41-yarder that would have won the game four minutes earlier. Carolina's John Kasay missed three attempts, the last from 39 yards with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
The best kickers in the NFL were 3-of-8 in the game, and 26-year-old Lance Alstodt was 1-of-1.
At halftime, Alstodt got one chance at a 35-yarder for $1 million, the climax of a nationwide contest. He drilled it.
Jacksonville's Mark Brunell, who threw for 236 yards and one touchdown and took the AFC on a 66-yard drive to Blanchard's winning field goal, was voted the Pro Bowl MVP. A 43-yard pass to New England's Ben Coates keyed the winning drive.
Cornerback Ashley Ambrose helped keep the AFC in the game with a Pro Bowl-record, 54-yard interception return for a touchdown. His interception against Kerry Collins in the fourth quarter gave the AFC a 16-15 lead.
With Brett Favre not returning for the NFC after the first series of the second quarter, and other big-name quarterbacks missing the game because of injuries, Brunell, who replaced John Elway, and Gus Frerotte, filling in for Troy Aikman, provided a lot of late fireworks.
Brunell completed 12 of 22 passes, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Oakland's Tim Brown that tied it at 23 with 44 seconds left in regulation. Frerotte immediately marched the NFC back down the field, but Kasay's kick went awry and the teams headed to overtime.
Frerotte completed 13 of 25 passes for 193 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown throw to Cris Carter of Minnesota.
Brown had five catches for 137 yards, and St. Louis' Isaac Bruce had seven receptions for 104 yards for the NFC.
Detroit's Barry Sanders was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 59 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown, and Curtis Martin of New England led the AFC with 13 carries for 48 yards and a 3-yard touchdown.
Favre led the NFC to scores the first two times it had the ball, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to guard Randall McDaniel of Minnesota on a trick play where he lined up as a receiver. Favre completed six of 11 passes for 143 yards.
Blanchard, whose other miss came from 55 yards, made a 28-yarder in the second quarter.
Kasay, who was off from 66 and 49 yards before his miss late in regulation, made a 20-yarder for the NFC's first score of the game.
AFC starter Drew Bledsoe of the New England Patriots played briefly and completed three of eight passes for 67 yards.
The victory was the AFC's eighth in the last 13 Pro Bowls, contrasted to the Super Bowl, where the NFC has won 13 in a row. The NFC leads the series 15-12.
It was just the second overtime in the Pro Bowl.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Lance Alstodt follows through on his million-dollarby CNBfield goal at the Pro Bowl. color. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL