Jan. 10, 2003
Dusty Burk Throws For 85 yards But His West Squad Falls 19-7 In The Cactus Bowl
Truman quarterback Dusty Burk competed in the Cactus Bowl, the Division II all-star game, on Friday night in Kingsville, Texas. Burk was five-of-11 passing for 85 yards as he worked in three series. The game was a defensive battle as Burk's West squad fell by a 19-7 score.
Burk played all three of his series in the second period when both teams were still scoreless. In the first drive, a penalty backed the West squad up to their 10-yard line and the team went three-and-out following an incomplete pass and two rushes.
Burk looked like he would lead his team to the first score of the game in his second drive. After starting the drive on his 32-yard line, he completed a 32-yard pass on third-and-long to keep the drive going. Two plays later, he connected on a 23-yard pass to take the ball into the red zone down to the 12. Following a sack and a seven-yard completion, Burk threw incomplete on third down and the West team missed a 24-yard field goal to keep the game scoreless.
Burk's final drive started on his 42 with just 49 seconds left in the half. He completed a 22-yard pass on third down to get the ball down to the East 39 but was sacked two plays later as the clock ran out.
The West team led 7-3 following the third period but two touchdowns, one by the defense, and a field goal helped the East come back for the victory.
This past season, Burk, a transfer from Illinos State, racked up the second-most total offensive yards in MIAA history with 3,441 and finished second in NCAA Division II with 312.8 totals yards a game. For the season, he completed 229-of-378 passes for 2,621 yards and 19 TDs, along with gaining 820 yards on 173 carries and 12 touchdowns. Truman ended the year with a 6-5 overall record and a 4-5 MIAA mark.