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- 1. C1 M 12-30-2012 Set: 22:58:49 Sent by: cci Sports CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK The Dallas Morning News Section C Sunday, December 30, 2012 SportsDay M . . . . . . . . Who wants it? Romo and leading targets Bryant, Austin and Witten … … offer the best shot at a Cowboys win, NFC East title TIM COWLISHAW wtcowlishaw@dallasnews.com See COWBOYS’ Page 15C O ne of the NFL’s most misleading statis- tics is the Cowboys’ 0-4 record when Tony Romo passes for 400 yards. It suggests the Cowboys need to go into Washington for their biggest game of the season — their final game if it does not go well — and present the Redskins with a balanced offensive attack. They need to do nothing of the sort. The Cowboys’ best hope to win — the only one that in seven games. Let him direct his anger at being overlooked for the Pro Bowl (he can manufacture some if he doesn’t really harbor a grudge) at one of the most porous secondaries in the league. Let Jason Witten take the single-season record for receptions he set last week and put it out of sight for future tight ends. Let Miles Austin — somehow the they can actually strive for as opposed to hoping that breaks and loose balls bounce their way — is for Romo to come out firing. Dez Bryant is the hot- test-scoring receiver in the league with10 touchdowns Automotive Classified, 22-25C 7:20 p.m. today (Ch. 5) INSIDE: GameDay, 12C Breakdown, 15C Line: Redskins by 3 COWBOYS (8-7) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (9-6) W ASHINGTON — The path the Cowboys must travel is a sim- ple one. How they reach their desti- nation is the tricky part. TheCowboyscanendatwo- year absence from the postsea- sonwithavictorySundaynight over Washington. This win- and-in scenario requires that the team not stumble on the road against a division oppo- nent as it has in two of the pre- vious four seasons. It mandates that the de- fense perform better against Robert Griffin III and the Red- skins than it did on Thanksgiv- ing, when, in the eloquent as- sessment of Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, “they slaughtered us.” The coldest game of the sea- son for the Cowboys — the temperature should be in the mid 30s by kickoff — comes against the NFC’s hottest team. Washington has won six straight and not lost since the first weekend in November. It’s reminiscent of last sea- son against a New York Giants teamthathadrighteditselfand entered the final game of the regular season with momen- tum. The Cowboys hope that is where the similarities end, giv- en the 31-14 outcome that night in the Meadowlands. “Hey, at some point you’ve got to grab these opportuni- ties,” tight end Jason Witten said.“Alotofworkhasbeenput in to get to this point. Now DAVID MOORE dmoore@dallasnews.com COWBOYS INSIDER Opportunity knocks again, and defense must answer See BURDEN Page 14C Multiplechoice Tony Romo ranks third in the NFL in passing yards (4,685), and the Cowboys are the only team with three players among the top 20 in receiving yards: DEZ BRYANT 1,311yards (8th in NFL) 88 receptions,12 TDs* JASON WITTEN 983 yards (17th) 103 receptions**, 2 TDs MILES AUSTIN 943 yards (20th) 66 receptions, 6 TDs *second in NFL **fourth in NFL ADVERTISEMENT H E A R T O F DA L L A S B OW L JA N . 1 , 11 : 00 A.M. COTTO N B OW L . DA L L A S G E T YO U R T I C K E T S AT THE HEARTOFDALLASBOWL .COM PURDUE ---------------------- vs. ---------------------- OKLAHOMA STATE Classified......22-25 Colleges...........2-7 High schools17-19,21 NBA.................7-8 NFL.........2,12,14-16 NHL....................2 Outdoors...........22 Running ............23 Scoreboard ........23 Soccer.................2 Tennis ................2 Winter sports......2 INSIDE New Orleans........98 at Charlotte .........95 at Atlanta ..........109 Indiana ..............100 Toronto..............123 at Orlando ...........88 at Brooklyn ........103 Cleveland...........100 at Chicago............87 Washington.........77 at Memphis..........81 Denver................72 Oklahoma City ....124 at Houston ..........94 at Minnesota.......111 Phoenix .............107 at Milwaukee .....104 Miami.................85 Philadelphia ............ at Portland.............. Boston.................... at Golden State........ NBA, 8C SCORES Kevin Sumlin (above) and Texas A&M were supposed to struggle in their first SEC season, however, that was far from the case. Staff writer Gerry Fraley looks at the top regional stories this year. 10-11C I Gerry Fraley remembers top sports personalities who died this year. 9C MAVERICKS Year’s final game more about survival The Mavericks have strug- gled as they have tried to come together as a team, and tonight’s game against the Spurs is just another step. 7C San Antonio at Mavericks 6:30 p.m. today (FSSW) COLLEGES Cedar Hill QB sparks Rice in second half Driphus Jackson came off the bench and ignited a big second half, helping the Owls score the game’s final 26 points for a 33-14 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. 2C I For coverage of TCU’s late game against Michigan State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, go to SportsDayDFW.com I West Virginia was snowed under by Syracuse, 38-14, in New York. 4C I Big day coming in a few months for Cotton Bowl. 3C HIGH SCHOOLS No. 1 Duncanville rolls to tournament title A 12-0 run in the second quarter helped the Duncan- ville girls pull away en route to a 64-32 victory over Plano West in the Sandra Meadows Classic. 19C I Cedar Hill edged Mans- field Timberview, 61-59. 19C I Skyline won the DISD event, holding off Lincoln, 42-40. 19C I Long Beach (Calif.) Poly ran past the Plano East boys in the Whataburger tournament, 51-40. 17C I Big second half lifted Richardson over Mesquite in Plano, 67-53. 17C Vernon Bryant/DMN A&M tops list of year’s best stories Mike Kondracki/Staff S AN ANTONIO — Alex Okafor and Marquise Goodwin each delivered signature moments in their fi- nal appearance in a Texas uni- form. In his first game calling plays for his alma mater, Major Applewhite managed to coax a Bowl, the future of the Texas football program — or at least the perception of the future — looksfardifferentthatitdid24 hours ago. In a postgame interview with ESPN, coach Mack Brown immediately pointed to double-digit comeback and confidence from quarterback David Ash. After a 31-27 win over Ore- gon State in the Valero Alamo VALERO ALAMO BOWL | TEXAS 31, OREGON STATE 27 After rare comeback, things looking up for Texas Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer Texas quar- terback David Ash hurdles Oregon State de- fenders to score on an 11-yard run. CHUCK CARLTON ccarlton@dallasnews.com COLLEGESBig plays by Goodwin and Okafor spark rally from 10-point deficit See TEXAS Page 4C Goodwin finishes career on high note, 4C