Dallas made Pittsburgh sweat to the finish, but the comeback arrived one score short. A 17-14 loss in the League Championship left Gary Boyden’s team with a narrow final margin to show for a night when its passing game found late life after a difficult start.

Pittsburgh struck first, with Joe Lockwood connecting with Stacey Frick for a 12-yard touchdown in the opening quarter. The home team widened the lead to 14-0 in the second when Leon Kline scored from the goal line. Frick finished with 123 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Pittsburgh’s Charles Lewis added 97 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards to help sustain the attack.

Dallas began its response before halftime. After Ryan Marshall intercepted Lockwood, Pat Meyer found Melvin Devries for a one-yard touchdown with 1:12 remaining in the second quarter. William Walker’s extra point made it 14-7. Dallas took another opportunity moments later when Alvin Mullins intercepted Lockwood, but the next listed highlight was a punt and fumble on the return, and the Cowboys did not add to their score before the break.

The defenses kept the game close for much of the second half. Pittsburgh managed one more scoring play, Michael Turner’s 39-yard field goal with 6:37 left in the fourth, to restore a 10-point lead. Dallas had work to do, and Meyer delivered the biggest play of the night for the visitors: on fourth-and-five, he hit David Ezell for an 81-yard touchdown with 1:14 remaining. Ezell made a move on the cornerback and finished with 103 receiving yards and a score. Walker’s extra point cut it to 17-14.

Meyer completed 28 of 41 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns, and Dallas finished with 321 passing yards overall. The comeback was built through the air; the Cowboys managed 35 rushing yards and converted four of 14 third downs. Pittsburgh’s defense recorded three sacks, while Dallas’ two interceptions helped keep the game within reach. The Cowboys also had nine penalties for 73 yards, a costly burden in a game decided by three points.

The closing touchdown captured Dallas’ persistence, but it could not erase the early deficit. Pittsburgh’s two first-half touchdowns and fourth-quarter field goal held up, and Boyden’s team left the championship with a hard-fought loss despite a late chance to change the ending.