In both 1970 and 1971, the 49ers were eliminated in the NFC Championship game by the Cowboys. Late in the afternoon of December 23, 1972, at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, the teams met again in the postseason – this time in the Divisional playoff round – and for awhile it looked as though the 49ers would overcome their nemesis. The 49ers’ Vic Washington returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, and after their running back, Larry Schreiber, ran for two 1-yard touchdowns in the second quarter, San Francisco led 21-3. In the third quarter, Schreiber rushed for a third one-yard TD, making it 28-13 entering the fourth. After a Dallas field goal, the Cowboys still trailed by 12 with two minutes left. That’s when the great Roger Staubach showed his championship mettle. He threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Billy Parks to make it 28-23. Dallas recovered the onside kick and Staubach scrambled for a long gain, connected with Parks on a perfect pass, and then – from the San Francisco 10 with under a minute left – finished off the comeback with a TD pass to Ron Sellers and the Cowboys won again, 30-28. ― NFL 100
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