DETROIT (AP) – A record-setting run. A game-turning interception. A trick play that no one saw coming.

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed every little bit of history they could get their fingers on to craft a one-for-the-books ending on Sunday, beating the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in the Super Bowl.

Years from now, those Terrible Towel-twirling fans will recount how with one big play after another, the Steelers managed to get that elusive “One For The Thumb” ring, that perfect send-off to Jerome Bettis’ career, and that long-awaited Super Bowl title for coach Bill Cowher.

Oh, and how Ben Roethlisberger got the title that set him apart, too – at age 23, the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. But this one had less to do with him and a lot more to do with some old-fashioned Steeler football and a little newfangled trickery.

First came the old style.

When Willie Parker followed guard Alan Faneca’s pulling block and went a Super Bowl-record 75 yards on the second play of the second half, the Steelers had the momentum they needed for their first title since their Steel Curtain glory days.

They had a chance to close out the Steelers in the third quarter, but Roethlisberger played down to his age and threw an interception that Kelly Herndon returned a Super Bowl-record 76 yards and let Seattle back into the game.

Uh-oh. Time for a little rust-belt defense.

Ike Taylor took advantage of Matt Hasselbeck’s worst pass of the game, blunting Seattle’s drive with an interception of his own.

Hasselbeck lobbed a pass in the direction of Darrell Jackson, but Taylor read it perfectly and made the play that saved the Steelers’ lead.

Then, Cowher diverted from his button-down game plan and made the gamble that decided the game, putting it in the hands of his college quarterback turned receiver. The game’s X-factor ended up deciding Super Bowl XL.

Antwaan Randle El took a handoff on a reverse from Parker and ran to his right. The Steelers had been so conservative all game that the Seahawks figured it was just another run, and gave chase.

Wrong. Totally, decisively wrong.

MVP Hines Ward ran past the safeties and was wide open for Randle El’s 43-yard touchdown pass, which immediately went down as one of the most notable trick plays in Super Bowl history.

Just like Dallas in the 1976 game, when running back Robert Newhouse threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Golden Richards off an option that finished off Denver 27-10, this one left the Steelers with nothing but time to kill.

And, time to celebrate a big-play win.

AP-ES-02-05-06 2208EST