From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1983 edition of the Orange Bowl featured
the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the LSU Tigers.
The game suffered from poor attendance due to riots in the Miami
area as well as both teams having had somewhat disappointing
seasons. LSU came into the game at 8-2-1 and a #13 ranking.
Nebraska was 11-1 and ranked #3 in both polls, but they had been
denied a chance to play for the national championship due to a
controversial 27-24 loss at eventual champion Penn State early in
the season.
Nebraska forced a three and out, and then scored easily on their
first possession, capped by a 5 yard touchdown run by fullback Mark
Schellen to take a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the game, and
the heavily favored Huskers looked as if they would put the Tigers
away early. But then a series of miscues turned the game on its
head.
Toby Williams intercepted a Tiger pass at the Husker 7, to
thwart a promising LSU drive. But the Huskers fumbled the ball
right back to LSU on the very next play from scrimmage, and Dalton Hilliard
scored from the 1 to tie the game at 7.
Nebraska drove to the LSU 15 before fumbling again, then
inexplicably fumbled a third time after forcing LSU to punt. Turner
Gill then threw an interception. The Tigers took advantage with a
second Hilliard 1-yard touchdown run, and Nebraska found itself
trailing 14-7 at halftime after committing four turnovers on four
consecutive series.
Halftime provided no relief for the mistake-prone Husker
offense, with a missed field goal on the opening drive of the
second half, followed by yet another fumble. LSU converted the
latest Husker error into a 28 yard Juan Bentanzos field goal, which
gave them a 17-7 lead.
On the very next series, Nebraska managed to hold onto the
football and went on a 12 play, 80 yard scoring drive, capped by an
11 yard swing pass from Turner Gill to Mike Rozier which pulled the Huskers within
three at 17-14.
Gill then finished off a 7 play, 47 yard drive with a QB sneak
early in the fourth to put the Huskers ahead 21-17. Another miscue,
this time a dropped pass on a fake field goal, prevented the
Huskers from extending their lead.
LSU managed to get a 49 yard field goal from Bentanzos late
following an interception (Nebraska's sixth turnover of the night),
but they could not get the ball back again, and the Cornhuskers
held on to win 21-20.
External
links
| Nebraska Cornhuskers bowl
games |
|
|
|
|
Wikis
Search