1983 Sugar Bowl

1983 Sugar Bowl
Penn State Nittany Lions Georgia Bulldogs
(10–1) (11–0)
27 23
Head coach: 
Joe Paterno		 Head coach: 
Vince Dooley
APCoaches
22
APCoaches
11
1234 Total
Penn State 71307 27
Georgia 3776 23
Date January 1, 1983
Season 1982
Stadium Louisiana Superdome
Location New Orleans, Louisiana
MVP Todd Blackledge
(QB, Penn State)
Favorite Penn State by 4 points
Referee Vance Carlson (Big Eight)
Attendance 78,127
United States TV coverage
Network ABC
Announcers Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles

The 1983 Sugar Bowl was the 49th edition of the annual game, played on January 1, 1983, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. It featured the second-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, and the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference. Penn State won 27–23 to finish atop the final polls as national champions.[1][2][3][4]

Teams

Penn State

Georgia

Game

In the first quarter, Penn State running back Curt Warner scored on a 2-yard touchdown run and the Nittany Lions led 7–0. He finished the game with 117 yards rushing. Georgia got on the board in the first quarter following a 27-yard field goal from Kevin Butler to make it 7–3.

In the second quarter, Nick Gancitano kicked a 38-yard field goal to put the Nittany Lions atop 10–3. Warner added a 9-yard touchdown run, and Gancitano a 45-yard field goal for Penn State to take a commanding 20–3 lead. Bulldog quarterback John Lastinger threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Herman Archie to cut the margin to 20–10 at halftime.[1][2]

In the third quarter, Georgia running back Herschel Walker scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, cutting the margin to 20–17. Penn State responded in the fourth quarter with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Todd Blackledge to wide receiver Gregg Garrity to give Penn State a 27–17 lead. Lastinger threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Clarence Kay to close the margin to 27–23, the final score.[1][2][3]

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP PSU UGA
1 PSU Curt Warner 2-yard touchdown run, Nick Gancitano kick good 7 0
1 UGA 27-yard field goal by Kevin Butler 7 3
2 PSU 38-yard field goal by Nick Gancitano 10 3
2 PSU Curt Warner 9-yard touchdown run, Nick Gancitano kick good 17 3
2 PSU 45-yard field goal by Nick Gancitano 20 3
2 UGA Herman Archie 10-yard touchdown reception from John Lastinger, Kevin Butler kick good 20 10
3 UGA Herschel Walker 1-yard touchdown run, Kevin Butler kick good 20 17
4 PSU Gregg Garrity 47-yard touchdown reception from Todd Blackledge, Nick Gancitano kick good 27 17
4 UGA Clarence Kay 9-yard touchdown reception from John Lastinger, 2-point pass no good 27 23
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 27 23

References

  1. 1 2 3 Donovan, Dan (January 2, 1983). "Penn State triumphs, 27-23; No. 1 next?". Pittsburgh Press. p. C1.
  2. 1 2 3 "No. 2 Lions sweeten bid to be No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1983. p. 1D.
  3. 1 2 Papanek, John (January 10, 1983). "But how 'bout them Lions?". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.
  4. ↑ Donovan, Dan (January 3, 1983). "National title belongs to players - Paterno". Pittsburgh Press. p. C1.
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