After shutting out the Fighting
Illini of Illinois in the season opener,
the Wolverines won nine of their
next 10 games, including their third
straight victory over Ohio State,
and qualified for their third Rose
Bowl in as many years.
Michigan played one of its finest
defensive games in years, but a
combination of circumstances and a
relentless Southern California
ground attack lifted the Trojans to a
17-10 victory in the 65th annual
Rose Bowl Classic in Pasadena. An
intercepted pass returned to the
Wolverine 16-yard line set up
USC’s first touchdown of the game,
a Paul McDonald to Hoby Brenner
pass covering nine yards.
Michigan later drove to the
Trojan 21-yard line, but a dropped
pass stalled the Wolverines’
progress, and allowed Gregg
Willner to put the first “Big Blue”
points on the board with a 36-yard
field goal in the second quarter.
USC extended its lead moments
later on one of the more controversial
calls in Rose Bowl history. On
second down at the Michigan threeyard
line, Trojan tailback Charles
White dove through the heart of the
offensive line in an attempt to
score. During the ensuing contact,
White lost the ball and Wolverine
linebacker Jerry Meter came up
with an apparent fumble recovery
on the one-yard line. However, the
line judge determined that White
had crossed the goal line before
los-ing control of the ball and signalled
for the touchdown that put USC up
by 11. Late in the half, the Trojans
intercepted a Rick Leach pass and
set up a Frank Jordan field goal
from 35 yards away to increase
their lead to 17-3 at halftime.
It didn’t take long after leaving the locker room for
the Wolverines to narrow the score. Midway through the
third period, Leach tossed a 44-yard scoring strike
to tailback Roosevelt Smith to close within seven points.
Michigan held the strong USC offense scoreless for the
remainder of the game, but was unable to put more points
on the board as the score stayed unchanged for the duration.
Playing in his third straight Rose Bowl, Leach set career
records for total plays (94), total yards running and
passing (523), and most yards passing (452) in the New
Year’s game. Leach shared Most Valuable Player honors
with USC’s White. |
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SCORING
First Quarter
USC Brenner, 9-yard pass from
McDonald (Jordan kick)
Second Quarter
M Willner, 36-yard field goal
USC White, 3-yard run
(Jordan kick)
USC Jordan, 35-yard field goal
Third Quarter
M R. Smith, 44-yard pass from
Leach (Willner kick)
Team Stats UM USC
First Downs 12 14
Net Yards Rushing 99 134
Net Yards Passing 137 23
Total Plays 62 63
Total Yards 236 157
PA/PC/Int 22/10/2 9/4/0
Punts/Avg. 8/29.5 9/38.6
Return Yards 51 80
Fumbles/Lost 2/0 2/1
Penalties/Yards 4/30 2/21
Rushing — (M): Huckleby 9-28; Davis 8-28;
Leach 12-22; R. Smith 10-22; Woolfolk 1-(-1);
(USC): C. White 32-99; Cain 14-90;
McDonald 8-(-55).
Passing — (M): Leach 10-21-137; Jackson 0-1-0;
(USC): McDonald 4-9-23.
Receiving — (M): R. Smith 4-58; Clayton 2-40;
G. Johnson 2-23; Huckleby 1-7;
(USC): C. White 2-2; Garcia 1-12; Brenner 1-9.
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