1973 Peach Bowl

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1973 Peach Bowl
6th Peach Bowl
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Postcard (1960s-70s) (Stadium crop).jpg
1234Total
Georgia0107017
Maryland0100616
DateDecember 28, 1973
Season 1973
Stadium Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
Location Atlanta, Georgia
MVPTB Louis Carter (Maryland)
LB Sylvester Boler (Georgia)
Referee Pete Williams (SEC;
split crew: SEC, ACC)
Attendance38,107
United States TV coverage
Network Mizlou
Peach Bowl
 < 1972   1974 > 

The 1973 Peach Bowl was the sixth annual Peach Bowl, featuring the Georgia Bulldogs and the Maryland Terrapins.

Contents

Background

Four losses in six games in the middle of the Bulldogs season lead them to finish tied for fifth place in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), going 2–1 against ranked teams, beating #19 NC State and #11 Tennessee, but losing to #1 Alabama. After 17 years, the Terrapins made their first bowl appearance since the late 1950s Led by Jerry Claiborne, in his second year at the program, Maryland tied for second-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was the first Peach Bowl appearance for both teams. [1]

Game summary

Jimmy Poulos gave the Bulldogs the lead on a touchdown catch from Johnson to break the scoreless tie in the second quarter with 5:27 in the quarter. [1] Walter White caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Carter to tie the game 23 seconds later. [1] His reception proved to be Maryland's only touchdown of the day. Mayer and Leavitt traded field goals to make the game even at 10 at halftime. A Terrapin fumble gave the Bulldogs the ball in Maryland territory which culminated with an Andy Johnson touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 17–10 lead with 4:24 in the third. The Terrapins narrowed the margin on two Mike Mayer field goals in the final quarter to make it a one-point game with seven minutes remaining, but they did not get any closer as Georgia held on to win consecutive bowl games for the first time in seven years. [1]

Aftermath

The Terrapins created an ACC dynasty the following season, winning the next three ACC titles, culminating with an appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The Terrapins did not return to the Peach Bowl until 2002. The Bulldogs did not win another bowl game for eight years following this game. Georgia returned to the Peach Bowl in 1989.

Statistics

StatisticsGeorgiaMaryland
First Downs1115
Yards Rushing170219
Yards Passing114242
Return Yards13578
Total Yards419539
Punts-Average8-41.36-31.8
Fumbles-Lost2-24-3
Interceptions11
Penalties-Yards1-55-63

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Georgia Triumphs in Peach Bowl, 17 to 16". The New York Times. December 29, 1973. Retrieved March 20, 2019.