1978 Peach Bowl

1978 Peach Bowl
1978 Peach Bowl
Purdue Boilermakers	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
(8–2–1)	(7–4)
Big Ten	Independent
41	21
Head coach: ; Jim Young	Head coach: ; Pepper Rodgers
AP	Coaches
17	17
AP	Coaches
NR	19
Date	December 25, 1978
Season	1978
Stadium	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
Location	Atlanta, Georgia
MVP	QB Mark Herrmann; DT Calvin Clark
Referee	Alfred DiStaola (ECAC)
Attendance	20,277
United States TV coverage
Network	CBS
Announcers	Lindsey Nelson; Paul Hornung
Peach Bowl
< 1977	1979 >

The 1978 Peach Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Background

Purdue finished 2nd in the Big Ten Conference, in their first bowl game since 1967. Georgia Tech was in their first bowl game since 1972. Due to the game being played on Christmas Day, a ticket drive had to be set up by Rodgers' wife.^[1]

Game summary

Purdue took the lead with 10:40 in the first quarter and scored twice more in the next four minutes. Georgia Tech did not score until 9:35 remained in the half, after they trailed 28-0. Georgia Tech scored twice with less than three minutes remaining to narrow the lead from 41-7 to 41-21, but the game had already been decided. Quarterback Mark Herrmann threw 12-of-24 for two touchdowns (and two interceptions) and rushed for one more in a convincing 41-21 victory over Georgia Tech. Purdue's defense forced two first-half turnovers. This was the second 9-win season in Purdue history.^[2]^[3]

First Quarter

Purdue: Jones 3-yard run (Sovereen kick), 10:40
Purdue: Jones 8-yard run (Sovereen kick), 9:47
Purdue: Smith 10-yard pass from Herrmann (Sovereen kick), 6:04

Second Quarter

Purdue: Herrmann 2-yard run (Sovereen kick), 13:04
Georgia Tech: Lee 1-yard run (Smith kick), 9:35
Purdue: Macon 1-yard run (kick failed), 3:58

Fourth Quarter

Purdue: Burrell 12-yard pass from Herrmann (Sovereen kick), 12:38
Georgia Tech: Moore 3-yard pass from Kelley (Hill run), 2:40
Georgia Tech: Hill 31-yard pass from Kelley (pass failed), 1:15

Aftermath

Purdue won two more bowl games before Young's departure in 1981. Georgia Tech waited until 1985 to make their next bowl appearance.

Statistics

Statistics	Purdue	Georgia Tech
First Downs	24	14
Net Yards Rushing	157	12
Net Yards Passing	166	168
Interceptions	2	2
Total Yards	323	180
Punts	5-36.6	7-36.7
Penalties	9-78	5-48
Fumbles Lost	1	2

References

^ "Ain't that a Peach: Atlanta bowl has come a long way - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[1] "Ain't that a Peach: Atlanta bowl has come a long way - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.

[2] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[3] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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