Cotton Bowl

1966

LSU 14

Arkansas 7

LSU Fight Song

For the second time in four years, the Bengal Tigers presented coach Charles McClendon with a perfect Cotton Bowl game. Unranked LSU (7-3-0) sprang one of the Classic’s biggest upsets, downing No. 2 Arkansas, 14-7, and ended college football’s longest winning streak at 22. The Hogs (10-0-0) last defeat came by the same score, on the same Cotton Bowl turf, to SMU in the ninth game of 1963. That also was the last time the Hogs had been blanked in the final two quarters until the Bengals turned the trick today.

Arkansas had not beaten LSU since 1929, and in the 1947 Classic the two teams battled to a scoreless tie. But, things were different now. The Razorbacks were the heavy favorites, and the unexpected happened. Prone to turnovers and injuries throughout the season, LSU did not yield a fumble or an interception to the Hogs while quarterback Pat Screen handled the mixture of short passing.

But it didn’t start out that way. On its second possession, Arkansas rolled 87 yards on 11 brilliantly executed plays en route to its only score. Harry Jones dazzled the Tigers with power sweeps and Bobby Burnett pounded the middle. Quarterback Jon Brittenum was in total control, and whipped a 19-yard aerial to Bobby Crockett for the touchdown. The drive consumed just 1:27 and the Razorbacks were on the scoreboard, 7-0.

The Tigers roared back two possessions later for an 80 yard march of their own. Tailbacks Jim Dousay and Joe Labruzzo pounded the middle of the Hogs’ defense repeatedly with short but effective gains that led to the Arkansas end zone. The LSU drive consisted of 16 plays, and by the time Labruzzo carried over from the three, a full 8:17 had elapsed. Doug Moreau’s kick tied it at 7-7.

Three plays after the LSU touchdown, Brittenum was forced to the sideline with a shoulder injury. His replacement, Ronny South, fumbled on the very next play at the Arkansas 34. LSU seized the momentum. Labruzzo again hammered for short yardage, carrying on five consecutive plays, the last one took him over for the score with 18 seconds left in the half and LSU led for the first time.

Brittenum returned to duty for the Hogs in the third quarter and twice moved Arkansas inside LSU territory, only to come up empty each time. LSU couldn’t move the ball at all and failed to gain a first down the entire period.

However, as the fourth quarter rolled around, momentum had shifted again. LSU began a march that would take them all the way to the Arkansas two before the Hog defense forced the Tigers to go for three. But, the kick sailed wide and the Hogs had escaped. Twice in the closing minutes, Brittenum took his Hogs on long drives, only to be intercepted at the LSU 20 to kill the first one, and time simply ran out on them at the end with the ball on the Tiger 24.

LSU had done it again. Three years before, they surprised mighty Texas, 13-0. Now the victim was Arkansas, 14-7

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Labruzzo was a Tiger hero.

Bobby Crockett made a spectacular grab late in game.

Billy Masters hauls in a pass in front of Arkansas defender.

The play the Hogs couldn't stop. Screen hands off to Labruzzo.

Masters carries for LSU during the tremendous upset.

Attendance- 76,200

Scoring Summary

First Quarter:
Ark- Crockett 19 pass from Brittenum (South kick)

Second Quarter:
LSU- Labruzzo 3 run (Moreau kick)
LSU-Labruzzo 1 run (Moreau kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing
LSU- Labruzzo 21-69, Dousay 14-38, Screen 5-20, Masters 7-17
Ark- H. Jones 10-79, Burnett 12-44, Woodlee 1-14

Passing
LSU- Screen 7-10-82
Ark- Brittenum 15-24-177

Receiving
LSU- Masters 4-45, Labruzzo 1-19, Schwab 1-18, Moreau 1-12
Ark- Crockett 10-129, H. Jones 2-26, Burnett 2-10, Lindsey 1-12
 

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