Fiesta Bowl
1979
Pitt 16
Arizona 10
TEMPE,
Ariz (UPI) –Pittsburgh place kicker Mark Schubert made sure he didn't
get sick in the Christmas Day Fiesta Bowl, but he certainly made some
Arizona Wildcats ill
After the Panther senior booted three field goals in Pitts' 16-10 victory over theWildcats, Schubert explained he was extra cautious before the contest so he wouldn't get sick.
"Some of the players had gotten the bug and were experiencing some nausea," Schubert said as he told why he did not eat a pre-game meal
"I didn't want to take a chance with a nervous stomach," said Schubert.
The self-prescribed tactics worked as Schubert was a perfect 3-for-3 in field goal attempts as the 10th ranked Panthers ended 1979 with an 11-1 mark
Schubert, named the game's outstanding offensive player, hit a pair of field goals from 46 yards and another from 10 yards closer.
It was fitting a place kicker won the offensive honor in a game that lacked offensive excitement. Both quarterbacks, freshman Dan Marino of Pittsburgh and senior Jim Krohn of Arizona, hit only half of their passes. The best of the running backs, Pittsburgh's Randy McMillan, gained a modest 81 yards while Arizona's Hubert Oliver, who gained over 1,000 yards during the regular season, was held to 35.
The contest was a battle of field goals until the final seconds of the third period when Marino, with his sharpest passing of the day, threw three straight completions for 70 yards The last one went 12 yards to Benjie Pryor for a touchdown.
The TD put the Panthers ahead 13-3 and actually settled the outcome, but it was the first of the three passes that Pittsburgh coach Jackie Shernll felt was the turning point. On that play, Pitt was on its own 30-yard line with 2nd and 36 after a quarterback sack and a holding penalty.
Marino hit Mike Dombrowski on a 34-yard pass and completed a 24-yard aerial to Ralph Still to set up the touchdown. Dombrowski called his catch in that drive his "biggest" of the day.
"We were in a hole and weren't moving the ball and I think that helped us get untracked," the junior tight end said
The game started slowly with two turnovers by each team interrupting the flow in the first half when Pittsburgh took a 6-0 edge. Schubert kicked his first field goal, from 46 yards, in the final seconds of the first period. He added his 36-yard three-pointer with only 18 seconds left in the half.
Brett Weber booted a 38-yard field goal for Arizona in the third period but the Panthers came back on Marino's touchdown pass and Schubert's final field goal with 8 02 left to play.
It appeared the Wildcats were dead then, but only until Oliver threw his first pass of the season, completing a 46-yarder to Greg Jackson at the Pittsburgh 1. Oliver carried it over for the score and Bill Zivic's extra point pulled the Wildcats to within six points.
However, after Pittsburgh's Lynn Thomas recovered an on-side kickoff attempt by Arizona, the Wildcats got only one more play- a Krohn pass from the Arizona end zone that went for his third interception of the game.
Arizona safety Dave Liggins was named the defensive standout for two first half interceptions along with seven tackles. The award didn't surprise Liggins, however.
"That trophy was on the back of my mind since Monday when I saw it." he said. "The trophy was the best Christmas present I got."
Sherrill, however, said he was going to enjoy his team's victory even more than Liggins liked his trophy.
"There's not many teams in the country that can say they have 11-1 records," said Sherrill.
Freshman Dan Marino unleashes a pass for Pitt.
Arizona quarterback Jim Krohn sweeps against Pitt.
Arizona flanker Tim Holmes carries after catch.
University of Arizona offense lined up against Pitt
Attendance- 55,347
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Pitt- FG Schubert 46
Second Quarter
Pitt- FG Schubert 36
UA- FG Weber 38
Third Quarter
Pitt- Pryor 12 yard pass from Marino (Schubert kick)
UA- Oliver 1 run (Zivic kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
Pitt- McMillan 19-81, Jacobs 7-44, Jones 7-25
UA- Heater 15-37, Oliver 12-35, Krohn 6-26
Passing
Pitt- Marino 15-29-172
UA- Krohn 17-34-180, Oliver 1-1-46
Receiving
Pitt- Dombrowski 3-61, Still 3-38, Bowles 2-39
UA- Holmes 7-84, Jackson 5-89, Haynes 3-41
