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Gator Bowl 1965
Georgia Tech 31 Texas Tech 21 |
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The forecast had been for an offensive battle and that's exactly what a record crowd of 60,127 Gator Bowl fans and a national television audience got as touchdowns came at a rapid fire pace. Georgia Tech and Snow racked up several rushing records along the way.
Snow was locked in a duel with Texas Tech's all-America Donny Anderson and came off with the honors as he ripped off 136 yards in 35 carries.
Texas Tech scored the first time it got its hands on the ball and twice more in the third period, but the Yellow Jackets had too much ground power for the Red Raiders and moved the ball at will.
Georgia Tech took the lead for the final time early in the fourth period when alternate quarterback Jerry Priestly climaxed a 70 yard march by sneaking over from the one yard line and then added a two-point conversion run to put the Yellow Jackets ahead at that point, 24-21.
Georgia Tech iced its victory, its ninth in 12 bowl trips in the 21 years that Bobby Dodd has been head coach, by scoring again only 36 seconds later. That touchdown came when substitute fullback Ed Varner sped across from 13 yards out after defensive back Tommy Blieck made the first of his two interceptions in the final period and returned the ball 27 yards.
Texas Tech's first touchdown came with less than three minutes elapsed in the contest on a four-yard pass from quarterback Tom Wilson to halfback Johnny Agan.
Georgia Tech completely dominated the remainder of the first half, and was within the shadow of the Texas Tech goal line on four occasions, but had to settle for only one touchdown and a safety.
The Jackets, with Snow and his substitute Giles Smith doing most of the ball-carrying, carried Georgia Tech 80 yards before the drive bogged down a the Texas Tech three yard line and James Henkel blocked a field goal try.
Georgia Tech tied the score early in the second period with an 80-yard march on the ground, climaxed by Smith's two-yard plunge and went ahead a couple of minutes later when Texas Tech had a bad snap sail out of the end zone.
The Yellow Jackets widened their lead early in the third period when Snow went across from a yard out.
Texas Tech then came storming back on the passing of Wilson, who completed 22 of 40 passes for 283 yards during the afternoon. He passed 30 yards to Anderson to put the ball on the Georgia Tech one and Anderson carried it over on the next play to cut the gap to 16-14.
The next time Texas Tech got the ball the Raiders drove in again to take the lead with Wilson passing 15 yards to end Jerry Shipley for the go-ahead touchdown.
Immediately following that touchdown, Georgia Tech, which had been sticking to the ground, went to the air on the passing of quarterbacks Kim King and Priestley, and moved downfield for Priestley's winning touchdown. |
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Georgia Tech corrals Johnny Agan. |
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| The nation watched Donny Anderson. The All-American signed with Green Bay for an unheard of $600,000. | |
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| The Red Raiders took a late lead on Jerry Shipley's TD catch in the third period. | |
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Texas Tech blocks Georgia Tech field goal attempt. |
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Attendance: 60,127
Scoring Summary
First Quarter TT- Agan 5 yard pass from Wilson (Gill kick)
Second Quarter GT- Smith 2 run (Henry kick) GT- Safety
Third Quarter GT- Snow 2 run (Henry kick) TT- Anderson 1 run (Gill kick) TT- Shipley 15 yard pass from Wilson (Gill kick)
Fourth Quarter GT- Smith 1 run (Priestly run) GT- Varmer 13 run (Henry kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing GT- Snow 35-136, Smith 15-73, Varner 5-43, King 9-41, Carlisle 5-35, Brown 2-32 TT- Anderson 13-85, Agan 4-21
Passing GT- King 4-7-58, Priestly 1-3-19 TT- Wilson 22-40-283
Receiving GT- Baynham 2-52, Gautier 1-19, Rogers 1-9 TT- Anderson 9-138, Shipley 5-64, Agan 3-17, Leinert 2-26, White 2-18, Davis 1-20
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