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Liberty Bowl 1978
Missouri 20 LSU 15
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Wilder, a 220-pound sophomore, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, carried the ball 28 times and teamed with quarterback Phil Bradley to dazzle the Bengals with three first-half touchdowns as Missouri raced to a 20-3 half time lead.
LSU, sparked by second team All-America tailback Charles Alexander, who gained 133 yards on 24 carries, rallied after intermission and scored a quick touchdown on Alexander's 1-yard run.
Then, the Bengals drove 72 yards in the closing minutes, with quarterback David Woodley scrambling 1 yard for a touchdown with 1:33 left in the game. Woodley's pass for a two point conversion was intercepted by Missouri linebacker Eric Berg.
The Bengals threatened two other times in the last half but Woodley's fumble on the Missouri 27 stopped one drive, and defensive end Kurt Petersen intercepted a pass by reserve quarterback Steve Ensminger on the Missouri 30 with 5:12 left in the game to halt the other threat.
Missouri, 8-4, scored on Earl Gant's 13-yard run in the first quarter and a 16 yard pass from Bradley to star tight end Kellen Winslow and Wilder's 3-yard run in the second quarter.
LSU, also 8-4, got its other points on Mike Conway's 37-yard field goal in the first period.
Missouri, ranked 15th nationally and a 7-point favorite, drove 75 yards in 13 plays after the opening kickoff, with Wilder and Bradley picking up most of the yardage. The Tigers gambled on a fourth-and-one play at the LSU 36 and reserve running back Gerry Ellis picked up the first down with a two-yard run. Gant got the touchdown, sprinting 13 yards around the right side with 8:43 left in the quarter.
LSU answered with its only threat of the first half- a 23-yard run by Alexander to the Missouri 39 highlighting the drive. The Bengals were forced to settle for Conway's field goal, however, his 15th three-pointer in 16 tries this season.
Bill Whitaker returned an LSU punt 17 yards to the LSU 48 to set up the second Missouri touchdown. Five plays after a key roughing-the-passer penalty, Bradley hit Winslow over the middle for 16 yards and a touchdown.
Missouri drove 49 yards in only five plays for its third touchdown, with Gant turning a short pass from Bradley into a 34-yard gain for the big play. Wilder raced three yards around right end for the score with 1:21 left in the half. |
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Phil Bradley goes airborne against the LSU defense. |
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The great Charles Alexander and quarterback David Woodley tried to lead LSU to a comeback. |
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Eric Wright returns an interception that snuffed a Tiger drive. |
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MVP James Wilder gets a finger in the eye.
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Attendance-53,064
Scoring Summary
First Quarter UM- Gant 13 run (Brockhaus kick) LSU- FG Conway 37
Second Quarter UM- Winslow 16 pass from Bradley (Brockhaus kick) UM- Wilder 4 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter LSU- Alexander 1 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter LSU- Woodley 4 run (pass failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing LSU- Alexander 24-133 UM- Wilder 28-115, Gant 8-45
Passing LSU- Woodley 9-22-123 UM- Bradley 11-21-117
Receiving LSU- Quintella 6-81, Carson 6-77 UM- Wilder 4-20
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MEMPHIS,
Tenn. (UPI) Workhorse running back James Wilder ripped the LSU defense
for 115 yards and one touchdown Saturday and Missouri withstood a
second-half comeback to whip the Bengals 20-15 in the 20th
annual Liberty Bowl.
