1983 Sugar Bowl

The 1983 Sugar Bowl was the 49th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday, January 1. Part of the 1982–83 bowl game season, it matched the undefeated and top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the #2 Penn State Nittany Lions, an independent.[1] Penn State won 27–23 to finish atop the final polls as national champions.[2][3][4][5]

1983 Sugar Bowl
49th edition
Penn State Nittany Lions Georgia Bulldogs
(10–1) (11–0)
Independent Southeastern
27 23
Head coach: 
Joe Paterno		 Head coach: 
Vince Dooley
APCoaches
22
APCoaches
11
1234 Total
Penn State 71307 27
Georgia 3776 23
DateJanuary 1, 1983
Season1982
StadiumLouisiana Superdome
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
MVPTodd Blackledge
(Penn State QB)
FavoritePenn State by 4 points
RefereeVance Carlson (Big Eight)
Attendance78,127
United States TV coverage
NetworkABC
AnnouncersKeith Jackson and Frank Broyles

Teams
Main article: 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season

Penn State
Main article: 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Georgia
Main article: 1982 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Game summary

The game kicked off shortly after 7 p.m. CST, televised by ABC, at the same time as the Orange Bowl on NBC.[1]

In the first quarter, Penn State running back Curt Warner scored on a 2-yard touchdown run and the Nittany Lions led 7–0. He finished the game with 117 yards rushing. Georgia got on the board in the first quarter following a 27-yard field goal from Kevin Butler to make it 7–3.

In the second quarter, Nick Gancitano kicked a 38-yard field goal to put the Nittany Lions atop 10–3. Warner added a 9-yard touchdown run, and Gancitano a 45-yard field goal for Penn State to take a commanding 20–3 lead. Bulldog quarterback John Lastinger threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Herman Archie to cut the margin to 20–10 at halftime.[2][3]

In the third quarter, Georgia running back Herschel Walker scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, cutting the margin to 20–17. Penn State responded in the fourth quarter with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Todd Blackledge to wide receiver Gregg Garrity to give Penn State a 27–17 lead. Lastinger threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Clarence Kay to close the margin to 27–23, the final score.[2][3][4]

Scoring summary
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP PSU UGA
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 27 23

Statistics
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 2 Nittany Lions 7 13 0 7 27
No. 1 Bulldogs 3 7 7 6 23
StatisticsPSUUGA
First downs1919
Plays–yards67–36774–326
Rushes–yards44–13946–160
Passing yards228166
Passing: Comp–Att–Int13–23–012–28–2
Time of possession30:3829:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Penn StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
GeorgiaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
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References
  1. "Sugar Bowl foes eye No. 1 test". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). January 1, 1983. p. 15.
  2. Donovan, Dan (January 2, 1983). "Penn State triumphs, 27-23; No. 1 next?". Pittsburgh Press. p. C1.
  3. "No. 2 Lions sweeten bid to be No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1983. p. 1D.
  4. Papanek, John (January 10, 1983). "But how 'bout them Lions?". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.
  5. Donovan, Dan (January 3, 1983). "National title belongs to players - Paterno". Pittsburgh Press. p. C1.
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