From: mbs@zycor.lgc.com (Matt Shostak)
Subject: Greatest of the Eighties (BOWL BOUND)
Organization: Landmark/Zycor   Austin, Texas
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 16:24:03 GMT



Georgia Stops Florida State 28 - 23, Advances to Final


The 1980 Georgia Bulldogs, on the strength of their explosive running game,
advanced to the final of our Greatest of the Eighties (BOWL BOUND) tournament
by topping the 1987 Florida State Seminoles, 28 - 23.  There they will face
the winner of the Michigan (1985) vs. Clemson (1981) game.

The Seminole defense came out fired up, and kept Herschel Walker and the 
rest of the Georgia backfield bottled up for most of the game, including
the opening possession, when the Bulldogs failed to gain a first down.
Florida State was able to move into field goal range, but the 49-yard
attempt was blocked.  Georgia fumbled on the return but kept possession at
their 35.  A penalty set them back to the twenty, where they were again
forced to punt after gaining only 5 yards on 3 plays.  Neither side
could move the ball until the Bulldogs took over on their own 17 on their
fourth possession.  Despite being stuffed for no gain on three of their
first four plays, Georgia embarked on a 12-play drive, sparked by a gallop
from Walker for 25 yards and capped by a 12-yard TD toss from Buck Belue
to Amp Arnold early in the second quarter.

Casey Weldon was intercepted on Florida State's very next play, giving
Georgia possession at the FSU 12.  It took four plays for the Bulldogs
to score their second TD, on a 2-yard plunge by Walker  (14-0 Georgia).
The Seminoles responded quickly, as Dexter Carter broke free for 53 yards
to key a 6-play drive ending in a 40-yard field goal by Derek Schmidt.
On their very next drive, facing third and two at their own 21, Weldon
hit WR Ronald Lewis on a 79-yard bomb to make it 14-10, which concluded
the first half scoring.

Each team failed to score on its first three possessions of the second
half.  On their fourth try, FSU held the ball for 12 plays, only to miss
a 28-yard field goal attempt. This miss would haunt FSU.

The fourth quarter had some fireworks, as both running games exploded.
Walker had been stopped so far, but he finally made an impact.
He romped 76 yards to the FSU 3.  Two plays later he powered
in for the score (21-10 Georgia).  Florida State's Sammie Smith responded
on the very next drive with a 61-yard touchdown jaunt of his own.  After
an exchange of punts, Walker burst through the middle for a 52-yard 
touchdown to make it 28-17, Georgia.  The Bulldogs then went into a prevent
defense with 5:10 left in the game, and FSU needed all of that time to go
80 yards in 18 plays, where Dexter Carter went in from the 2 as time
expired (28-23 Georgia).  Two holding penalties during the drive hurt
the Seminoles' comeback hopes. Had the 28-yard field goal been converted
earlier, FSU could have tied on a touchdown and 2 point conversion.

Florida State played an excellent game, especially on defense, where
they continually frustrated the vaunted Bulldog rushing attack. 
Except for 2 long runs in the 4th quarter, FSU held Georgia to 167 yards
on 56 carries for a 2.9 yard average.  Georgia coach
Vince Dooley, however, did not get away from his game plan, as
he repeatedly gave Walker the ball from deep in the I-formation, hoping
to wear the FSU defense down.  Georgia survived 5 fumbles (3 by Walker)
without a turnover, and FSU finally did break down in the fourth quarter
to give up the two clinching scores.  "This game easily could have gone
the other way," said Dooley.  "We got some breaks, especially on the
fumbles.  The turnovers really were the difference, since they moved the
ball pretty well on us.  Whether it's Clemson or Michigan in the final,
we've got our work cut out for us."



                  1     2     3     4       Final
                 ^^^   ^^^   ^^^   ^^^      ^^^^^
Georgia           0    14     0    14        28
Florida State     0    10     0    13        23


                      Georgia              Florida State
First downs:            12                      16
Rushing:              58-295                  52-312
Passing:              4-7-41, 1TD        11-24-201, 1TD 2INT
Return yards:           93                      78
Penalties:             4-33                    7-65
Sacks allowed:          0-0                     0-0
Fumbles-lost:           5-0                     0-0
Possession:            29:20                   30:40
FGM-FGA:                0-0                     1-3 (1 blk)


-- 
Matthew B. Shostak              Landmark/Zycor
mbs@zycor.lgc.com               (512) 292-2357
"So you think you are strong because you can survive the soft cushions.
 Well, we shall see." -- Cardinal Ximinez
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college