From: ajj@zycor.lgc.com (Andrew Jackson)
Subject: Best of the Eighties (_BOWL BOUND_)
Summary: PSU v. UCLA
Organization: Landmark/Zycor   Austin, Texas
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 14:11:03 GMT


PENN STATE (1986) SMOTHERS UCLA (1982)


As expected, the Penn State defense dominated this game of the
"Best of the Eighties (BOWL BOUND)" tournament. UCLA was coming
off a 15 - 7 victory over Florida (1984). This victory impressed
Lee Corso enough to pick UCLA for his upset special: "Penn State
is too big and slow. UCLA wins going away and you can take it to the
bank!" Paterno read this before the game to fire up his team. :-)

UCLA did get off to a fast start. They returned the initial kickoff
65 yard to the Lions' 34. After a quick breakaway by Kevin Nelson
for 16 yards, the Lions' defense stiffened and halted the drive on
the 10 yard line. John Lee kicked the field goal (3 - 0, UCLA).

Neither team showed much ability to move the ball in the first half.
The exception was Penn State's second possesion which started on their
36 yard line after a punt. Their running attack of D.J. Dozier and
Blair Thomas drove steadily into Bruin territory. After Dozier ran
for 16 yards to the Bruin 6, UCLA's defense stiffened and forced the
Lions to settle for a Massimo Manca 23-yard field goal (3 - 3 tie).

The Bruins turned the ball over twice in the first quarter. The first
was an interception on the first play after returning the Lions' punt
to the 43-yard line. Ramsey dropped back, but Shane Conlan picked off
the pass and returned the ball 64 yards to the Bruins' 6. After an
illegal motion penalty and a 1 yard loss, Dozier broke through from
the 12-yard line (10 - 3, PSU). The Bruins fumbled on their next
possesion. The Nittany Lions recovered on UCLA's 30-yard line with
an excellent chance to put it away early. The Bruins' defense put
together another fine defensive stand and forced Penn State to settle
for a 42-yard field goal (13 - 3, PSU). The Lions' last score of the
half was a safety. The Lions pinned UCLA on their own 5 after a punt.
UCLA ran for 8 yards and got some room. On the next play, Ramsey dropped
back to pass, but the Lions were blitzing and Bob White sacked Ramsey
in the end zone. The Lions had good field position after the free kick,
but Shaffer threw the interception on the last play of the half.

	First Half:	UCLA         3
			Penn State  15

Neither team moved the ball in their first possesions of the second
half. Penn State began their second possesion on the 14 after a fair
catch. After seven plays - among them a break through by Dozier for
32 yards and another by Thomas for 28 yards - the Bruins again stopped
the drive and forced a 32 yard FG (18 - 3, PSU). UCLA showed no ability
to move the ball in the third quarter. Their next possesion resulted
in a fumble when Ramsey was stripped of the ball on a sack. Penn State
could not move the ball and even missed a 35 yard FG. The Nittany Lions
would hold on to the ball almost 11 minutes in the third quarter. The
closest the Bruins came to scoring was a missed 40 yard FG set up after
a 51 yard completion to Jojo Townsell.

UCLA was given new life early in the fourth quarter. Penn State fumbled
on their own 19. After a Lion offsides, Ramsey completed a 14 yard
sprint out pass to Townsell for a TD (18 - 10, PSU). The Lions came
storming back. After a touchback, the Lions struck back with a 31 yard
counter run by Dozier. The Bruins committed a personal foul the next
play, but the drive stalled and Manca kicked his fourth FG, a 37 yarder
(21 - 10, PSU).

The Bruins were not finished yet. Returning the kickoff to the 26,
they engineered their only sustained drive of the game. The highlight
was a 20 yard reverse by Danny Andrews. They drove to the Lions's 11,
but the defense stiffened and UCLA, with six minuites remaining, kicked
a 29 yard FG (21 - 13, PSU). Penn State's next possesion stalled and
Manca missed a 52 yard FG giving the Bruins possesion on the Lions' 35
with four and a half minutes. But after a 5 yard run, Ramsey dropped
back and was picked off by Duffy Cobb at the Lions' 35. After being
stuffed for no gain, Dozier broke thorough on a reverse and from 65 yards
out: "LOOK AT HIM GO! HE JUST COULD GO ALL THE WAY! (28 - 13, PSU).
Any remaining hope for the Bruins ended on the next possesion when they
fumbled on their first play.

Summary:
It was vintage Joe Paterno football. The defense smothered the Bruins'
offense - especially the running game - and tallies four sacks. They
also forced turnovers that often gave the Nittany Lions' offense
offense good field position. Penn State got 17 points off turnovers.
The Lions' offense pounded away on the ground and hogged the ball
(almost 11 minutes in the third quarter).

Score by quarters:

                1   2   3   4        Final
               --- --- --- ---       -----
U C L A         3   0   0  10         13
Penn State     10   5   3  10         28

 
                      U C L A                  Penn St.
First downs   :          8                       15
Rushing       :        31-66                   57-299 (2 TDs)
Passing       :     14-25-148-2 (1 TD)        6-11-42-1
Fumbles - lost:         4-3                     2-1
FGM - FGA     :         2-3                     4-6
Penalties     :         6-42                    4-20
Sacks allowed :        4-(-27)                  0-0
Return yards  :         109                      98
Possession    :        24:50                   35:10

The tournament is now going into the quarter-finals. Penn State's
next opponent is a Clemson-1981 team that destroyed SMU-1982 (45-16).
 
Next tournament game:  Miami (1987) vs. Florida State (1987)
		   (Whoa Nellie! Send the kids to bed for this one!)

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Andrew J. Jackson                     voice: 512-282-6969
Landmark/Zycor, Inc.                  fax  : 512-280-6731
220 Foremost Dr.                      email: ajackson@zycor.lgc.com
Austin, TX 78745
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college