Their hopes blasted by a heartbreaking last-minute fumble by Quarterback Lynne McNutt, the Kansas Jayhawkers bowed to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 14 to 20 in a spectacular grid battle in Miami’s Orange Bowl this afternoon.
Faced with a 6-point deficit, Kansas recovered a fumble on the Tech 44 and moved to the 23-yard line where McNutt pitched to Otto Schnellbacher who raced down the sideline for what looked like a touchdown.
The officials ruled the Jayhawker end stepped out of bounds on the 10, however, and All-America Ray Evans plunged to the two. The fateful fumble occurred on the next play with a minute and 10 seconds to go and Tech stalled until the final gun.
First Quarter
Georgia Tech won the toss and elected to receive. Matthews took Evans’ kickoff on the goal line and returned to the 21. Tech lost 9 yards in two plays and Williams’ partially blocked punt was taken by Evans on the 45 and returned to the 40. Kansas lost three yards in three tries and Pattee was thrown on the 40 yard-line trying to run on a fourth down bad pass from center.
Tech chalked up a first down in two running plays and an 8-yard pass. Still to Castleberry, on the Kansas 37, Kansas held and Bowen punted into the end zone. Pattee skirted right end for four yards and Evans picked up a first down on the 36 with a 12-yard plunge thru center. Kansas lost two yards on a running play and two passes and Pattee punted out 40 yards to Petit on the Tech 26 from where the ball was returned to the 35. Three plays failed to produce a first down and Williams booted a 58-yard punt out of bounds on the Kansas 4 yard line.
The Jayhawkers picked up four yards and Scott punted out to Petit who was nailed on the Kansas 47. Tech picked up a first down, but K.U. stiffened as the first quarter ended.
Second Quarter
Kansas smeared Mathews for a 10 yard loss and Williams punted to the Kansas 6. Bertuzzi and Evans drove to the 15 and Pattee punted 40 yards to the Tech 45. Tech lost three yards and Williams punted to Evans who returned to the 12. Kansas was penalized to the one-half yard line. Patee punted to Mathews who returned to the Kansas 26. After a futile line plunge and an incomplete pass, Still rifled to Patton for the first touchdown of the game. Bowen’s try for extra point was good and Tech led 7 to 0.
French took the kickoff and raced it back 20 yards to the Kansas 35. Evans pitched to Schnellbacher for 18 yards. Griffith slashed a 12 yard path around left end for 12 yards. Evans skirted right end for five. Griffith tucked in 6 yards in two plunges and Hogan rifled 17 yards to French. Taking a hand-off from Hogan, all-American Evans ripped the center of the Tech line for 13 yards and a Kansas touchdown. Fambrough’s try for extra point was good, knotting the score at 7 all.
Petit took Evans kickoff and returned to the 12. Checked for a 3-yard gain, Williams botted to Scott who returned to the Tech 45. Kansas gained 1 yard in 3 tries and Pattee kicked out on the Tech 20. Tech lost two yards and Still punted out on the Kansas 46. Evans faded to pass and lost 11 yards. A Hogan to Schnellbacher pass was incomplete, and Schmidt caught a pitch from Evans out of bounds, but got a first down on the Tech 43 on an interference penalty. Griffith and Evans plunged for 16 yards in three plays as the half ended. Score, Kansas 7, Georgia Tech 7.
Third Quarter
McCoy returned Evans kickoff to the Tech 15. Sparked by Still’s perfect pitches, Tech moved to the Kansas 15 where Still rifled to Queen who went over for the second touchdown. Bowen’s try for extra point was good and Tech went out in front 14 to 7. Evans took Jordan’s long kickoff boot in the end zone and returned to the Kansas 20. Kansas was held for two yards and Pattee booted out to Mathews who stopped at the Tech 40. Bowen and McCoy ran for 9 yards and Still pitched a long pass to Jordan who went over the goal line, but the gain was nullified by in off sides penalty.
Williams punted out on the Kansas 21. Evans hit center for 4 but Scott’s pass was intercepted by Smith on the K.U. 35. On 5 running plays and a 12-yard toss from Still to Broadnax, Tech moved to the Kansas 4 where Still passed to Patton who outran Schnellbacher for the third marker. Bowen’s try for the extra point was wide. Griffith caught Jordan’s kickoff and ran back to the 20. Evans failed on two pass attempts to Schnellbacher and McNutt and then heaved a 34-yard toss to End Bryan Sperry who made a great catch the closely guarded. Score Georgia Tech 20, Kansas 7.
Fourth Quarter
Kansas gained a yard and Scott punted into the end zone. Tech got and automatic first down on a holding penalty, but failed to gain and Williams punted to Hogan on the Kansas 44. Scott smashed center for 3 yards, Hogan passed to Sperry for seven yards. Pattee gained ten yards and Hogan passed to Pattee for 8. Kansas picked up five yards and Hogan rifled a pass to Sperry who was thrown on the Tech 12. Scott dropped a backward pass for a 6-yard loss. Tech was penalized five yards and All-America Ray Evans took a 13-yard pass from Hogan for a touchdown.
Bowen hit center for 2. Queen broke loose but fumbled and K.U. recovered on Tech 42. French and Evans made five to the 42 after a delay penalty on Kansas. McNutt passed to Schnellbacher who was ruled out on Tech 10. Evans hit center for 8. The Yellow Jackets were penalized to the one. McNutt fumbled and Tech recovered on the two. Georgia Tech froze the ball the remaining minute with the quarterback holding the ball.
The bowl spectacle got under way at 2 p.m. when bands from the University of Kansas, Miami and other surrounding communities massed on the playing field to play the national anthem.
Under a clear sky with temperatures in the upper 70’s, the 60,000 fans packed into the huge bowl let out a great cheer as the music ended and the game got underway.
The throng included scores of celebrities and sports figures and the governors of three statesFrank Carlson, of Kansas, M.E. Thompson, of Georgia, and Millard Caldwell, of Florida.
The featured final spot in the gala half-time ceremonies was reserved for the colorful band of the University of Kansas whose trip to Miami was made possible by a fund-raising drive directed by Governor Frank Carlson.
The attendance was 59,578.
