1984 NCAA Tournament
The 1984 Tournament was based on the final AP rankings. Last year's champion BYU was knocked out in the Elite 8 by SMU. There were only two lower seeds winning in the opening round. #13 Ohio State beat #4 Nebraska and #12 Maryland beat #5 Boston College.
National Semi Final #1 (Ohio St Buckeyes at SMU Mustangs)
December 29, 1984 @ Ownby Stadium, Temp 40, Clear, No Wind
Ohio State and SMU combined to score 34 points in the second quarter before the defenses took over in the second half. SMU hung on to their halftime lead to defeat the Buckeyes 30-24 and advance to the championship game.
The teams exchanged first quarter touchdowns as Don King scored on a 3yd run for SMU and OSU responed with a John Woolridge 3yrd run to make the game 7-7 after one quarter. Early in the second quarter King threw a 17 yd touchdown pass to Albert Reese. Tomas Esteve missed the exta point and SMU lead 13-7. OSU again answered right back as George Cooper scored on a 3 yd run. With the extra point, OSU went on top 14-13. Jeff Atkins then put SMU back on top with a 38 yd touchdown run 20-14. Again, OSU went right back down the field and Mike Tomczak threw a 7 yd touchdown pass to Mike Lanese putting OSU back in front 21-20. Finally OSU's defense was able to get a stop and with 1:28 left in the half the tried to run out the clock. However, Tomczak coughed up the ball on a run and Ben Hummel recovered for SMU at the OSU 10 yd line. King took advantage and tossed an 8 yd TD pass to Bobby Leach. At the half, SMU had a 27-21 lead. When the teams came back on the field for the second half it was like a new game. Suddenly the defenses took over. OSU managed a 27 yard Rich Spangler field goal at the end of the 3rd quarter and SMU took a 27-24 lead into the 4th. After and exchange of punts SMU got the ball back with 11:24 to play in the game. They then kept the ball for 20 plays killing 9:59 off the clock. The finished the drive with a 20 yd Esteve field goal to make the score 30-24. OSU got the ball back with 1:16 to play. They made it to their 38 yard line, but then David Stanley picked off Tomczak to end OSU's chances. MVP: Don King, SMU, Passing: 213 yds, 2 TD, 181 rating. Rushing: 58 yds, TD For Ohio St: Tomczak 12/27, 151 yds, TD, INT...Byars 93 yds rushing, 76 yds receiving For SMU: King 19/24, 213 yds, 2 TD...Dupard 69 yds rushing...Atkins 87 yds rushing, TD...Morris 6 rec, 100 yds |
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National Semi Final #2 (Florida Gators at Washington Huskies)
December 29, 1984 @ Husky Stadium, Temp 31, Clear, No wind
The Florida Gator defense clamped down on the Huskies offense and led the way to a 22-7 win for Florida.
Florida took the opening kick and looked like they were going to get on the board first, but John Williams fumbled on a 4th and one from the Husky 33 yd line. Fred Small recovered for Washington to end the threat. After a couple of exchanges of punts Washington broke through first on a 1 yd run by Jacque Robinson. Little did Washington know that would be their only points of the day. Midway through the 2nd quarter Chris Perkins kicked a 42 yd field goal to get the Gators on the board. On the next Husky possession Hugh Millen fumbled and Ron Moten of Florida recovered at the Husky 41 yd line. Kerwin Bell then tossed a 29 yd TD pass to Ricky Nattiel and the Gators were up 10-7. On the ensuing drive for Washington Millen fumbled again. Adrian White recovered for the Gators at the Washington 40 yd line. They turned that into another Perkins field goal and the Gators were now in front 13-7 at the half. Washington received the second half kick and things got even worse for Millen. He turned the ball over for the third time, this time getting picked off by Roger Sibbald, setting up the Gators again with great field position, at the Florida 30 yd line. The Gators again cashed in, this time on a 15 yd Lorenzo Hampton run to make it 19-7. The Gators went for two points but Bell's pass for Neal Anderson was broken up. Near the end of the third quarter Perkins kicked another field goal to make the score 22-7. Washington never really threatened in the final quarter and the Gators move on to the championship game. MVP: Tim Newton, Florida: Defense: 10 tackles, 1 stuff, 1 forced fumble. For Florida: Kerwin Bell 11/23, 176 yds, TD...John L Williams 89 yds rushing...Neal Anderson 62 yds rushing...Ricky Nattiel 3 rec, 69 yds, TD...Tim Newton 10 tackles For Washington: Hugh Millen 14/24, 102 yds, INT...Jacque Robinson 55 yds rushing, TD...Joe Kelley 11 tackles |
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National Championship (SMU Mustangs v Florida Gators)
January 5th, 1985 @ The Louisiana Superdome, Temp 62 in the dome, 47 outside
The Florida Gators pulled away from the SMU Mustangs in the 4th quarter and hung on for a 23-17 win to claim the 1984 championship.
Both defenses carried the play early on and each team managed just a field goal in the opening quarter. Tomas Esteve hit from 35 yards out for SMU and Chris Perkins from 37 for Florida. Perkins connected again in the second quarter, this time from 39 yards our and the Gators took a 6-3 lead into halftime. Florida received the second half kick and were forced to punt. SMU then drove the field and scored the first touchdown of the game on a Don King to Albert Reese 6 yd TD pass. SMU now had a 10-6 lead. The Gators responded on their next drive. First Kerwin Bell connected on a 47 yd pass to Frankie Neal. A few plays later, a personal foul penalty on the Mustangs helped move the ball deep into SMU territory. Neal Anderson eventually ran in from one yard out to put the Gators back on top 13-10 as the game then headed to the 4th quarter. After an SMU punt, the Gators got the ball back and put together a solid drive that was again capped by a one yard scoring run from Anderson. The Gators now had a 20-10 lead with just over 10 minutes left to play. SMU got the ball back and put together a much needed drive down to the Florida 30 yd line. But then King tossed a pass to Bobby Leach who was hit and fumbled recovered by the Gators Ron Moten to snuff out the drive. Florida turned that into another field goal by Perkins and now had a 23-10 lead with just over five minutes to play. SMU got the ball back and in desperation mode, came up with touchdown on a Reggie Dupard one yard run. They weren't dead yet and now only trailed 23-17 with just over three minutes left in the game. All they needed was a quick stop to get the ball back and have a chance. It didn't happen as the Gators picked up two first downs to the run out the clock and win the championship game. MVP: Kerwin Bell (Florida) Passing: 176 yds, 165 rating For Florida: Kerwin Bell 15/18, 176 yds...Neal Anderson 40 yds rushing, 2 TD...John L Williams 70 yds rushing...Frankie Neal 58 yds receiving...Keith Williams 9 tackles, sack For SMU: Don King 12/18, 185 yds, TD...Reggie Dupard 69 yds rushing, TD...Marques Pleasant 55 yds receiving |
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