1988 All-American Bowl

1988 All-American Bowl
Bowl Game
Illinois Fighting Illini Florida Gators
(6–5–1) (7–5–0)
10 14
Head coach: 
John Mackovic		 Head coach: 
Galen Hall
1 2 3 4 Total
Illinois 0 7 0 3 10
Florida 7 0 0 7 14
Date December 29, 1988
Season 1988
Stadium Legion Field
Location Birmingham, Alabama
MVP RB Emmitt Smith (Florida)[1]
Attendance 42,890
All-American Bowl
 < 1987  1989 > 

The 1988 All-American Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama between the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the University of Florida Gators on December 29, 1988. The game was the final contest of the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 14–10 victory for Florida.

Game summary

Head Coach John Mackovic led Illinois to a surprising 6-4-1 record and a third-place finish in the Big Ten, earning a berth opposite traditional SEC powerhouse Florida in the All-American Bowl. On the first play from scrimmage, Florida freshman sensation Emmitt Smith scampered 55 yards for a touchdown. Illinois tied the score on a 30-yard run by Keith Jones in the second quarter. After a fourth-quarter Doug Higgins field goal gave Illinois a three-point lead, Smith scored his second touchdown with less than four minutes remaining to give the Gators the victory.

Scoring summary

Quarter Team Scoring summary Score
Illinois Florida
1 FloridaEmmitt Smith 55-yard touchdown run, John Francis kick good 0 7
2 IllinoisKeith Jones 30-yard touchdown run, Doug Higgins kick good 7 7
3 7 7
4 IllinoisDoug Higgins 44-yard field goal 10 7
FloridaEmmitt Smith 2-yard touchdown run, John Francis kick good 10 14
10 14

Statistical summary

Team Statistics

(Rushing-Passing-Total): UI - 55-194-249; UF - 187-69-256.

Individual Statistical Leaders

Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI - Jones 18-88-1; UF - Smith 28-159-2.

Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI - Jeff George 37-20-2-0-194; UF - Kyle Morris 12-6-2-0-50.

Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI - Mike Bellamy 5-49-0; Steven Williams 5-49-0; UF - Terence Barber 4-29-0.

References

  1. ↑ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Most Valuable Players in Former Major Bowls" (PDF). 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 100. Retrieved October 1, 2011.