1978 Fiesta Bowl

The 1978 Fiesta Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between the #8 Arkansas Razorbacks from the Southwest Conference, and the #15 UCLA Bruins from the Pacific-10 Conference. The game ended in a 10-10 tie before 55,227 spectators.^[1]

Setting

Arkansas

With a win over Texas A&M, Arkansas clinched a Fiesta Bowl berth.^[2] Entering the game, Arkansas had come off a 49-7 win over Texas Tech, and was 10-2 overall.^[3] The Razorbacks began the season at #2 in the AP poll, but consecutive losses at Texas and at Houston dropped the Razorbacks from SWC title contention. Ron Calcagni led the team at quarterback, while Ben Cowins was the leading rusher for the Hogs. Bruins head coach Terry Donahue said before the game that the UCLA defense would try to slow down an Arkansas rushing attack that "couldn't be stopped".^[4]

Game summary

Jim Howard sacked UCLA QB Steve Bukich, but he fumbled, and Arkansas recovered at the UCLA 37. Roland Sales would punch it in from four yards out to give the Hogs a 7-0 advantage. The Razorbacks added a field goal from Ish Ordonez, stretching the lead to 10. UCLA took the second half kickoff and drove it for a field goal from Peter Boermaester. Down 10-3, UCLA was set to field a Razorback punt in the fourth quarter. An interference penalty added yardage, giving the Bruins the football at midfield. Severne Reece caught a Bukich pass at the Hog 14, and Bukich would rush it in on the following play. The game was tied at 10-10 with 8:32. Neither team could get the ball past midfield again, and the tie stood.

Statistics

References