1953 Sugar Bowl
The 1953 edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the second ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and the seventh ranked Ole Miss Rebels. Georgia Tech won the matchup 24-7 to clinch a national championship. This was the first Sugar Bowl broadcast on television.
Background
The Yellow Jackets were champions of the Southeastern Conference with a 7-0 conference record and ranked #2 going into the game. Ole Miss had finished 3rd in the conference but had an undefeated regular season and were ranked in the Top 10 for the first time ever, highlighted by an upset win of Maryland. This was their first bowl game since 1948 and first ever Sugar Bowl. This was Georgia Tech's first Sugar Bowl since 1944.[1]
Game Summary
Mississippi scored first on a 4-yard touchdown run from Dillard, as they took a 7-0 first quarter lead. In the second quarter, Georgia Tech scored on a 1-yard Brigma run to tie the game at 7. Rodgers kicked a 25-yard field goal as Georgia Tech went up 10-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Leon Hardemann scored on a 6-yard touchdown run as Georgia Tech went up 17-7. In the fourth quarter, Rodgers threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Knox, as Georgia Tech won 24-7. Hardemann went 76 yards on 14 rushes with one touchdown and was named MVP.[2]
Aftermath
Both teams would make two more Sugar Bowls appearances in the 1950s, with Ole Miss making 4 more in the 1960s.
Statistics
| Statistics | GT | Ole Miss |
|---|
| First Downs | 16 | 15 |
| Yards Rushing | 194 | 137 |
| Yards Passing | 101 | 103 |
| Total Yards | 295 | 287 |
| Punts-Average | 6-41.8 | 7-35.4 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 5-2 | 5-3 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties-Yards | 5-42 | 6-60 |
|
References