The 1973 Peach Bowl was the sixth annual Peach Bowl, featuring the Georgia Bulldogs and the Maryland Terrapins.

1973 Peach Bowl
1234 Total
Georgia 01070 17
Maryland 01006 16
DateDecember 28, 1973
Season1973
StadiumAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium
LocationAtlanta, Georgia
MVPTB Louis Carter (Maryland)
LB Sylvester Boler (Georgia)
RefereePete Williams (SEC;
split crew: SEC, ACC)
Attendance38,107
United States TV coverage
NetworkMizlou
Peach Bowl
 < 1972  1974

Background

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Four losses in six games in the middle of the Bulldogs season lead them to finish tied for fifth place in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), going 2–1 against ranked teams, beating #19 NC State and #11 Tennessee, but losing to #1 Alabama. After 17 years, the Terrapins made their first bowl appearance since the late 1950s Led by Jerry Claiborne, in his second year at the program, Maryland tied for second-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was the first Peach Bowl appearance for both teams.[1]

Game summary

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Jimmy Poulos gave the Bulldogs the lead on a touchdown catch from Johnson to break the scoreless tie in the second quarter with 5:27 in the quarter.[1] Walter White caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Carter to tie the game 23 seconds later.[1] His reception proved to be Maryland's only touchdown of the day. Mayer and Leavitt traded field goals to make the game even at 10 at halftime. A Terrapin fumble gave the Bulldogs the ball in Maryland territory which culminated with an Andy Johnson touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 17–10 lead with 4:24 in the third. The Terrapins narrowed the margin on two Mike Mayer field goals in the final quarter to make it a one-point game with seven minutes remaining, but they did not get any closer as Georgia held on to win consecutive bowl games for the first time in seven years.[1]

Aftermath

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The Terrapins created an ACC dynasty the following season, winning the next three ACC titles, culminating with an appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The Terrapins did not return to the Peach Bowl until 2002. The Bulldogs did not win another bowl game for eight years following this game. Georgia returned to the Peach Bowl in 1989.

Statistics

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Statistics Georgia Maryland
First Downs 11 15
Yards Rushing 170 219
Yards Passing 114 242
Return Yards 135 78
Total Yards 419 539
Punts-Average 8-41.3 6-31.8
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 4-3
Interceptions 1 1
Penalties-Yards 1-5 5-63

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Georgia Triumphs in Peach Bowl, 17 to 16". The New York Times. December 29, 1973. Retrieved March 20, 2019.