Orange Bowl
1969
Penn State 15
Kansas 14
MIAMI- Fifty-nine minutes of unexpectedly dull football erupted in a
madcap closing minute as Penn State came from behind to win the Orange
Bowl game from Kansas, 15-14 here Wednesday night (video).
A 47-yard pass-from midfield as the final minute started, followed by a
three-yard rollout by quarterback Chuck Burkhart brought the Nittany
Lions their second touchdown with only 15 seconds on the clock. But they
still trailed 14-13 and true to his promise while the Lion's were
training for the game in West Palm Beach, Coach Joe Paterno told his
team to try for two points rather than settle for a more certain one
point and a tie. The pass failed, but Kansas had 12 men on the field and
drew a penalty to the one-and-a-half-yard line. Oh the second chance,
halfback Bob Campbell ran it over for the winning points (video).
There was still time for another kickoff, but the inspired Lions were
not about to give up their suddenly realized triumph. It preserved the
undefeated record of the Lions in 11 games even though their defense did
not bottle up Kansas quite as effectively as they had anticipated. For
the 77,719 fans. the wild windup saved the evening when the expected
high-scoring duel instead developed into a bruising defensive battle.
Kansas seemingly had it won, even though outplayed statistically, when
the smallest Jayhawker of them all, Donnie Shanklin, raced 46 yards with
a punt return to set up the go ahead score early in the fourth period.
At 168 pounds Shanklin was outsized but not outfooted. He gathered in a
40-yard punt, scooted to his right, raced up the sideline, slanted back
to midfield, shook off tacklers until the last of the Lions, Charlie
Pittman, caught him at the seven. In two plays. John Riggins slammed
across and the 14-7 score looked good until the very last few seconds.
The play earned Shanklin the game's most valuable player award, but the
press box votes had been counted before Campbell, the game's leading
rusher, slammed over for the winning two-pointer. Campbell gained l0l
yards in 18 carries out of Penn State's 207 on the ground. The winning
Lions gained another 154 in 12 completed passes out of 23, all by
Burkhart.
Penn State's enthusiastic followers survived repeated early frustrations
before the Nittany Lions pulled into a 7-7 halftime tie. Three times the
Lions gave up the ball to spoil early marches. Kansas linebackers,
Mickey Doyle and Pat Hutchens intercepted Lion passes and Emery Hicks
pounced on a fumble to demonstrate the alert Jayhawker defense.
Hutchens’ interception at Penn State's 45 started the first scoring
drive. Kansas went the 45 yards in nine running plays. Donnie Shanklin
and John Riggins carrying to the two from where reserve Mike Reeves
bulled across. Bill Bell's placement was good.
Penn State needed seven minutes, which took them four minutes into the
second quarter, to even the score. Hard-running halfback Bob Campbell
got loose for 16 and again for five while Charlie Pittman and Tom Cherry
slammed through gaping holes to take the Lions to the 13 and again the
Penn State line blocked tremendously, shooting Pittman off left tackle
for the TD. Bob Garthwaite’s kick tied it at 7 all.
While the customers settled back for the customary halftime pageantry of
bands, floats and queens, the statistics belied the 7-7-score. Penn
State had gained 222 yards, exactly twice the Kansas total, but two
early fumbles and two interceptions were the equalizers. The Lions got
close enough at the end of the first half to try a 31yard field goal but
Garthwaite's attempt was way wide and short.
After gaining a lot of yardage but only one score by ground in the
first half. Penn State came out throwing the ball in the third quarter,
moved 67 yards, chiefly on Chuck Burkhart's passes to All-America end
Ted Kwalick. Two of the tosses netted 40 yards.
But the Lions could not pick up the final 12 inches after having a first
down on the five. Fullback Tom Cherry was sent into the middle of the
line three straight plays, only to finish one foot short, and a fourth
down slant Pittman was stopped at the two.
Bobby Douglass led the Jayhawkers out of the trouble zone with
scrambling runs and three key passes to different receivers. Junior
Riggins, George McGowan and John Jackson. But after yielding 72 yards,
the Lions' defense stiffened, forced a 42-yard field goal attempt by
Bell who didn't get enough distance into the effort.
Orange Bowl Cartoon
Ron Shanklin
Bobby Douglas
Campbell scores the game winning 2 point conversion in front of Zook
Attendance- 77,719
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
KU- Reeves 2 run (Bell kick)
Second Quarter
PSU- Pittman 13 run (Garthwaite kick)
Fourth Quarter
KU- Riggins 1 run (Bell kick)
PSU- Burkhart 3 run (Campbell run)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
PSU- Campbell 18-102, Pittman 14-61
KU- Riggins 18-52, Douglass- 20-50
Passing
PSU- Burkhart 12-23-152
KU- Douglas 9-17-165
Receiving
PSU- Kwalik 6-74, Campbell 2-55
KU- Mosier 5-77, Shanklin 1-42
