Rose Bowl
1967
Purdue 14
USC 13
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) – Purdue escaped with a 14-13 triumph in the
Rose Bowl Monday after Southern California’s surprising Trojans gambled
for two points in a desperate attempt to win and the move failed. As a
jammed crowd of 101,455 stood in suspense with 2:28 remaining, Trojan
quarterback Troy Winslow in the conversion attempt fired a pass intended
for Jim Lawrence. But Co-Captain and defensive back George Catavolos
rushed in to intercept the throw, and the curtain came down moments
later. Winslow, the far less heralded field general for the Trojans,
moved his team to within victory distance with a 19-yard touchdown
strike to Rod Sherman with the clock showing 2:28 left.
The drama in the 21st clash in the big bowl between the Big Ten and the
Pacific-8 was wrapped up in the final eight minutes as Purdue, in its
first appearance ever in this postseason classic, held off the belated
Trojan challenge. Bob Griese, the Boilermakers’ superb quarterback,
directed the visitors to their two touchdowns, and fullback Perry
Williams slammed over from the one and the two-yard lines for the
scores.
Don McCall, Southern Cal’s hard hitting halfback, put the Trojans on the
board with a 7-7 tying burst over the middle from a yard out. Purdue,
after a scoreless first quarter, drove 57 yards for the first touchdown,
and Winslow, McCall, Sherman and mates traveled 44 yards for the tying
touchdown just before the half ended. The Boilermakers went in front
14-7 in the third period and appeared to be home free until the Trojans
fired up in the fourth.
Football writers voted John Charles, Purdue’s tremendous defensive
halfback, as player of the game, and announcement drew heavy applause
from the happy Hoosier fans basking under the bright California sun.
The Boilermakers, two touchdown favorites, took the opening kickoff and
paraded 65 yards in 14 plays, with Griese completing four out of six
passes. But the vaunted Trojan defense stopped the thrust on the
five-yard line. Griese and the Boilermakers mounted another drive,
rolling 57 yards in 16 plays, and this one produced their initial
touchdown.
It took USC two trips into Purdue land before it scored. A fumble by
McCall, recovered by the alert Charles, gave Purdue possession on its
nine and blunted the first Trojan thrust. The Trojans came back with
another drive, this one for 44 yards and a one-yard blast by McCall for
their first touchdown tying it at 7-7. The Trojans were helped by a
break in midfield. They were lined up to punt on fourth down when a
Purdue lineman jumped offside. The five yards gave USC the vital first
down, and the drive resumed.
There was still excitement in the wild finish. Purdue had to give up the
ball, and with :21 seconds remaining, USC lined up—only to have the
officials call time for two reasons: The joyous Boilermaker fans had
swarmed onto the playing field, and goal posts at each end had been torn
down. Winslow, however, was thrown for a loss on the final play. Winslow
turned in the days better passing performance hitting on 12 out of 17
throws for 174 yards and a touchdown, while Griese completed 10 of 18
for 139.
Attendance- 101,438
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
PU- Williams 1 run (Griese kick)
USC- McCall 1 run (Roosovich kick)
Third Quarter
PU- Williams 2 run (Griese kick)
USC- Sherman 19 pass from Winslow (pass failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
PU- Williams 20-61, 11-25, Griese 6-15
USC- McCall 22-92, Hull
7-53, Williams 5-29
Passing
PU- Griese 10-18-139
USC: Winslow 12-17-174
Receiving
PU- Beirne 4-69, Hurst 2-27, Griffin 2-19, Baltzell
USC- Sherman 7-102,
Lawrence 3-52, McCall
