Sun Bowl
1968
Auburn 34
Arizona 10
By BARRY O'ROARK
Las Cruces Sun News
December 29, 1968
Issac
Newton once stated, "All that goes up must come down," thus spelling out
his law of gravity and the University of Arizona's fate Saturday in the
34th annual Sun Bowl game in El Paso, Tex.
The Arizona Wildcats’ demise came at the hands of a tough University of Auburn defense who stole eight errant passes and returned one for a touchdown in route to a 34-10 victory.
Arizona, in their first bowl game appearance in the school's history, could not overcome their mistakes or the tough Auburn defense despite recovering one fumble and intercepting three passes themselves.
There was an omen as to the outcome on the very first play of the game when Arizona's quarterback Bruce Lee dropped back to pass and released the ball right into the waiting arms Auburn's left safety Don Webb.
However, Auburn was not able to score on the heels of this, their first break of the game.
Two series later Auburn's Buddy McClinton stole his first of three passes off the fingers of Arizona's Hal Arnason, but once again Auburn was not able to convert the break six points.
After a pair of interceptions, Auburn's John Riley kicked his first field goal from 52 yards out and tied a Sun Bowl record for distance, the old one being set in 1962 by Jim McKce of Ohio University.
With the score 3-0, Auburn's Loran Carter dropped back and released the ball to Mickey Zofko 39 yards down field who streaked the remaining 26 yards for the first touchdown of the game. John Riley kicked the point after which made the score 10-0 for Auburn.
Arizona, not wanting to be left out, came back with 7:51 left in second quarter and scored by the toe of Steve Hurley who connected with a 37 yard field bringing the score to 10-3.
With 54 seconds left on the clock in the first half, Arizona's Bruce Lee connected with Hal Aranson on a 12 yard pass for their first touchdown Riley then kicked the point which tied the score at 10-10, where the half ended.
The third quarter, however, was all Auburn as was the fourth.
In the third quarter the Tigers scored two touchdowns within 24 seconds which proved to be too much for the stubborn Arizona defense.
The first score came on a nine yard run by the quarterback Tommy Traylor. Traylor guided his team to the TD by carrying the ball on four of the five plays and finally the score. Riley then kicked the extra point bringing the score to 17-10 for Auburn.
Arizona then took the kickoff at their 15 yard line where Lee threw his fifth interception. It was taken by McClinton and returned 32 yards for the score. Riley again kicked the extra point bringing the score to 24-10.
Auburn’s Buddy McClinton was voted the Most Valuable player for his three pass interceptions and fine defensive play.
McClinton’s teammate, David Campbell, a huge 232 pound defensive tackle, was voted the best lineman for his outstanding job of closing up the middle and his relentless pass rush.
For Auburn this was its first trip to a bowl since 1965 when they lost to Ole Miss in the Liberty Bowl by a score of 14-7. Despite the lopsided score, the game was interesting even to the finish.
It pitted two great teams against one another and the better one suffered the high winds and its own mistakes to bring home the victory.
The Wildcat defense snuffs an Auburn run.
Attendance: 32,302
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
AU- FG Riley 52
AU- Zofko 65 yard pass from Carter (Riley kick)
Second Quarter
UA- FG Hurley 37
UA- Aranson 12 yard pass from Lee (Hurley kick)
Third Quarter
AU- Traylor 9 run (Riley kick)
AU- McClinton 31 yard interception return (Riley kick)
Fourth Quarter
AU- Christian 42 yard pass from Carter (Riley kick)
AU- FG Riley 41 FG
Individual Statistics
Rushing
UA- Fuimaono 18-48, Hustead 16-35, Gardin 1-22
AU- Hurston 14-49, Currier 11-29, Zofko 9-26, Traylor 4-20, Carter 7-14
Passing
UA- Lee 6-24-89, Driscoll 7-20-75;
AU- Carter 7-28-156
Receiving
UA- Gardin 5-74, Sherwood 2-40, Coddington 2-32, Aranson 1-12
AU- Christian 3-62, Zofko 1-65, Currier 1-17
