Fiesta Bowl
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Game History
Back to Game List5TH ANNUAL FIESTA BOWL
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Dec. 26, 1975 |
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Frank Kush will always be remembered as a legendary coach at Arizona State. But in the fifth annual Fiesta Bowl, it was the other Kush – Frank’s son Danny – who will most likely be remembered.
Danny Kush booted a 29-yard field goal with 4:50 remaining in the game and ASU held on to defeat Nebraska, 17-14, in front of a record 51,396 fans at Sun Devil Stadium.
Arizona State battled from behind to post its fourth Fiesta Bowl triumph in as many trips. Many considered Fiesta Bowl V as the game that put the Fiesta Bowl on the map.
Nebraska jumped out to a 7-3 lead and looked good enough to take that margin into the locker room at halftime. But the Sun Devils, behind the passing of Dennis Sproul, marched down the field in just over a minute, and Kush finished the drive with a 33-yard field goal to make the score 7-6 at the break.
The Cornhuskers took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 91 yards, culminating the drive with a four-yard touchdown run by Monte Anthony.
Trailing 14-6, ASU began playing catch-up. After Sproul was injured on a quarterback sneak, Fred Mortensen entered the game and, on just his second play, hit offensive player of the game John Jefferson for a 10-yard TD strike. Mortensen then hit Larry Mucker with the two-point conversion to even the score at 14-14.
Kush hit the game-winner on ASU’s next possession, and the Sun Devil defense preserved the victory.
It was the first game outside the “Big Four” pitting two teams with shots at winning the national title. ASU finished the season 12-0 and a No. 2 ranking in both national polls, while Nebraska wound up 10-2.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Arizona State | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 17 |
| Nebraska | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
YARDSTICK
| NEB | ASU | |
| 20 | First Downs | 20 |
| 57-198 | Rushes-Yards | 37-162 |
| 90 | Passing Yards | 173 |
| 12-23-1 | Passes | 15-37-2 |
| 20 | Return Yards | 0 |
| 7-39.4 | Punts | 5-37.2 |
| 2-2 | Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 |
| 4-38 | Penalties - Yards | 6-54 |
HOW THEY SCORED
| NEB | ASU | |
| 0 | 3 | Danny Kush 27 yard field goal |
| 7 | 3 | Monte Anthony 1 yard run (Mike Coyle kick) |
| 7 | 6 | Kush 33 yard field goal |
| 14 | 6 | Anthony 4 yard run (Coyle kick) |
| 14 | 14 | John Jefferson 10 yard pass from Fred Mortensen (Larry Mucker pass from Mortensen) |
| 14 | 17 | Kush 29 yard field goal |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – NEBRASKA: Monte Anthony 22-94, Tony Davis 17-60, John O’Leary 10-45, Tom Heiser 1-6, Terry Luck 7-(-7). ARIZONA STATE: Fred Williams 18-111, Stan Robinson 8-30, Dennis Sproul 10-19, Fred Mortensen 1-2.
PASSING – NEBRASKA: Terry Luck 12-22-0-90, Vince Ferragamo 0-1-0-0. ARIZONA STATE: Dennis Sproul 14-35-1-163, Fred Mortensen 1-2-1-10.
RECEIVING – NEBRASKA: Bobby Thomas 6-44, Dave Shamblin 2-13, Tom Heiser 2-12, Curtis Craig 1-12, Larry Mushinskie 1-9. ARIZONA STATE: John Jefferson 8-113, Larry Mucker 3-39, Stan Robinson 3-13, Fred Williams 1-8.
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