Fiesta Bowl
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Game History
Back to Game List7TH ANNUAL FIESTA BOWL
Dec. 25, 1977 |
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Penn State was known for its shove-it-down-your-throat type football. Arizona State was known for its potent aerial assault.
In Fiesta Bowl VII, the basic fundamental style proved better of the two, as the Nittany Lions flexed their muscles in the second half to pull away from Arizona State, 42-30, in front of a record crowd of 57,727.
Both teams had their chances. But Penn State took advantage of every opportunity and then some to post the very exciting victory.
The Nittany Lions turned a blocked punt and a fumble recovery into a pair of first quarter touchdowns to post a lead they would never relinquish.
Arizona State never gave up in the contest, pulling within three points just before halftime and trailing by only six points midway through the fourth quarter.
But the running of Penn State backs Steve Geise and Bob Torrey took its toll. Geise finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, while Torrey ran for 107 yards and a score on just nine carries.
Matt Suhey added 76 yards and two touchdowns, as the Nittany Lions racked up 268 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Dennis Sproul had a solid game for ASU, completing 23 of 47 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns. He was named the offensive player of the game and earned the first ever Art Bodine Sportsmanship Award, which was voted on by the officials.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Penn State | 14 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 42 |
| Arizona State | 0 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 30 |
HOW THEY SCORED
| PSU | ASU | |
| 7 | 0 | Joe Lally 21 yard blocked punt return (Matt Bahr kick) |
| 14 | 0 | Bob Torrey 3 yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Bahr kick) |
| 14 | 7 | Arthur Lane 11 yard pass from Dennis Sproul (Steve Hicks kick) |
| 17 | 7 | Bahr 22 yard field goal |
| 17 | 14 | Ron Washington 13 yard pass from Sproul (Hicks kick) |
| 24 | 14 | Steve Geise 18 yard run (Bahr kick) |
| 31 | 14 | Matt Suhey 3 yard run (Bahr kick) |
| 31 | 21 | Washington 30 yard pass from Sproul (Hicks kick) |
| 34 | 21 | Bahr 32 yard field goal |
| 34 | 28 | George Perry 1 yard run (Hicks kick) |
| 42 | 28 | Suhey 3 yard run (Bahr kick) |
| 42 | 30 | Safety. Fitzkee tackled in end zone |
YARDSTICK
| PSU | ASU | |
| 18 | First Downs | 29 |
| 50-268 | Rushes-Yards | 45-90 |
| 83 | Passing Yards | 336 |
| 9-23-0 | Passes | 23-47-2 |
| 91 | Return Yards | 1 |
| 7-40.0 | Punts | 5-34.8 |
| 1-0 | Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 |
| 12-126 | Penalties - Yards | 5-33 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – PENN STATE: Steve Geise 26-111, Bob Torrey 9-107, Matt Suhey 13-76, Chuck Fusina 2-(-26). ARIZONA STATE: Mike Harris 20-56, Dennis Sproul 15-16, Arthur Lane 4-9, Newton Williams 3-6, George Perry 3-3.
PASSING – PENN STATE: Chuck Fusina 9-23-0-83. ARIZONA STATE: Dennis Sproul 23-47-2-336.
RECEIVING – PENN STATE: Jimmy Cefalo 3-39, Steve Geise 2-10, Scott Fitzkee 1-24, Mickey Schuler 1-7, Bob Torrey 1-3, Booker Moore 1-0. ARIZONA STATE: Chris De France 7-123, John Jefferson 5-56, Ron Washington 4-76, Marshall Edwards 4-60, Arthur Lane 2-17, Newton Williams 1-4.
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