Fiesta Bowl

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Game History
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8TH ANNUAL FIESTA BOWL

Arkansas  10
UCLA 10


Dec. 25, 1978
Attendance:
 55,227
Offensive Player of the Game:
 James Owens, UCLA
Defensive Player of the Game:
 Jimmy Walker, Arkansas
Sportsmanship Award:
 Kenny Easley, UCLA
Head Coaches:
 Lou Holtz, Arkansas
 Terry Donahue, UCLA
Weather:
 Clear, sunny
Television:
 NBC
Payout Per Team:
 $342,562.70

UCLA and Arkansas engaged in an all out battle in the eighth annual Fiesta Bowl, but when the final gun sounded all there was to show for the effort was a 10-10 tie, the only draw in Fiesta Bowl history.
Neither team was overly pleased with the draw, but then again neither team really could think of a way that the game could have ended any differently.
Both defenses were on the top of their games, there wasn’t a last-second field goal that could have changed the outcome and Arkansas did its scoring in the first half, while UCLA did its scoring in the second half.
All in all, it was a well-played football game by both teams involved.
The Razorbacks got on the scoreboard first, turning a long drive into a four-yard touchdown by Roland Sales.  A 37-yard field goal by Ish Ordonez gave Arkansas and head coach Lou Holtz a 10-0 lead at the intermission.
The Bruins finally got on the scoreboard midway through the third quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Peter Boermeester.
After several defensive stops, Arkansas held UCLA on downs and forced the Bruins to punt.  But the Razorbacks were penalized 15 yards for roughing the punter, giving UCLA another chance.
The Bruins took advantage, going 51 yards on five plays and scoring on a 15-yard run around the left side by quarterback Steve Bukich.  The key play of the drive was a 36-yard pass play from Bukich to Severn Reece on a third-and-nine.
The point after was good and UCLA had scored 10 unanswered points to tie the score.
Neither team was able to generate much offense in the air, while both teams relied on the ground game.  UCLA gained 255 yards rushing, 121 of those coming from James Owens, who was named the offensive player of the game.
Arkansas tackle Jimmy Walker earned defensive player of the game honors.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

  1 2 3 4 Final
Arkansas  0   10 0   0   10
UCLA 0 0 3 7 10

HOW THEY SCORED

ARK UCLA  
7 0 Roland Sales 4 yard run (Ish Ordonez kick)
10 0 Ordonez 37 yard field goal
10 3 Peter Boermeester 41 yard field goal
10 10 Steve Bukich 15 yard run (Boermeester kick)

YARDSTICK

ARK   UCLA
19 First Downs 14
51-200 Rushes-Yards 55-255
78 Passing Yards 61
13-24-2 Passes 4-11-2
72 Return Yards 35
8-37.3 Punts 6-41.3
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
4-50 Penalties - Yards 7-67


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – ARKANSAS: Ben Cowins 24-89, Jerry Eckwood 8-44, Ron Calcagni 10-32, Roland Sales 5-24, Thomas Brown 3-9, Gary Stiggers 1-2. UCLA: James Owens 17-121, Theotis Brown 11-84, Steve Bukich 19-20, Tao Saipale 1-14, Freeman McNeil 6-12, Marvin Morris 1-4.
PASSING – ARKANSAS: Ron Calcagni 11-16-0-49, Kevin Scanlon 2-8-2-29. UCLA: Steve Bukich 4-11-2-61.
RECEIVING – ARKANSAS: Charles Clay 3-11, Jerry Eckwood 3-(-11), Robert Farrell 2-25, Gary Stiggers 2-23, Ben Cowins 2-5, Darryl Mason 1-15. UCLA: Severn Reece 2-56, Freeman McNeil 1-3, James Owens 1-2.