1955 Sugar Bowl - Navy vs. Ole Miss
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- čas přidán 1. 04. 2020
- Quarterback George Welsh stepped into the Navy huddle. All he heard was his teammates pleading for a play, not a punt.
It was fourth down with a foot to go at Navy’s own 39, against Ole Miss’ imposing defense on the game’s first series.
“The fellows all said, ‘C’mon George, we can make it. Let’s try it.” Welsh related. “So we had (Joe) Gattuso slant off tackle.”
Gattuso gained four yards. Despite Ole Miss being off-sides and Navy accepting the penalty, this play was credited with spurring the “Team Named Desire” to victory.
Gattuso would cap the drive with a short touchdown run and Jack Weaver, who had a 24-yard gain in the drive, kicked the extra point.
In the second quarter, it was Navy who again threatened, going from its 40 to the Ole Miss 8. On fourth down Welsh threw a pass to Ron Beagle, who made a flying catch right on the goal line. It was originally called a touchdown, but overruled. Film revealed it to be a highly questionable call.
Navy likely secured the victory in the third quarter when Gattuso broke through right tackle, going 17 yards to the Ole Miss 17. On fourth down, Weaver, despite having Billy Kinard’s arms around his neck and Eagle Day practically inside his jersey, made a miraculous catch of a Welsh delivery for a two-score advantage.
Ole Miss hoped to regain life after a 72-yard punt from Day, but Navy ran off four successive first downs, one on a 22-yard run by Gattuso and another on a Gattuso fumble that bounced 14 yards up-field to be recovered by teammate Wilson Whitmire. A Weaver 21-yard dash around end set up Gattuso for his second touchdown of the day.
Gattuso (111 yards) and Weaver (106 yards) each outrushed the Ole Miss offense, which had just 78 yards rushing and 43 passing. - Sport
Thanks for posting! Frank
I was at the game, cheering for my high school classmate, Ole Miss QB Eagle Day.
Eagle Day was a super person. I met him after graduating college when he was with the state tax commission.
Awesome History!
I LOVE these old films. But truth is a good modern high school program could beat either of these two teams by 3 TDs. Passing stats were like 2 for 14 with 7 interceptions. Just a different era.
Ironically I watch this game and get the same frustrations I get watching Ole Miss play today.
What? Only two teams in the SEC have won more games than the Rebels over the past 4 years. And that includes Texas and Oklahoma.
It's a different game from what we see now. Notice that a lot of these guys played both ways.
How about Travis Hunter from Colorado playing both ways this past weekend! That was incredible.
sloppy and slow