1984 Fiesta Bowl

Teams

Main article: 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season

Ohio State

The Buckeyes were ranked third until a loss at Iowa in late September; they later lost on the road to Illinois and rival Michigan. This was their second Fiesta Bowl appearance.

Pittsburgh

The Panthers opened with two wins, but lost two road games at Maryland and West Virginia. They won six straight, then tied rival Penn State. This was Pittsburgh's third Fiesta Bowl appearance.

Game summary

The first game of a tripleheader (Rose, Orange) on NBC, the Fiesta kicked off shortly after 11:30 a.m. MST, as did the Cotton Bowl on CBS.

Ohio State scored first when quarterback Mike Tomczak scored on a three-yard quarterback keeper. Pittsburgh tied the score at seven on a 6-yard pass from John Congemi to wide receiver Clint Wilson. Running back Keith Byars scored on an 11-yard run before halftime, to give Ohio State a 14–7 halftime lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, the action increased in the fourth. Pitt wide receiver Clint Wilson recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown to tie the game at 14. Byars took the kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and Ohio State reclaimed the lead at 21–14. Congemi then found Dwight Collins for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, and Ohio State held on to a one-point lead. A 37-yard field goal from Tom Everett with 2:39 left, gave Pittsburgh a 23–21 lead. Tomczak threw a 39-yard touchdown strike to Thad Jemison for the game-winning touchdown, with 39 seconds left, and Ohio State escaped with a 28–23 win.

Scoring

First quarter

• Ohio State – Mike Tomczak 3-yard run (Rich Spangler kick) Second quarter
• Pittsburgh – Clint Wilson 6-yard pass from John Congemi (Snuffy Everett kick)
• Ohio State – Keith Byars 11-yard run (Spangler kick) Third quarter :No scoring Fourth quarter
• Pittsburgh – Wilson fumble recovery in end zone (Everett kick)
• Ohio State – Byars 99-yard kickoff return (Spangler kick)
• Pittsburgh – Dwight Collins 11-yard pass from Congemi (pass failed)
• Pittsburgh – Everett 37-yard field goal
• Ohio State – Thad Jemison 39-yard pass from Tomczak (Spangler kick)

:Source

Statistics

:{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" ! Statistics!!Ohio State!!Pittsburgh |- | First downs || 21 || 27 |- | Yards rushing|| 46–184 || 37–146 |- | Yards passing || 226 || 341 |- | Passing || 15–32–1|| 31–46–2 |- | Return yards || 17||72 |- | Total Offense || 78–410|| 83–487 |- |Punts–Average ||4–37.3|| 3–39.0 |- |Fumbles–Lost ||3–1|| 2–1 |- |Turnovers|| 2||3 |- |Penalties–Yards ||8–70|| 8–60 |- |Time of Possession ||29:13||30:47 |} :Source

Aftermath

Ohio State climbed to ninth in the final AP poll, and Pittsburgh fell to eighteenth.

References

References

1. (December 30, 1983). "The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
2. (January 2, 1984). "Harrah's Odds: college football". Spokesman-Review.
3. Scott, Gerald. (January 3, 1984). "Buckeye quarterback saves best for last". Eugene Register-Guard.
4. McMillan, Tom. (January 3, 1984). "Buckeyes rally, defeat Panthers, 28–23". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
5. Wheatley, Tom. (January 3, 1984). "Replay". Pittsburgh Press.
6. Patterson, Jack. (January 3, 1984). "Ohio State passes Pitt on late TD". Reading Eagle.
7. Taylor, Jim. (January 3, 1984). "OSU's Tomczak stings Pitt for Fiesta Bowl victory". Toledo Blade.
8. Berry, Walter. (January 3, 1984). "Buckeyes' rally drops Pittsburgh in Fiesta, 2823". Spokesman-Review.
9. "Bowl Championship Series - 1984 - Ohio State 28, Pittsburgh 23".