Friday, December 29, 2023

Recaps

Stanford 24

LSU 14

Game Day: December 31, 1977


Stanford vs. LSU

Stanford overcame a 14-10 deficit at halftime to pull out a come-from-behind victory over LSU, 24-10 at the 44th Annual Sun Bowl.

LSU dominated the ground game, rushing for 307 yards, while Stanford proved to be a force in the air, picking up 269 yards passing.

Tiger tailback Charles Alexander, a two-time All-America selection, set the Sun Bowl rushing record racking up 197 yards on 31 carries to earn the C.M. Hendricks Most Valuable Player Award.

LSU scored on its second possession to set the tone of the game.

Stanford fired back with a touchdown and a field goal for a brief lead before LSU reignited its offense.

With one minute to play before intermission, Alexander plowed into the endzone. Kicker Mike Conway’s successful extra point conversion put the Tigers back on top 14-10.

A crucial turnover by LSU in the fourth quarter surrendered any hopes of a victory. The Tigers were driving on the Stanford 15-yard line when quarterback Steve Ensminger threw an interception on a third-and-twelve.

Stanford would later score on a James Lofton reception from Guy Benjamin. Lofton finished with two touchdown catches, while Benjamin fired three scoring strikes in the game.

Stanford linebacker Gordon Ceresino led the Cardinals with a game-high 18 tackles, 14 of which unassisted, and was named Jimmy Rogers, Jr. Most Valuable Lineman.

Lofton and his coach Bill Walsh would later be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. LSU’s Charles
McClendon would later become a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

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