Utah finished second in the WAC after two losses to New Mexico and Air Force cost them the WAC title and knocked them from #12 to #21. Arizona used their "Desert Swarm" defense to win their first four games and were ranked #6 before a loss to eventual WAC champ Colorado State. They went 4–2 from that point, with losses to Oregon and USC costing them the Pacific-10 Conference title and a shot at the Rose Bowl. Both teams were in their third straight bowl game.
Game summaryedit
Despite being held to less than 100 yards, Utah scored when it was needed most while Arizona dropped catches that could have gone for touchdowns and despite having the ball for 32:17 they mustered only one touchdown. Ontlwan Carter caught a touchdown pass from Dan White that culminated a 6-play, 77-yard drive late in the first quarter. Utah's defense responded, recovering a fumble at the Arizona 6. Two plays later, Charlie Brown ran in for the touchdown to make it 7–7 with 10:03 left in the second quarter. The rest of the second and the third quarter remained scoreless with both teams' defense in control. Steve McLaughlin broke the tie with a 44-yard field goal with 12:39 remaining, and a later interception gave Arizona a chance to seal the game at Utah's 20. After five plays and 18 yards, Arizona was close to scoring. But on first down, Tim Thomas dropped a pass intended for him by White. A rushing attempt on 2nd down failed. White threw a pass to a lonely Lovett in the end zone, but he dropped the pass. Arizona had to settle for a field goal by McLaughlin, who made it 13–7 with 8:05 left. After Utah failed to forward the ball into Arizona territory, the Wildcats were trapped in their own one yard line. After only gaining two yards on three plays, Arizona decided to give Utah an intentional safety rather than risk a bad punt, making it 13–9 with 4:11 left. On the ensuing free kick, Beck returned it 72 yards to the Wildcat 5. After three incompletions, Utah was facing fourth down and goal. Mike McCoy threw a desperation pass to Kevin Dyson, who caught it in the end zone to give Utah the lead with 3:34 remaining. Arizona had the ball at their 32 and needed a drive to go their way, but on their second play, Jeff Kaufusi forced a fumble out of White and Utah recovered at the 31. But with 1:47, Utah had to convert a 4th and one to run the clock out, and McCoy's pass to Rick Tucker gave them the first down and Utah ran off the rest of the clock to win their first bowl game since 1964.[1][2][3]
Aftermathedit
Utah finished in the AP Top 10, their highest AP finish in school history. Arizona returned to a bowl game three years later. After this season, the Holiday Bowl took the WAC tie-in of this game and Anaheim Stadium went renovations to become only a baseball stadium again, effectively killing this game.
Statisticsedit
Statistics
Utah
Arizona
First Downs
5
14
Yards Rushing
6
45
Yards Passing
69
139
Total Yards
75
184
Punts-Average
10-41.0
6-36.8
Fumbles-Lost
0-0
2-2
Interceptions
2
1
Penalties-Yards
9-94
4-35
Referencesedit
^"Freedom Bowl, Utah vs Arizona, December 27, 1994 | Athletics".
^"Let Freedom Ring! Utes Win". Deseret News. December 28, 1994.
^"Let Freedom Ring! Utes Win". Deseret News. December 28, 1994.
January 01, 1970
1994, freedom, bowl, matched, utah, utes, arizona, wildcats, this, final, freedom, bowl, game, played, freedom, bowl, xiutah, utes, arizona, wildcats, 13head, coach, mcbride, head, coach, dick, tomeyapcoachesbc141214, apcoachesbc1513151234, totalutah, 0709, 16. The 1994 Freedom Bowl matched the Utah Utes and the Arizona Wildcats This was the final Freedom Bowl game played 1994 Freedom BowlFreedom Bowl XIUtah Utes Arizona Wildcats 9 2 8 3 16 13Head coach Ron McBride Head coach Dick TomeyAPCoachesBC141214 APCoachesBC1513151234 TotalUtah 0709 16Arizona 7006 13DateDecember 27 1994Season1994StadiumAnaheim StadiumLocationAnaheim CaliforniaMVPCal Beck Utah Tedy Bruschi Arizona RefereeTom Ahlers Big 8 Attendance27 477United States TV coverageNetworkRaycomAnnouncersDave Barnett and Dave RoweFreedom Bowl lt 1993 Contents 1 Background 2 Game summary 3 Aftermath 4 Statistics 5 ReferencesBackground editUtah finished second in the WAC after two losses to New Mexico and Air Force cost them the WAC title and knocked them from 12 to 21 Arizona used their Desert Swarm defense to win their first four games and were ranked 6 before a loss to eventual WAC champ Colorado State They went 4 2 from that point with losses to Oregon and USC costing them the Pacific 10 Conference title and a shot at the Rose Bowl Both teams were in their third straight bowl game Game summary editDespite being held to less than 100 yards Utah scored when it was needed most while Arizona dropped catches that could have gone for touchdowns and despite having the ball for 32 17 they mustered only one touchdown Ontlwan Carter caught a touchdown pass from Dan White that culminated a 6 play 77 yard drive late in the first quarter Utah s defense responded recovering a fumble at the Arizona 6 Two plays later Charlie Brown ran in for the touchdown to make it 7 7 with 10 03 left in the second quarter The rest of the second and the third quarter remained scoreless with both teams defense in control Steve McLaughlin broke the tie with a 44 yard field goal with 12 39 remaining and a later interception gave Arizona a chance to seal the game at Utah s 20 After five plays and 18 yards Arizona was close to scoring But on first down Tim Thomas dropped a pass intended for him by White A rushing attempt on 2nd down failed White threw a pass to a lonely Lovett in the end zone but he dropped the pass Arizona had to settle for a field goal by McLaughlin who made it 13 7 with 8 05 left After Utah failed to forward the ball into Arizona territory the Wildcats were trapped in their own one yard line After only gaining two yards on three plays Arizona decided to give Utah an intentional safety rather than risk a bad punt making it 13 9 with 4 11 left On the ensuing free kick Beck returned it 72 yards to the Wildcat 5 After three incompletions Utah was facing fourth down and goal Mike McCoy threw a desperation pass to Kevin Dyson who caught it in the end zone to give Utah the lead with 3 34 remaining Arizona had the ball at their 32 and needed a drive to go their way but on their second play Jeff Kaufusi forced a fumble out of White and Utah recovered at the 31 But with 1 47 Utah had to convert a 4th and one to run the clock out and McCoy s pass to Rick Tucker gave them the first down and Utah ran off the rest of the clock to win their first bowl game since 1964 1 2 3 Aftermath editUtah finished in the AP Top 10 their highest AP finish in school history Arizona returned to a bowl game three years later After this season the Holiday Bowl took the WAC tie in of this game and Anaheim Stadium went renovations to become only a baseball stadium again effectively killing this game Statistics editStatistics Utah Arizona First Downs 5 14 Yards Rushing 6 45 Yards Passing 69 139 Total Yards 75 184 Punts Average 10 41 0 6 36 8 Fumbles Lost 0 0 2 2 Interceptions 2 1 Penalties Yards 9 94 4 35References edit Freedom Bowl Utah vs Arizona December 27 1994 Athletics Let Freedom Ring Utes Win Deseret News December 28 1994 Let Freedom Ring Utes Win Deseret News December 28 1994 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1994 Freedom Bowl amp oldid 1203544403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
