LSU Pivotal Football Moments
pivotal college football moment: A decision by a coach or athletic director that changes the momentum of a program or an action by a player that changes the momentum of a game.
pivotal college football moment: A decision by a coach or athletic director that changes the momentum of a program or an action by a player that changes the momentum of a game.
As the Tigers approached game #8 on their schedule, they were a battered team that had lost four first-stringers, two second-teamers, and one third-team player. They were coming off a 26-0 clubbing at Tennessee.
LSU traveled straight from Knoxville to New York to face the 3-1-1 Fordham Rams at the famous Polo Grounds where both the baseball and football Giants played. The Rams had come to Louisiana at the beginning of the year ranked #6 in the nation to play in the Sugar Bowl where they defeated #7 Missouri 2-0.
Despite being in another section of the country, Fordham had a common opponent with the Tigers–Tennessee, which cobbered the Rams 42-14 in Week 2. Oddsmakers could conclude from the two teams' performance against the Vols that they were evenly matched.
LSU would play without three members of their regular backfield, including triple-threat sophomore star Alvin Dark, who suffered from a dislocated knee. Junior Sulcer Harris would replace Dark at tailback.
Passing star Steve Filipowicz led the Fordham offense along with its "touchdown twins," Sam Ososki and George Cheverko. The Rams had reportedly spent most of their practice time during the week on pass defense.
"Expecting a team submissive and weakened after injuries had taken an unusually high toll, the Fordham Rams found instead a determined, fighting Tiger pack." (LSU Gumbo Yearbook Class of 1943)
Steve Filipowicz runs against the white-shirted LSU defense in the first half. (New York Times)
Rams Score First
16,400 saw Fordham score the only touchdown in a dull first half. It came on a 39y pass from Steve Filipowicz to George Cheverko over Steve Van Buren's head late in the first quarter to climax an 80y march. Cheverko also kicked the point. 7-0 Fordham
LSU threatened several times and outgained the Rams in the half but couldn't muster a consistent push. The Tigers moved to Fordham's 31 before bogging down.
The second quarter saw LSU reach the Rams 39, but Cheverko intercepted Harris's long pass intended for E Jim McLeod. In the last minutes before halftime, Walt Gorinski snagged Filipowicz's long pass on the LSU 12 and returned it 24y to end a mild Fordham threat.
L-R: Sulcer Harris, Steve Van Buren, Walt Gorinski, Willie Miller
(All pictures from LSU Gumbo Yearbook Class of 1943)
LSU Comes Alive in Second Half
The Tiger offense showed some spark to start the second half, penetrating Fordham territory before having to punt. But the field position advantage paid off when Joe Andrejco fumbled, and G Willie Miller of LSU recovered on the Ram 34.
Harris hit Van Buren for 14y. Then after gaining only one on a run, the former Baton Rouge High star fired a perfect shot to E Woodrow Holland for the touchdown. Harris's attempt to run for the extra point failed. Fordham 7 LSU 6
The Tigers started a 75y drive late in the third period that resulted in a touchdown early in the fourth. The first key play was a Harris pass to E Dilton Richmond for 12y and a first down at the LSU 47.
Three runs to start the final period gave the Tigers a first down on the Rams' 39. Harris took the next snap and threw a perfect pass to BB Joe Nagata in the open on the Rams 15. The little freshman outran Cheverko to the end zone. Harris added the PAT.
LSU 13 Fordham 7
LSU 13 Fordham 7
The Tigers were quickly back in business when Lyman Richardson intercepted a Filipowicz aerial on Fordham's 30 and ran it to the two. Gorinski failed to gain on first down but scored standing up on a reverse on the next play. The PAT kick was blocked.
LSU 19 Fordham 7
LSU 19 Fordham 7
L-R: Woodrow Holland, Dilton Richmond, Joe Nagata, Lyman Richardson
(All pictures from LSU Gumbo Yearbook Class of 1943)
Another pick set up another Tiger touchdown. LB Jim Talley snagged a Filipowicz pass and returned 10y to the Fordham 22.
Harris gained nine on first down. Then he flipped a short pass to Van Buren who was knocked out of bounds on the Ram three. Harris ran through the center on a fake reverse for two, and Gorinski plunged over from there. Harris's PAT made it 26-7 LSU.
Fordham's offense finally got in gear and drove to the LSU 18, where a fourth-down incompletion gave the ball to the Tigers.
LSU made one first down before punting. Starting from their 25, the Rams marched to a save-face touchdown behind Filipowicz's passing. He completed one for 14y, then threw another that resulted in an interference penalty on the Tigers that put the ball on the LSU 28. Filipowicz threw to Frank Malinowski in the end zone from there. The PAT failed. LSU 26 Fordham 13
The onside kick went out of bounds on the LSU 35, and the Tigers ran out the clock from there.
FINAL SCORE: LSU 26 FORDHAM 13