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.
The battle between two young wartime football teams in their second game of their seasons was expected to be a duel between triple-threat backs, LSU's Steve Van Buren and the Rice's Bucky Sheffield
A crowd of 24,000 saw a lackluster first half that ended in a 7-7 deadlock.
Led by Sheffield, "who at times ripped the Tiger line to shreds and frequently pulled away for three or four more yards after he appeared stopped," the Owls marched 75y to a touchdown early in the first period. The key play was a 37y pass interference penalty on LSU freshman FB Bill Schroll that put the ball on the Tiger seven. With the aid of an offside penalty, the Owls finally scored four plays later on Sheffield's plunge from inside the one.
Rice 7 LSU 0
Rice 7 LSU 0
L: Bucky Sheffield (Rice University Campanile Yearbook Class of 1944)
M: Steve Van Buren (LSU Gumbo Yearbook Class of 1944)
R: Bill Schroll, Carroll Griffin (Tulane-LSU Game Program 1943 Tulane University Archives)
Tigers Match Rice TD
A poor kickoff to the LSU 35 set up the Tigers for a drive that tied the score. Van Buren passed to E Bill McClelland for a first down on the 48. After Schroll gained nine, big Steve, eluding three tacklers, raced to a first down on the Rice 34.
Overcoming a 15y holding penalty, the Tigers moved to a first and goal at the eight on Van Buren passes to Carroll Griffith for 6y and McClelland for 25 more. Rice dug in and held Van Buren to 2y at right tackle and stopped McClelland for a gain of only three on a pass from the versatile Bengal back.
On the first play of the second quarter, Van Buren circled right end behind fine blocking for the touchdown. He also kicked the PAT to tie the score at seven.
Neither team came close to scoring the rest of the period.
Gene "Red" Knight carries the ball as G James Lewis runs interference. 34 is FB Bill Corgan.
(LSU Gumbo Yearbook Class of 1944)
Van Buren's 54y Run Puts Tigers Ahead
Rice got a break when E Charles Webb fumbled returning the second half kickoff, and an Owl recovered on the LSU 40. A holding penalty immediately set Rice back, and they ended up punting on third down.
Rice was soon back in LSU territory when Sheffield gained 11y to the LSU 40 with 15y tacked on for unnecessary roughness. But Webb made up for his own fumble by recovering Sheffield's bobble on the next play to end the threat.
Five minutes into the third quarter, Van Buren took off on a "scintillating" 54y run to break the tie. He roared through right tackle, cut upstream, and ran past two Owls to the end zone. He also kicked the extra point for make it 14-7 LSU.
Knight TD Seals Victory
When Rice had to punt after receiving kickoff, Sheffield booted to the LSU 25 where Gene Knight signaled for a fair catch but was hit by an Owl. The 15y penalty put the ball on the LSU 40.
Carroll Griffin and Knight, "a pair of speedy freshmen," took turns running end sweeps to move to the Rice nine as the third quarter ended.
FB Bill Corgan hit center for four, and Knight took it the remaining 5y up the middle for the touchdown. The Owls blocked Van Buren's conversion try, but it was too little too late.
FINAL SCORE: LSU 20 RICE 7