1978 Rose Bowl Recap
6/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
January 2, 1978
Site: Pasadena, Calif. (Rose Bowl Stadium)
Score: #13 Washington 27, #4 Michigan 20
Attendance: 105,312
1978 Rose Bowl Recap
With a defense featuring Curtis Greer and Chris Godfrey on the line, Mel Owens at outside linebacker, and Dwight Hicks and Mike Harden in the backfield, the Wolverines held all but three of their opponents under 10 points during the 1977 season. Michigan had won 10 of 11 games and outscored its opposition by a three-to-one margin heading into the Rose Bowl to face the University of Washington Huskies.
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Michigan failed to get out of the gate quickly enough and even a 20-point second half could not rescue the Wolverines. A first half low center snap resulted in a 13-yard loss on a fourth down punt and gave Washington field position early. Ten plays later, quarterback Warren Moon scored from two yards out. A field goal and Moons second TD put the Huskies up 17-0 at halftime.
Moons 28-yard scoring pass to Spider Gaines after Washington had stopped Michigan on the Husky three-yard line appeared to put the game away in the third quarter, but Wolverine quarterback Rick Leach launched one of the finest aerial assaults in the history of this classic contest. First, he fired a Rose Bowl record TD pass of 76 yards to Curt Stephenson. Washington countered with an 18-yard field goal, but Leach completed four straight passes, and Russell Davis scored from the two. Later in the fourth quarter, Leach fired first down passes of 11 and 12 yards to Ralph Clayton, then connected with Stanley Edwards, filling in for the injured Harlan Huckleby, for 32 yards and a TD.
Leach led another dramatic drive to the Washington eight-yard line, but a diving interception by linebacker Michael Jackson stopped Michigan and preserved the 27-20 Washington win.
Game Summary
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | -- | 20 |
| Washington | 7 | 10 | 10 | 0 | -- | 27 |
First Quarter
W -- Moon, 2-yard run (Robbins kick)
Second Quarter
W -- Robbins, 30-yard field goal
W -- Moon, 1-yard run (Robbins kick)
Third Quarter
W -- Gaines, 28-yard pass from Moon (Robbins kick)
U-M -- Stephenson, 76 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)
W -- Robbins, 18-yard field goal
Fourth Quarter
U-M -- R. Davis, 2-yard run (Willner kick)
U-M -- Edwards, 32-yard pass from Leach (kick failed)
| Team Stats | UM | UW |
| First Downs | 22 | 17 |
| Net Yards Rushing | 149 | 164 |
| Net Yards Passing | 239 | 234 |
| Total Plays | 75 | 72 |
| Total Yards | 388 | 398 |
| PA/PC/Int | 27/14/2 | 24/13/2 |
| Punts/Avg. | 4/42.5 | 5/39.0 |
| Return Yards | 124 | 92 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 2/1 | 0/0 |
| Penalties/Yards | 3/11 | 6/47 |
Rushing -- (M): R. Davis 18-79; Edwards 15-74; Clayton 2-12; Leach 9-5; Anderson 1-(-13); R. Smith 3-(-8); (W): Steele 13-77; Gipson 15-48; Rowland 8-32.
Passing -- (M): Leach 14-27-239; (W): Moon 12-23-188; Wilson 1-1-46
Receiving -- (M): Clayton 5-84; R. Davis 3-26; Edwards 2-41; R. White 2-8; R. Smith 1-4; Stephenson 1-76; (W): Gaines 4-122; Greenwood 3-28; Gipson 2-24.
