Peach Bowl : Virginia Defense Stops Late Purdue Bid, 27-24

Virginia Coach George Welsh took the “sure” three points and then watched his defense make it pay off Monday with a 27-24 Peach Bowl victory over Purdue.

The Cavaliers making their first bowl appearance ever, had battled from a 24-14 halftime deficit to tie the Boilermakers, 24-24. Later, Welsh was faced with a decision on fourth down inside the Purdue one-yard line.

He decided on the field goal, and after an intentional delay penalty, Kenny Stadlin kicked a 22-yarder with 7:17 left that proved to be the game winner.

Cornerback Ray Daly stopped a late Purdue drive with an interception at the Cavalier 15-yard line.

“My first thought was that we’d go for the touchdown,” Welsh said. “Then, with a few seconds more to think about it, I felt we didn’t want to come away without putting points on the board, and with the score tied, if we got the almost sure three points, it would put the pressure on them.”

Asked what changed his mind, Welsh replied: “Reason prevailed, I guess.”

Purdue Coach Leon Burtnett said the the Boilermakers suffered most from turnovers, losing three interceptions and one fumble.

“If we played each other 10 times, we’d probably split five and five. I said before the game that turnovers would be the difference in the game, and they were,” Burtnett said.

Sophomore quarterback Don Majkowski directed the Cavaliers ball-control option attack to the second half comeback.

Majkowski who completed 8 of 17 passes for 118 yards, threw three yards to tight end Geno Zimmerlink for one touchdown in the second quarter and ran one yard for another score in the third period.

Virginia’s huge offensive line enabled the Cavaliers to control the ball in the second half and keep it away from Purdue quarterback Jim Everett, who completed 22 of 42 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns.

Sophomore tailback Howard Petty, the game’s outstanding offensive player, powered the Virginia ground attack with 114 yards on 21 carries and got the Cavaliers’ first touchdown on an 11-yard run.

Virginia, a two-point favorite, finished 8-2-2, Purdue 7-5.

The Cavaliers used their option attack to methodically march 71 yards for a touchdown on Majkowski’s one-yard sneak to make it 24-21 with 9:29 left in the third quarter.

After Purdue’s Mike Rendina missed a 41-yard field goal, Stadlin tied the score, 24-24, with a 19-yarder with 12:59 left.

Virginia tackle Scott Matheson then recovered a fumble by Purdue tailback Ray Wallace on the Boilermaker 42. The Cavaliers drove to the Purdue one yard-line, where on fourth down, Welsh took the delay-of-game penalty and settled for Stadlin’s game-winning kick.

Everett took Purdue to the Virginia 30, where Daly intercepted on the 15 with 4:56 left