All-American Bowl : Georgia Tech Comes Back to Win in Fourth Quarter

Malcolm King, Georgia Tech’s leading rusher, capped a fourth-period comeback with a five-yard run to give the Yellow Jackets a 17-14 victory over Michigan State in the All-American Bowl Tuesday night.

King, with 122 yards in 16 carries, scored with less than two minutes left, a few minutes after David Bell had kicked a 40-yard field goal for Georgia Tech, which was trailing, 14-7, at the time.

Michigan State scored its touchdowns on passes of 6 and 27 yards from Dave Yarema to Mark Ingram.

The nation’s leading rusher, Lorenzo White, had his 11th 100-yard game, picking up 158 yards in 33 carries. White had finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in his sophomore season.

Georgia Tech finished 9-2-1 and is 15-8 in bowl games. Michigan State ended at 7-5 and is 2-4 in bowls.

The Yellow Jackets took the field without their top quarterback, John Dewberry, and two first-string receivers who were among four players suspended for missing curfew after the team arrived Friday night.

Todd Rampley started his first college game as Dewberry’s replacement and completed his first three passes. He ended with 12 of 23 for 99 yards. He was intercepted once.

Rampley got Tech’s first touchdown on a sneak after King ran 56 yards to the Michigan State one-yard line early in the second half.

Michigan State’s Chris Caudell and Bell both missed field goals of 49 yards in the second period before Bell started the Tech comeback with his 40-yarder in the final period.

Tim Moore’s interception gave Michigan State the ball at the Georgia Tech 48 to set up the first Spartan touchdown. Yarema hit Ingram with a 37-yard pass to the 11. Three plays later, Ingram, completely uncovered on the left sideline, took a six-yard toss in the end zone.

Michigan State’s Greg Montgomery punted out of bounds at the Georgia Tech two midway in the third period. Georgia Tech failed to get a first down, and a punt gave Michigan State the ball at the Georgia Tech 38. White picked up 11 yards, and Yarema and Ingram then teamed for their second touchdown.

Georgia Tech moved 57 yards from its 20 to set up Bell’s field goal.