1971 Liberty Bowl Tennessee vs Arkansas 2nd Half ABC

12/20/1971
Curt Watson's TD Gives UT 14-13 Win
By DON ARCHER Herald Courier Sports Editor
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It was entirely fitting that the 1971 Liberty Bowl, the biggest and best ever, was decided in the closing minutes. When Curt Watson, sore ribs and all, ripped around right end for the tying touchdown with 2:16 left in the game, the 51,461 fans were almost assured of a Volunteer victory.

George Hunt, who hasn't missed an extra point in his last 66 tries, booted the one - pointer to give Tennessee a come - from - behind 14-13 win over Arkansas. Only minutes earlier, when Louis Campbell's third interception of the game set up Bill McClard's second field goal, the Vols seemed out of it. The Razorback defense cut off Tennessee's running game and Tennessee's aerial attack was being vandalized by Campbell. Arkansas pushed past the Vols to a 13 - 7 lead. But then, on a Joe Ferguson to John Richardson screen pass, everything turned around.

Richardson, hit hard in front of the Vol bench, fumbled and Orange - shirted Carl Witherspoon recovered on the Hog 37. Vol quarterback Jim Maxwell hit Gary Theiler across the middle to the 17. Watson next took the pitch right, made his way past a Theiler block and romped across for the touchdown. Arkansas' desperate attempt to save the game ended when Ed Brown picked off a Ferguson pass and returned it 47 yards to the Razorback 35. McClard, the nation's leading kicking scorer, booted field: goals of 19 and 31 yards in the fourth quarter to give Arkansas its 13-7 lead. The first was set up by Scott Binnion's fumble recovery and a 20-yard Ferguson to Richardson screen.

The second came about on Campbell's interception (one of the Liberty Bowl record for him) and a 24-yard Ferguson to Bob Nichols aerial. A 48-yard McClard fielder, which would have put the game away for Arkansas, was nullified with 5:45 left in the game. McClard drilled the ball through, but a holding penalty set the Hogs back and forced a punt. Tennessee scored first as Bill Rudder rammed over from the two with 6:39 left in the first period. Arkansas evened the count with 4:11 left in the half.

Led by Ferguson's passing (he hit 18 of 28 attempts 1 for 200 yards and was named the game's outstanding player), the Razorbacks moved to the Tennessee 16. Vol halfback Conrad Graham nailed Jim Hodge for a five • yard loss on a Ferguson pass, and the frustrated Hodge cost Arkansas 15 yards when he slammed the ball to the ground. Hodge got it right back, dashing behind David Allen on the next play and hauling in a 37 - yard scoring bomb from Ferguson. That started Arkansas' control of the game with the Razorback dominating Tennessee's offense and Ferguson firing between Orange defenders. At least, that's the way it went until Witherspoon came up with the fumble.

Arkansas 0 7 0 6-13 Tennessee 70 0 7-14 Tenn-Rudder 2 run (Hunt kick) Ark Hodge 36 pass from Ferguson (McClard kick) Ark-FG McClard 20 Ark-FG McClard 30 Tenn-Watson 17 run (Hunt kick) A-51,410 Ark Tenn First downs 22 15 Rushes yards 46-167 34-98 Passing yardage 200 142 Return yardage 35 115 Passes 18-28-3 11-22-3 Punts 3-43.6 5-43.8 Fumbles lost 2 Yards penalized 85 73.