Game Name: | Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl |
Date Game Played: | December 31 |
Year Game Played: | 1982 |
Football Season: | 1982 |
Stadium: | Astrodome |
City: | Houston, Texas |
Visitor School: | University of Arkansas |
Visitor Name Short: | Arkansas |
Visitor Nickname: | Razorbacks |
Visitor Record: | 8–2–1 |
Visitor Coach: | Lou Holtz |
Visitor Rank Ap: | 14 |
Visitor Rank Coaches: | 12 |
Visitor 1Q: | 7 |
Visitor 2Q: | 0 |
Visitor 3Q: | 7 |
Visitor 4Q: | 14 |
Home School: | University of Florida |
Home Name Short: | Florida |
Home Nickname: | Gators |
Home Record: | 8–3 |
Home Coach: | Charley Pell |
Home Rank Ap: | NR |
Home Rank Coaches: | 19 |
Home 1Q: | 7 |
Home 2Q: | 10 |
Home 3Q: | 7 |
Home 4Q: | 0 |
Mvp: | Gary Anderson, RB, Arkansas Dwayne Dixon, WR, Florida |
Attendance: | 31,557 |
Game Link: | Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl |
Us Network: | ESPN |
Us Announcers: | Fred White and Paul Maguire |
The 1982 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl was held on December 31, 1982 at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The #14 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Florida Gators by a score of 28–24.[1]
Arkansas opened the scoring in the first quarter after running back Gary Anderson found the end zone from 16 yards out. The PAT was good and the Razorbacks led 7–0. The Gators responded, though, scoring 17 unanswered points (a 3-yard pass, a 34-yard field goal, and a 13-yard pass) to end the first quarter 7–7 and go into halftime up 17–7. The first points of the third quarter came from Arkansas, who scored on a 1-yard run from Anderson to make it a 17–14 game. Florida responded again, this time a 17-yard pass, to retake their ten-point lead and enter the fourth quarter up 24–14. Arkansas's defense pitched a shutout in the fourth quarter, while the Razorback offense found the end zone twice. Arkansas' first fourth quarter score came on a touchdown pass to make it 24-21, and the second came on a quarterback sneak from the one yard line. The game finished 28–24 in favor of Arkansas.
Throughout the game, Arkansas recorded five more first downs, 185 more rushing yards, 73 more total yards, and one less penalty. However, Florida recorded 112 more passing yards.