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This Date in College Football Belt History – October 29
Coach Pat Dye’s Auburn Tigers were 6-1, ranked 4th nationally as the prepared to host 5th ranked, 6-0-1 Florida Gators of coach Charley Pell for The Belt. Auburn’s All-American RB Bo Jackson rushed for 2 touchdowns on runs of 55 & 80 yards as the Tigers withstood a furious comeback by the Gators to claim The Belt for the first time with a 28-21 victory. Auburn scored on their opening drive when Jackson broke loose for his 55-yard touchdown run. Late in the 1st quarter, the Tigers drove 57 yards in 7 plays with QB Randy Campbell scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing drive, Florida’s QB Wayne Peace found WR Ricky Nattiel open for a 41-yard touchdown pass making the score Auburn 14 Florida 7. The Tigers extended the lead with another 80-yard drive with RB Lionel James scoring on a 17-yard touchdown run for the 21-7 halftime edge. The Gators appeared to score in the 3rd quarter when RB Neal Anderson carried in from 8 yards but on the play, the ball was knocked loose & rolled out of the end zone. The officials ruled that the fumble occurred prior to Anderson crossing the goal line & awarded the ball to the Tigers. On the next snap, Jackson raced 80 yards for his second touchdown giving Auburn a 28-7 advantage. Florida’s RB John L. Williams scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:18 left in the game. The Gators got their final score on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Peace to WR Dwayne Dixon with 2:54 to play. Florida recovered the on-side kick but was unable to move for the tying score as Auburn sacked Peace on the Gators’ final offensive play. Jackson finished with 196 yards rushing with his 2 touchdowns while the Auburn defense held Florida to just 74 yards rushing. Peace threw for 336 yards with 2 touchdowns & Dixon had 9 catches for 123 yards with his touchdown in the losing effort. The Gators finished the season 9-2-1; ranked 6th nationally while the Tigers finished 11-1, SEC Champions & ranked 3rd nationally. Florida would play for The Belt again in 1984.
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