September 16, 1978
Alabama at Missouri
The top-ranked, 1-0 Alabama Crimson Tide of coach Paul “Bear” Bryant traveled to Missouri to battle the 11th ranked, 1-0 Missouri Tigers coached by Warren Powers in his first year. Missouri was coming off a 3-0 upset of the 5th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Alabama rallied for three 2nd half touchdowns to claim a 38-20 victory over the Tigers to retain The Belt. The 1st quarter belonged to the Crimson Tide as RB Major Ogilvie scored on a 23-yard touchdown run & QB Jeff Rutledge threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to TE Rick Neal. When PK Alan McElroy hit a 26-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead with 12:07 to play in the half, it looked like the Crimson Tide would roll to an easy victory. Missouri got on the board with a 4-yard touchdown run from RB Earl Gant midway through the quarter. Missouri’s All-Big 8 QB Phil Bradley broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown run with 3:44 left in the half as the Tigers closed to within 4 points at 17-13. On the next series, Missouri’s All-Big 8 CB Russ Calabrese intercepted Rutledge & returned the pick 30 yards giving the Tigers a 20-17 halftime lead. The 3rd quarter belonged to Alabama as the Crimson Tide’s All-SEC DE E.J. Junior blocked a punt which LB Rickey Gilliland returned 35 yards for a touchdown giving Alabama a lead they would not relinquish. Late in the quarter, RB Tony Nathan pushed in from 1 yard putting the Crimson Tide in front 31-20. On the first play of the 4th quarter, Rutledge threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to RB Lou Ikner to finish the scoring. Rutledge finished with 70 yards passing with 2 touchdowns but 2 interceptions. Bradley threw for 114 yards with an interception as well as rushing for 60 yards with a touchdown & All-American TE Kellen Winslow had 3 catches for 49 yards in the loss. Alabama finished the season 11-1; SEC Champions & National Champions while the Tigers finished 8-4, ranked 15th nationally. Missouri would play for The Belt again in 1991.
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