Editor's Note: The Georgia Bulldogs face the Texas Longhorns for first time since 1984 on Jan. 1, 2019, in the Sugar Bowl. This story about Georgia's win over Texas in the 1984 Cotton Bowl Classic originally ran in the Jan. 3, 1984, edition of the Atlanta Constitution.
DALLAS — Run fly, 38 option.
The play hadn't been all that successful for Georgia Monday afternoon. Quarterback John Lastinger mustered but 4 yards on the two previous calls.
The situation was this: third-and-four from the Texas 17-yard line with 3:30 remaining and Texas leading 9-3. Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley preferred a pass, but offensive coordinator George Haffner steadfastly called a run. The quarterback option to the right side, with fullback Scott Williams going in motion to the left.
Lastinger took the snap, ambled right and skittered for a 17-yard touchdown with 3:22 left. The run lifted Georgia to a 10-9 upset of No. 2 and previously unbeaten Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
» 35 years later: John Lastinger sees Bulldogs return to relevance
Longhorns cornerback Craig Curry, who only three plays earlier fumbled a Chip Andrews punt to give Georgia the ball on the Texas 23, was by himself to defend Lastinger and tailback Tron Jackson.
“He took the back and left me alone to run,” Lastinger said afterward in a jubilant Georgia locker room. “If he was going to take me, I was going to pitch it. If not, I would keep it.
“He (Curry) took the back and left me a lane to run.”
How free was that lane? Well, said Lastinger, not necessarily noted for his speed: “I scored, didn’t I, so it had to be really open.”
The option was the longest run by a Georgia back in the game, not counting flanker Freddie Lane’s 35-yard reverse.
The Longhorns’ defense, the stingiest in the country this season, yielded fewer than 10 feet per rush and forced Lastinger to misfire on 13 of 19 passes. Georgia gained only 66 yards through the air. In part, the Georgia offense did little to refute Texas’ acclaim.
The Bulldogs gained 149 yards rushing with tailback Keith Montgomery contributing 40 on 11 carries. Jackson experienced the most trouble, managing only 11 yards on seven carries.
Actually, Georgia amassed 9 yards on offense in the first-quarter drive to Kevin Butler’s 43-yard field goal to tie the game at 3. A 15-yard late-hit penalty on Texas was a great help.
“It surely wasn’t a pretty victory,” Lastinger said.
Georgia tried some trick plays, such as Lane's reverse and a nifty reverse and pass play from flanker Herman Archie to split end Kevin Harris. But Archie overthrew Harris by 5 yards.
“Archie and I had been practicing it, and we thought we had it down to perfection,” Harris said.
“We had a bagful to try but used only a couple of them,” Lastinger said.
Senior offensive tackle Guy McIntyre, who made a key block on Lastinger's touchdown run, wasn't overly impressed with the Longhorns' defense. Jeff Leiding, one of three Texas All-Americans on defense, made 10 unassisted tackles, but was the only Longhorn who caused havoc.
"There weren't any Supermen on their team," McIntyre said. "They were as good as Auburn or Clemson."
As for Georgia’s periods of deep slumber on offense, McIntyre said it’s typical. Look at the record.
Throughout the season, no matter if the opponent was Florida or Temple, the Bulldogs' offense would gain some yards early, stall a while and then re-emerge in the second half. Since the 16-16 come-from-behind tie at Clemson, however, this was the latest they waited to rally.
Worried? Nah. And the critical option play?
“That was simple execution,” McIntyre said, “that's all.”
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