1978 Game Recap / Allstate Sugar Bowl

44th Annual Sugar Bowl Classic ~ January 2, 1978
#3 Alabama 35 (Final: 11-1-0, #2)
#9 Ohio State 6 (Final: 9-3-0, #10)

Coaching legends Paul "Bear" Bryant and Woody Hayes were well-matched, but Alabama's Jeff Rutledge was not as the Tide rolled over the Buckeyes 35-6 before 76,811, a then-Superdome football record.

Rutledge, the Miller-Digby honoree, hit 8-of-11 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns as Alabama, ranked No. 2, moved to a 21-0 lead through three periods.

Major Ogilvie and Johnny Davis blew it open with successive fourth-period touchdowns after Ohio State had pulled to within 21-6 on Rodney Gerald's 38-yard pass to Jim Harrell.

Louisiana Superdome
Att: 76,811

Alabama 0 13 8 14 - 35
Ohio State 0 0 0 6 - 6

SCORING SUMMARY
Ala: Nathan 1-yard run (Chapman kick)
Ala: Bolton 27-yard pass from Rutledge (Kick failed)
Ala: Neal 3-yard pass from Rutledge (Nathan pass from Rutledge)
OSU: Harrell 38-yard pass from Gerald (Run failed)
Ala: Ogilvie 1-yard run (Chapman kick)
Ala: Davis 5-yard run (Chapman kick)

Alabama	Team Stats	Ohio State
25	First Downs	13
68-280	Rushing	38-160
8-11-0	Passing	7-17-3
109	Passing Yards	103
79-389	Total Offense	55-263
1-33.0	Punts	4-37.5
0-0	Fumbles-Lost	10-2
1-5	Penalties-Yds	4-40

Rushing
Ala.: Davis 24-95, 1 TD; Crow 5-46
OSU: Springs 10-74; Logan 13-57

Passing
Ala.: Rutledge 8-11-0, 109 yards, 2 TDs
OSU: Gerald 7-17-3, 103 yards, 1 TD

Receiving
Ala.: Newsome 2-45; Ferguson 2-28
OSU: Hunter 2-25; Springs 2-6

Miller-Digby Award recipient: Jeff Rutledge, Alabama quarterback