1999 Game Recap / Allstate Sugar Bowl

65th Annual Sugar Bowl Classic ~ January 1, 1999
#3 Ohio State 24 (Final: 11-1, #2)
#8 Texas A&M 14 (Final: 11-3, #11)

Joe Germaine threw for a touchdown, Joe Montgomery rushed for one and the special teams came up with a blocked punt return for a score - all in the first quarter - to lift Big Ten Champion Ohio State to its first Sugar Bowl victory, 24-14 over Texas A&M. But that was all the touchdowns Ohio State could muster.David Boston caught a Sugar Bowl record 11 passes for 105 yards to earn Most Outstanding Player.

The Aggies scored first with a 9-yard run by Dante Hall at the 10:53 mark in the first quarter, but the Buckeyes had few problems against the Wrecking Crew defense of Texas A&M, despite not delivering a true knockout punch.

Texas A&M, which came from behind in five of its victories this year, never quit. After trailing 24-7 at halftime, the Aggies closed to 24-14 on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Branndon Stewart to Leroy Hodge. They tried for one more comeback but Jerry Rudzinski tipped a lateral pass and recovered the fumble to end one drive, and the Buckeyes' defense made enough plays to keep the lead.

Louisiana Superdome
Att: 76,503
ABC Rating: 11.5

Texas A&M   7   0   7   0   -   14
Ohio State   21   3   0   0   -   24

SCORING SUMMARY
A&M: Hall 9 yd run (Bynum kick), 10:53 (1st)
OSU: Germany 18 yd pass from Germaine (Stultz kick), 8:34 (1st)
OSU: Montgomery 10 yd run (Stultz kick), 4:10 (1st)
OSU: Griffin 16 yd blocked punt return (Stultz kick), 1:59 (1st)
OSU: Stultz 31 yd punt return, 0:16 (2nd)
A&M: Hodge 7 yd pass from Stewart (Bynum kick), 5:24 (3rd)

   Texas A&M   Team Statistics   Ohio State
   17   First downs   25
   96   Rushing yards    210
   187   Passing    222
   22-39-0   Comp-Att-Int    21-38-0
   71   Return yards    71
   10-39.8   Punts-Avg.   7-44.3
   1-1   Fumbles-Lost    3-0
   6-43   Penalties    6-61
   28:18   Time of Possession   31:42

Rushing
A&M: Toombs 10-62, Hall 11-53, Parker 1-6, Stewart 5-(-25)
OSU: Montgomery 9-96, Wiley 16-88, Wells 7-30, Keller 4-15, Germaine 6(- 19)

Passing
A&M: Stewart 22-39-0, 187 yards, 1 TD
OSU: Germaine 21-38-0, 222 yards, 1 TD

Receiving
A&M: Taylor 5-42, Spiller 5-43, Parker 3-9, Toombs 2-19, Hodge 2-15 TD, Hall 2-3, Campbell 1-20, Oliver 1-20, Bumgardner 1-6
OSU: Boston 11-105, Wiley 5-40, Germany 2-34 TD, Miller 1-28, Lumpkin 1-8, Keller 1-7.

Miller-Digby Award recipient: David Boston, Ohio State receiver