1980 Independence Bowl

The 1980 Independence Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the McNeese State Cowboys and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

1980 Independence Bowl
1234 Total
Southern Miss 10006 16
McNeese State 0770 14
DateDecember 13, 1980
Season1980
StadiumIndependence Stadium
LocationShreveport, Louisiana
MVPQB Stephen Starring, McNeese State
NG Jearld Baylis, Southern Miss
Attendance42,600
United States TV coverage
NetworkMizlou

Background

Once again, the Cowboys were champions of the Southland Conference and were thus invited to their third Independence bowl in four years. The Golden Eagles were in their first bowl game since 1958. This was the final year of the agreement between the Bowl and the Southland Conference.

Game summary

Winston Walker gave the Golden Eagles a 3–0 lead on his 36-yard field goal. Cleom Terrell made it 10–0 on his 14-yard run for a touchdown. The Cowboys responded in the next two quarters with a Buford Jordan touchdown run and a Stephan Starring touchdown run to give them a 14–10 lead going into the final quarter. Mike Woodard gave Southern Miss the go-ahead lead on his one-yard touchdown plunge as the Golden Eagles held on to win. Despite outgaining Southern Miss on yards, the Cowboys' four turnovers (compared to Southern Miss' two) doomed the team. In an MVP (but losing) effort, Stephen Starring threw 6-of-12 for 129 yards and ran for 82 yards on 23 carries for McNeese State.[1]

Aftermath

McNeese State did not win another conference title until 1991, but by this point the conference had dropped below Division I-A (now FBS). This remains their final bowl game. Southern Miss returned to the Independence Bowl in 1988.

Statistics

StatisticsSouthern MissMcNeese State
First downs1414
Rushing yards181262
Passing yards69139
Interceptions10
Total Net Yards250401
Fumbles–lost1–14–4
Penalties–yards8–754–35
Punts–average8–44.55–37.4

References

  1. "2014 Duck Commander Independence Bowl : Media Guide" (PDF). Independencebowl.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
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