1955 Sun Bowl
The 1955 Sun Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the UTEP [Miners football|Texas Western Miners] and the Florida State Seminoles.
Background
The Miners finished 3rd in the Border [Intercollegiate Athletic Association] in their second straight Sun Bowl, and fourth Sun Bowl in six years. As for the Seminoles, a 3–3 start ended with 5 straight wins to close out the regular season. This was their first Bowl since the 1950 Cigar Bowl.Game summary
Harry Massey scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Seminoles an early 7–0 lead, set up by a 25-yard kickoff return and a 48-yard rush both by Lee Corso. After Florida State lost both Corso and the ball after an ensuing punt, the Miners took advantage, scoring on a Rusty Rutledge touchdown catch from Jesse Whittenton to make it 7–7 after one quarter. In the second, the Miners exploded for 27 points. Whittenton ran for a touchdown run from 7 yards out to make it 13–7. Bob Forrest scored on a 45-yard touchdown run to make it 20–7. Whittenton threw his 2nd touchdown pass to make it 27–7. He then threw a pass to Rutledge from 16 yards out to make it 34–7 at halftime. Forrest scored once again to make it 41–7 Miners. The Seminoles finally responded with a Len Swantic touchdown pass to make it 41–13. Whittenton made it 47–13 on his 2-yard touchdown plunge. In the fourth quarter, the only score was on a Larry Massey touchdown pass to make it 47–20. Future actor Burt Reynolds rushed for 35 yards on 7 carries for Florida State. Whittenton went 7 of 13 for 138 yards and three touchdowns passing and two touchdowns on 13 yards rushing in an MVP effort. The attendance for the game was estimated at 14,000.Scoring summary
- 1st - Florida State - Massey 1-yard run
- 1st - Texas Western - Rutledge 56-yard pass from Whittenton
- 2nd - Texas Western - Whittenton 7-yard run
- 2nd - Texas Western - B. Forrest 45-yard run
- 2nd - Texas Western - D. Forrest 19-yard pass from Whittenton
- 2nd - Texas Western - Rutledge 16-yard pass from Whittenton
- 3rd - Texas Western - B. Forrest 11-yard run
- 3rd - Florida State - Feamster 45-yard pass from Swantic
- 3rd - Texas Western - Whittenton 2-yard run
- 4th - Florida State - Odom 16-yard pass from Massey