The 1954 Gator Bowl (December) was a

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

postseason bowl game that featured the

Baylor Bears The Baylor Bears are the athletic teams that represent Baylor University. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as one of only two private school members of the Big 12 Conference. Prior to j ...

and the Auburn Tigers.

Background

Baylor finished tied for 3rd in the Southwest Conference in their third bowl appearance in 5 years. Auburn had finished tied for 7th in the Southeastern Conference, in their second straight Gator Bowl appearance, being the first school to ever play in the same bowl twice in the same year.

Game summary

Five plays after Del Shofner fumbled the ball on the opening return (which Auburn recovered at the Baylor 27),

Joe Childress Joe Childress (October 26, 1933 – May 5, 1986) was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers. College years Childress was a two-time All-American at Auburn Auburn may refer to: P ...

scored on a 7-yard run to make it 7-0 with 11:54 in the 1st quarter. A 63-yard drive in 9 plays culminated with a Reuben Saage touchdown plunge to make it tied with 7:05 in the first quarter. Fob James broke the tie with his 43-yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter. Jimmy Long's catch of Bobby Freeman's touchdown pass from 6 yards out made it 21-7 with only :17 remaining in the 1st half. Childress rushed for his second touchdown plunge midway through the quarter to make it 28-7. L. G. Dupre made it 28-14 on his 38-yard dash with 4:25 to go in the 3rd, but Auburn sealed the deal with a Freeman touchdown run near the end of the third quarter. Joe Childress rushed for 134 yards on 20 carries with 2 touchdowns in a winning MVP effort for Auburn. Billy Hooper threw 9-of-15 for 112 yards for Baylor in a losing MVP effort. The attendance for the game was 34,408.

Scoring summary

* Auburn - Childress 7 run (Childress kick), 11:54 remaining in 1st * Baylor - Saage 1 run (C. Smith kick), 7:05 remaining in 1st * Auburn - James 43 run (Childress kick), 9:20 remaining in 2nd * Auburn - Long 6 pass from Freeman (Childress kick), :17 remaining in 2nd * Auburn - Childress 3 run (kick failed), 7:13 remaining in 3rd * Baylor - Dupre 38 run (kick failed), 4:25 remaining in 3rd * Auburn - Freeman 5 run (kick failed), :42 remaining in 3rd

Aftermath

Baylor returned to the bowl in 1960. Auburn would return for their third straight Gator Bowl appearance.

Statistics

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1954 Gator Bowl (12)

Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game held in Jacksonville, Florida, operated by Gator Bowl Sports. It has been held continuously since 1946, making it the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised natio ...

Gator Bowl Baylor Bears football bowl games Auburn Tigers football bowl games December 1954 sports events in the United States 1954 in sports in Florida 20th century in Jacksonville, Florida