The 1939 Missouri Tigers headed into the 8th annual Orange Bowl well aware that the Georgia Tech Engineers and quarterback Johnny Bosch would use ball-faking and offensive deception to win the game. Bust Bosch still fooled the Tiger defense and over 30,000 fans with his play-action fakes.
After Missouri's star, quarterback "Pitchin'" Paul Christman, plunged across from the 1-yard line to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead, it was all Tech. Bosch's offense used trickery to its full advantage in a 21-7 victory, ending Missouri's first Big Six Championship season in defeat.
Georgia Tech's Howard Ector scored on a 1-yard run to answer Christman and tie the game at 7. Then the tricky Tech offense, with a little help from a stingy defense, put the game away.
Bob Ison gave the Engineers their first lead, 14-7, on a 59-yard end around in the second quarter. The final score of the game came on another trick play, a 34-yard double reverse. These big plays were over one-third of Georgia Tech's 210-yard rushing total.
The Tigers had chances to earn their first bowl victory, but failed gambles and Tech's goal-line defense denied them. In the second quarter, still tied at 7, Mizzou faced a 4th-and-15 from Georgia Tech's 37. Rather than punting, Coach Don Faurot chose to go for it. A pass failed and Tech marched down the field in just three plays for the go-ahead score. Down 21-7, the Tigers mounted a final scoring effort.
They drove to the Tech 2 before Christman was stopped on fourth and goal. Georgia Tech then took over on downs and ran out the clock to preserve the 21-7 triumph.
| GA. TECH | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | -- | 21 |
| MISSOURI | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 7 |
| M -- Christman 1 run (Cunningham kick) |
| GT -- Ector 1 run (Goree kick) |
| GT -- Ison 31 run (Goree kick) |
| GT -- Wheby 59 run (Goree kick) |
| Att. -- 36,500 |
| MU | GT | |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 14 | 12 |
| Rushing Yards | 151 | 210 |
| Passing Yards | 76 | 91 |
| Passes | 8-26-1 | 8-14-1 |
| Fumbles | 1 | 3 |
| Punting Avg. | 33 | 35 |
| Penalty Yards | 15 | 36 |
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