1942 Sugar Bowl
12/2/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
The 1942 Sugar Bowl was a textbook example of the term defensive struggle. Missouri, spearheaded by a defensive unit which had allowed just 37 points in nine regular-season games, held Fordham to only a first quarter safety on a punt blocked out of the end zone. But even that was too much for an uncharacteristically impotent Tiger offense to overcome. Hurt by four turnovers, Mizzou fell to Fordham, 2-0.
During the regular season, Missouri had beaten five teams by shutout and outscored opponents by nearly 19 points a game. Harry Ice, Red Wade and Bob Steuber were the "Touchdown Trio" that led Missouri's dangerous Split-T rushing attack. Fordham, however, held Missouri's rushing game relatively in check, giving up 148 yards, and forcing two fumbles by a squad that had led the nation in rushing. Mizzou's defense was equal to the task in a losing effort, giving up just 137 total yards, including none through the air.
Neither team could cross the goal line and, in a game which featured more penalty yards than passing yards (40-21), Fordham's safety was enough scoring for the victory.
| MISSOURI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| FORDHAM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 2 |
| F -- Safety, Santilli blocked punt out of end zone |
| MU | FU | |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 8 | 10 |
| Rushing Yards | 148 | 137 |
| Passing Yards | 21 | 0 |
| Passes | 2-5-2 | 0-4-0 |
| Punting Avg. | 36 | 34 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 3-2 | 3-1 |
| Penalty Yards | 10 | 30 |
