1994 St. Jude Liberty Bowl
36th Liberty Bowl
Illinois Fighting Illini East Carolina Pirates
(6–5) (7–4)
Big Ten Independent
30 0
Head coach: 
Lou Tepper		 Head coach: 
Steve Logan
1234 Total
Illinois 141060 30
East Carolina 0000 0
DateDecember 31, 1994
Season1994
StadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
MVPIllinois QB Johnny Johnson
Attendance46,212

The 1994 Liberty Bowl was held on December 31, 1994, in Memphis, Tennessee, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The 36th edition of the Liberty Bowl, the game featured the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference and the East Carolina Pirates, a football independent. Illinois won the game, 30–0.

Illinois was led by head coach Lou Tepper and quarterback Johnny Johnson, and had lost its final two regular season games. The program was making its twelfth bowl appearance, and its sixth bowl appearance in seven years, having lost its previous three bowls. East Carolina was led by head coach Steve Logan, and had won its final two regular season games. This was the eighth bowl game in Pirates' team history.

Game summary

The Illini took a 14-0 first-quarter lead on Johnny Johnson touchdown passes to Ken Dilger and Jasper Strong. In the second quarter the Illini added a Chris Richardson field goal and a touchdown reception by Jason Dulick to pull away, 24-0. Illinois' final score came in the third quarter on another Johnson TD strike, this time to Ty Douthard. Johnson's four touchdown passes and 250 yards passing earned him Most Valuable Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player of the Game honors. The Illini defense forced four interceptions and a fumble, allowing a total of only 271 total yards. All-American linebacker Simeon Rice led the way with 10 tackles. The Liberty Bowl was the Illini's first Bowl victory since 1990. Illinois' 30-0 victory was the most lopsided win in Liberty Bowl history and was the only shutout posted among the 1994-95 bowls.

Scoring summary

QuarterTeamScoring summaryScore
IllinoisEast Carolina
1IllinoisKen Dilger 17-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good 70
IllinoisJasper Strong 73-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good 140
2IllinoisChris Richardson 21-yard field goal 170
IllinoisJason Dulick 5-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good 240
3IllinoisTy Douthard 30-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick no good 300
4 300
300

Statistics

Team statistics

(Rushing-Passing-Total): UI - 134-255-389; ECU - 92-179-271

Individual statistical leaders

Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI - Ty Douthard 13-52-0; Robert Holcombe 12- 46-0; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179.

Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI - Johnny Johnson 30-18-0-4-250; Scott Weaver 4-2-0-0-5; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179.

Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI - Jasper Strong 3-96-1, Ken Dilger 7-60-1, Jason Dulick 3-30-1; ECU - Scott Richards 4-25-0, Jason Nichols 6-55-0.

References

    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.