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Southern Cal Trojans © |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
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Played September 22, 1973 at Grant Field Atlanta, Georgia |
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Teams' Belt Records
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Team |
Belt Reigns |
Overall Record |
Home Record |
Away Record |
Neutral Record |
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W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
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| Southern Cal © | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | ||||
| Georgia Tech | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Previous Belt Meetings: None
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
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Southern Cal |
7 |
7 |
0 |
9 |
23 |
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Georgia Tech |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
The top-ranked, 1-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John McKay made their first trip East as Belt holders; the 0-1 Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, coached by Bill Fulcher, awaited the champions. Tech had lost their season opener to South Carolina & the match-up with Southern Cal would be no easier. Southern Cal's All-American WR Lynn Swann caught a touchdown pass & returned a punt for a touchdown while Trojan's All-American S Artimus Parker claimed 3 of Georgia Tech's QB Jim Stevens 4 interceptions in a 23-6 victory to retain The Belt. The teams traded punts throughout the 1st quarter before the Trojans pinned the Yellow Jackets at the Georgia Tech 6-yard line & prepared to punt again. Swann took the kick at the Georgia Tech 48-yard line & broke free for the score giving Southern Cal a 7-0 lead at the end of the quarter. After Southern Cal's PK Chris Limahelu missed a 27-yard field goal attempt, Georgia Tech drove to the Southern Cal 23-yard line but had to settle for a 40-yard field goal by PK Cam Bonifay. The Trojans responded with 12-play, 69-yard drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from QB Pat Haden to Swann with 0:17 left in the half giving Southern Cal a 14-3 advantage. Georgia Tech opened the 3rd quarter with a 10-play drive resulting in a 40-yard field goal by Bonifay before the teams traded punts for the rest of the quarter. Early in the 4th quarter, Limahelu connected on a 20-yard field goal as Southern Cal took a 17-6 lead. After Stevens’ third interception, the Trojans drove 61 yards in 9 plays with Haden finding WR J.K. McKay on the 15-yard touchdown pass. Parker intercepted Stevens for the third time with just 0:58 to play to end any hopes of a miracle rally. Haden finished with 118 yards passing with his 2 touchdowns while Stevens finished with 116 yards passing but the 4 interceptions for the Yellow Jackets. Southern Cal finished the season 9-2-1; Pac-8 Champions & ranked 8th nationally while Georgia Tech finished 5-6 in Fulcher’s final season. Georgia Tech would play for The Belt again in 1974.
