1981 Liberty Bowl
23rd Liberty Bowl
Ohio State Buckeyes Navy Midshipmen
(8–3) (7–3–1)
Big Ten Independent
31 28
Head coach: 
Earle Bruce		 Head coach: 
George Welsh
APCoaches
1514
1234 Total
Ohio State 10777 31
Navy 7678 28
DateDecember 30, 1981
Season1981
StadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
MVPEddie Meyers (TB, Navy)
FavoriteOhio State by 14[1]
Attendance43,216
United States TV coverage
NetworkUSA Network/MetroSports
AnnouncersHarry Kalas, Joe Theismann, Johnny Holliday and Jeff Logan
Liberty Bowl
 < 1980  1982 > 

The 1981 Liberty Bowl, a college football postseason bowl game, was played on December 30, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The 23rd edition of the Liberty Bowl featured the Ohio State Buckeyes from the Big Ten Conference facing the independent Navy Midshipmen. Ohio State won the game, 31–28.[2]

Game summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP OSU NAVY
1 3 7 OSU 35-yard field goal by Bob Atha 3 0
1 1 50 OSU Gary Williams 50-yard touchdown reception from Art Schlichter, Atha kick good 10 0
1 16 77 NAVY Greg Papajohn 1-yard touchdown reception from Marco Pagnanelli, Steve Fehr kick good 10 7
2 NAVY 41-yard field goal by Fehr 10 10
2 OSU Jimmy Gayle 1-yard touchdown run, Atha kick good 17 10
2 NAVY 23-yard field goal by Fehr 17 13
3 NAVY Ken Olson returned blocked punt 20 yards for touchdown, Fehr kick good 17 20
3 9 OSU Gayle 2-yard touchdown run, Atha kick good 24 20
4 5 OSU Cedric Anderson 9-yard touchdown reception from Schlichter, Atha kick good 31 20
4 0:08 14 97 NAVY Papajohn 1-yard touchdown reception from Pagnanelli, 2-point pass good, Papajohn from Pagnanelli 31 28
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 31 28

Source:[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b Jackson, James H. (December 31, 1981). "Stubborn Middies fall, 31–28". The Baltimore Sun. p. D1. Retrieved January 15, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Bolding, Mark. "The Liberty Bowl 1981". Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  3. ^ Jackson, James H. (December 31, 1981). "Buckeyes wear down Middies for 31–28 victory". The Baltimore Sun. p. D2. Retrieved January 15, 2020 – via newspapers.com.


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