1987 Recap

Written by: Big 33 Staff on August 1, 1987.

Maryland used a couple of great goal line stands to preserve a 26-22 victory over Pennsylvania before more than 17,300 fans at Hersheypark Stadium.

It was a game that went down to the final play, a Hail Mary pass from Doug Sieg which Gary Brown couldn’t hold as he tumbled to the end zone turf. Earlier, Sieg’s 4-yard pass to Terry Smith had given Pennsylvania a first down at the Maryland four-yard line. On fourth down at the one, fullback Jeff Christy was stopped dead in his tracks by the determined Maryland defense.

This was a game which produced a spectacular pass catching show by Maryland’s Robert Jackson. He had eight catches for 121 yards to become his team’s MVP.

Maryland scored first with a 33-yard pass from Eric Nichols to Brian Allred. Pennsylvania came right back with a 37-yard TD strike from Sieg to Warren West. A run for two failed, leaving Maryland on top by 7-6. A 64-yard run by Jeff Allen boosted the lead to 13-6 as the PAT was blocked. When Andre Jones picked up a fumble and stepped two yards into the end zone. Maryland went up 20-6. They made it 26-6 on a 20-yard toss from Nichols to Jackson.

With time running out in the half, Pennsylvania got back in the game on Paul Romanchock’s 38-yard pass to Smith, making it 26-13.

The only score of the second half came when Louis Riddick intercepted a Nichols’ pass and returned it 20 yards to the end zone. Joe Ruth’s kick made it 26-20 but that was all the points Pennsylvania could get.