Lumpkin atones for fumble with TD in OT to win 34-27 over Purdue.
By Associated Press
Published January 2, 2004
ORLANDO - A big lead. A remarkable comeback.
Just another Georgia-Purdue bowl game.
Kregg Lumpkin redeemed himself for a stunning fumble late in regulation, scoring on a 1-yard run in the first overtime to give No. 11 Georgia a 34-27 victory over No. 12 Purdue in the Capital One Bowl on Thursday.
The Boilermakers (9-4) rallied from a 24-0 deficit in the first half, getting a chance to tie on a remarkable turn of events with just over a minute left to play.
Purdue was out of timeouts when Georgia coach Mark Richt called a run instead of ordering quarterback David Greene to take a knee. Lumpkin, a freshman, got tied up in the backfield and fumbled trying to get away. After a wild scramble, Niko Koutouvides recovered for Purdue at the Georgia 34.
"What we talked about was getting down without going out of bounds," Lumpkin said. "I should have just fallen down when I saw that guy. I wish I had."
The Boilermakers did not get a first down, but Ben Jones kicked a 44-yard field goal with 49 seconds left to force overtime tied at 27.
Taking the ball first, the Bulldogs (11-3) got to the 3 with the help of a pass interference penalty on Stuart Schweigert, then went for it on fourth down from inside the 1. Lumpkin slid through a crease for the touchdown.
Purdue still had a chance. Georgia appeared to get the clinching stop when Kyle Orton threw incomplete on fourth and goal from the 8, but the Bulldogs were offside.
Orton then was intercepted by Tony Taylor in the end zone.
Purdue coach Joe Tiller wasn't happy about the penalty in OT.
"The ball was probably 10, 12 yards over the receiver's head," he said. "Last time I checked, Shaquille O'Neal isn't playing receiver for Georgia."
Greene passed for three touchdowns in the first half, and the Bulldogs seemed on the verge of a blowout. He finished 27 of 37 for 327 yards and was the MVP.
But Greene's performance was overshadowed by Purdue's thrilling comeback, led by Orton. The quarterback ran for two TDs and threw a 3-yard touchdown to Anthony Chambers with 1:41 left, pulling the Boilermakers to 27-24.
When the onside kick went out of bounds, the game was over, right? Not so fast.
Purdue called its last timeout, giving Georgia a chance to run off all but the last few seconds by taking a knee twice.
Richt didn't want to risk a punt, so he called a handoff to Lumpkin.
Lumpkin got hemmed up 9 yards behind the line of scrimmage and tried to run the other way. Shaun Phillips stripped the ball, which rolled another 8 yards toward the Georgia end before Koutouvides had his second fumble recovery.
Jones, who missed an overtime kick in a loss to Ohio State, came through with his second field goal.
Orton was knocked out briefly with a dislocated thumb on his non-throwing hand, but he returned to lead the Purdue rally. He was 20 of 34 for 230 yards.
Georgia's Billy Bennett kicked a pair of field goals, giving him 87 for his career and 31 for the season - NCAA records.
