The 1989 Peach Bowl took place on December 30, 1989. The competing teams were Syracuse and Georgia.[1][2]
Background
Syracuse was in a bowl game for the 3rd straight year, which was also their first Peach Bowl ever. Georgia had a streak of winning and losing through the season, winning the first two games, losing the next three, winning four straight, and then losing two straight games to the end the season tied with Florida and Ole Miss while Alabama, Tennessee & Auburn (the latter two having beat Georgia) all shared the Southeastern Conference title, in Goff's first year at the program. This was Georgia's 10th straight bowl appearance, along with their first Peach Bowl since 1973.
Game summary
Georgia – Warner 5-yard touchdown pass from Talley (Kasay kick), 10:34 remaining in the 1st quarter
Syracuse – Owens 1-yard touchdown run (Biskup kick), 6:07 remaining in the 1st quarter
Georgia – Kasay 20-yard field goal, 12:53 remaining in the 2nd quarter
Georgia – Safety on ball centered through endzone, 9:52 remaining in the 3rd quarter
Georgia – Hampton 4-yard touchdown pass from Talley (pass failed), 7:39 remaining in the 3rd quarter
Syracuse – Biskup 32-yard field goal, 1:44 remaining in the 3rd quarter
Syracuse – Moore 19-yard touchdown pass from McDonald (pass failed), 10:08 remaining in the 4th quarter
Syracuse – Biskup 26-yard field goal, 1:08 remaining in the 4th quarter
Owens rushed for 112 yards on 14 carries for Syracuse. For Georgia, Hampton rushed for 32 yards on 14 carries. Mo Lewis returned an interception 77 yards, a Peach Bowl record.[3]
Statistics
Statistics
Syracuse
Georgia
First downs
27
12
Rushing yards
245
113
Passing yards
224
88
Passes (comp–att–int)
22–24–3
10–19–1
Return yardage
31
140
Fumbles–lost
3–1
1–0
Punts–average
3 (41.0)
7 (41.0)
Penalties–yards
2–10
3–30
Aftermath
Syracuse would go to three straight bowl games, and go to five more in the next decade. Georgia went through a patch in which they went to three bowl games in Goff's six remaining years. Georgia returned to the Peach Bowl in 1995, in the final game for Goff before he was fired. Syracuse hasn't returned to the Peach Bowl since this game.
