1950: Ohio State, 17 vs. California, 14

Jimmy Hague weighed a sturdy 200 pounds, which in the late 1940s, made him a prime candidate to play end for The Ohio State University, emphasis on the. It didn’t make him a prime candidate to win games as a kicker.

Going into the 1950 Rose Bowl Game, of course, the emphasis was on the domination displayed by Midwestern teams at the expense of their overmatched West Coast brethren. By this time, Illinois, Michigan and Northwestern already owned victories since officials from both conferences agreed to send their champions against each other every Jan. 1 in Pasadena – emphasis on the word owned.

That described what the Big Ten did to the Pacific Coast Conference every year at this time.

But Hague was about to provide a novel twist to a common outcome. He was going to win a Rose Bowl Game by swinging his leg, emphasis on swinging.

With Ohio State and California tied at 14 and time running down in the 1950 Rose Bowl Game, the emphasis switched to the foot of Hague and the hands of holder Dick Widdoes. And 17 yards later, the Buckeyes had put the foot to another PCC team, winning the game 17-14 in front of 100,936, emphasis on record crowd.

Hague’s field goal marked the first time the Rose Bowl Game was decided on a late field goal, a status celebrated by Ohio State fans rushing the field and tearing down the goal posts. It also marked the first time the Buckeyes beat Cal in a Rose Bowl Game, avenging a 28-0 beating in the 1921 game at old Tournament Park.

California threw for 106 yards, but got both its scores on the ground: via a 7-yard run by Jim Monachino and a 40-yard scamper by Monachino. That Ohio State would win a Rose Bowl Game with a ball soaring through the air was the latest touch of irony to a game that would embrace that quality more in succeeding years, for the Buckeyes gained 221 of its 255 yards on the ground and picked up 18 of their 19 first downs by plodding along, emphasis on plodding.

Fred Morrison, the Outstanding Offensive Player, ran for 113 yards and a touchdown. His backfield mate, Jerry Krall, picked up another 80 yards and a score. After a bad snap and the ensuing blown punt gave Ohio State the ball on the Cal 15, the two brought the Buckeyes to the shadow of the Golden Bears’ end zone.

Morrison and Krall tag-teamed Ohio State to the California 6, whereupon with time running out, Buckeyes Coach Wes Fesler shipped Hague and Widdoes out to try the finishing field goal. After a delay penalty moved the ball back (and gave Hague a better angle), his boot was true.

Emphasis on true.

Attendance
100,983

Weather
55 degrees

Scoring
Second Quarter
Cal – Monachino, 7-yard run (Cullom kick good)

Third Quarter
OSU – Morrison, 1-yard run (Hague kick good)
OSU – Krall, 6-yard run (Hague kick good)
Cal – Monachino, 40-yard run (Cullom kick good)

Fourth Quarter
OSU – Hague, 18-yard field goal

Coaches
Ohio State: Wes Fesler
California: Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf

Fun Fact
In 1950, the fourth expansion for the stadium increased capacity to 100,983. The Rose Bowl Game became the first bowl game to have 100,000 spectators in attendance.

Individual Statistics
Rushing (att.-yds.-TDs)
Cal: Monachino 14-90-2, Brunk 9-38-0, Schabarum 6-24-0, Robison 2-8-0, Celeri 9-(-17)-0. OSU: Morrison 24-127-1, Krall 24-50-1, Savic 4-9-0, Schnittker 1-5-0, Swinehart 1-2-0, Janowicz 1-1-0, Sturtz 2-1-0, Hamilton 4-(-1)-0.

Passing (comp.-att.-int.-yds.-TDs)
Cal: Celeri 3-11-3-0 106, Erb 0-2-1-0-0.
OSU: Krall 3-8-0-20-0, Savic 1-5-1-7-0.

Receiving (no.-yds.-TDs)
Cal: Begovich 1-15-0, Brunk 2-91-0.
OSU: Savac 2-13-0, Hamilton 1-7-0, Armstrong 1-7-0.