1975 Nebraska football Red-White spring game recap
Whites defeat Reds 20-6; Garcia leads upset
Lincoln, Nebraska—(May 3, 1975)—Behind the quarterbacking of sophomore Randy Garcia, the White squad upset the favored Red team 20-6 before 19,429 fans at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium.
From the very start of the contest, the Red team, featuring the Huskers’ top players, was dominated by the underdog White squad. The opening kickoff went to the Reds’ Dave Gillespie in the end zone, where he returned it to the 24, fumbled, and the Whites recovered the ball.
Six plays later, the Whites scored with 12:20 left in the first quarter when John O’Leary ran a yard up the middle for the tally. Al Eveland’s kick made it 7-0, in favor of the Whites.
While the White defense was holding the Huskers No. 1 offense in check, Garcia led the Whites to another score in the second quarter. That touchdown was an eight-yard pass from Garcia to split end Bill Kraft, and with Eveland’s kick, the Whites led 14-0 going into the lockerroom.
Garcia led the Whites to their final score early in the third quarter. Starting on their own nine yard line, the Whites drove 91 yards in 17 plays to score and ice the upset. O’Leary scored the third touchdown with 3:35 left in the third quarter when he ran up the middle for three yards, but Eveland’s kick was no good, so the Whites led 20-0.
Finally, in the fourth quarter, the Reds scored their only touchdown, led by I-backs Monte Anthony and Dave Gillespie and fullback Tony Davis. Driving 76 yards in 11 plays, Gillespie scored with 3:00 left in the game when he ran three yards for the touchdown, but Mike Coyle’s kick was wide and the score was 20-6.
The Reds dominated every statistic except one, the 20-6 final score. The Reds garnered 23 first downs to the Whites’ 16 and ground out 383 total yards compared to the Whites’ 258.
Individually, Garcia paced the Whites by completing six of eight passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. O’Leary led the White team in rushing with 50 yards on 12 attempts and two touchdowns.
Red leaders were Gillespie gaining 82 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown, Anthony getting 79 yards on 16 carries and quarterback Terry Luck completing four of seven passes for 56 yards, with one intercepted.
SOURCE: 1975 NU MEDIA GUIDE