1991 Liberty Bowl
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
|game_name=Liberty Bowl
|subheader = 33rd Liberty Bowl
|title_sponsor=
|date_game_played=December 29
|year_game_played=1991
|football_season=1991
|visitor_name_short= Air Force
|visitor_nickname= Falcons
|visitor_record= 9–3
|visitor_coach=Fisher DeBerry
|visitor_conference=WAC
|visitor_1q =14
|visitor_2q =7
|visitor_3q =3
|visitor_4q =14
|home_name_short=Mississippi State
|home_nickname=Bulldogs
|home_record=7–4
|home_coach=Jackie Sherrill
|home_conference=SEC
|home_1q =0
|home_2q =7
|home_3q =0
|home_4q =8
|MVP= Rob Perez (QB, Air Force)
|visitor_rank_AP=
|home_rank_AP=
|us_network=ESPN
|us_announcers=Sean McDonough and Craig James
|odds=
|first_game_ever_played=
|last_game_ever_played=
|type=bg
|stadium=Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
|city=Memphis, Tennessee
|attendance=61,497
}}
The 1991 Liberty Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game played on December 29, 1991, in Memphis, Tennessee. The 33rd edition of the Liberty Bowl, the game matched the Air Force Falcons and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Background
The Falcons finished 3rd in the Western Athletic Conference while the Bulldogs finished tied for 4th in the Southeastern Conference. This was Air Force's third consecutive Liberty Bowl; it was Mississippi State's first bowl appearance since 1981, and first Liberty Bowl since 1963.
Game summary
One yard scoring runs by fullback Jason Jones and Rob Perez gave the Falcons a 14-0 first quarter lead, with Perez's touchdown coming six plays after the kickoff returner fumbled the ball back to the Falcons. Shannon Yates recovered a fumble and ran 35 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-0. Sleepy Robinson threw a touchdown pass to Trenell Edwards to culminate a 76-yard drive with :35 remaining in the half. While the Falcons only scored three points in the third quarter, they controlled the ball for 13:12, though Scott Hufford scored on a 31-yard touchdown run on the 2nd play of the fourth quarter. Michael Davis ran for a touchdown to make it 31-15 with 7:23 remaining, but the Falcons held on to win. Rob Perez ran for 318 yards while only attempting two passes in the entire game. Air Force outgained the Bulldogs in time of possession by 37:34-22:26.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-30-sp-1006-story.html|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/16800/pdf/fb/fb_06mg_bowls.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=16800 |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231940/http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/16800/pdf/fb/fb_06mg_bowls.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=16800 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Aftermath
Air Force quarterback Rob Perez was named game MVP. He had also been MVP of the prior edition of the Liberty Bowl, making this the first (and to date, only) instance of a player being named Liberty Bowl MVP more than once.{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VSmHPJcPFr9MlJZQShQQo1YeMljXwYPi/view |title=60th Liberty Bowl Media Guide |date=2018 |website=libertybowl.org |via=Google Docs |accessdate=December 31, 2018}}{{rp|68}} The Falcons finished the season ranked number 25 in the AP Poll. They reached the Liberty Bowl again the following season. The Bulldogs next played in the Liberty Bowl in 2007.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1991 bowl game navbox}}
{{Liberty Bowl navbox}}
{{Air Force Falcons bowl game navbox}}
{{Mississippi State Bulldogs bowl game navbox}}
Category:Air Force Falcons football bowl games
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football bowl games
Category:1991 in sports in Tennessee
Category:December 1991 sports events in the United States
{{Collegefootball-bowl-stub}}