The 1985 Cherry Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Atlantic Coast Conference's Maryland Terrapins and the Syracuse Orangemen. After an early 10–6 lead, The Orangemen gave up 22 unanswered second-quarter points, falling too far behind for a comeback and allowing the Terps to win with a final score of 35–18.[1]

1985 Cherry Bowl
Final edition bowl game
1234 Total
Maryland 62270 35
Syracuse 3780 18
DateDecember 21, 1985
StadiumPontiac Silverdome
LocationPontiac, Michigan
MVPStan Gelbaugh, QB, Maryland
RefereeDon Baur (MAC)
Attendance51,858
United States TV coverage
NetworkMizlou, USA Network
AnnouncersRay Lane and Jim Brandstatter
Cherry Bowl
 < 1984   

Although it was only the second edition, the bowl folded after this game when the Cherry Bowl committee found it was more than $2,000,000 over budget. This ended postseason college football in Detroit until 1997, when the Motor City Bowl launched and the MAC Championship Game was first played on a neutral site.

Scoring summary

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First quarter

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  • Syracuse – McAulay 26, field goal
  • Maryland – Gelbaugh 4, run (kick failed)

Second quarter

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  • Syracuse -Drummond 10, run (McAulay kick)
  • Maryland -Knight 3, pass from Gelbaugh (Badajnek run)
  • Maryland -Tye 8, fumble recovery (Plocki kick)
  • Maryland -Blount 20, run (Plocki kick)

Third quarter

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  • Maryland – Abdur-Ra’oof 6, pass from Gelbaugh (Plocki kick)
  • Syracuse – McPherson 17, run (Schwedes from McPherson)

Statistics

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Statistics Syracuse Maryland
First downs 28 22
Rushing yards 241 244
Passing yards 204 223
Total yards 445 467
Interceptions 1 3
Punts–average 1/52.0 3/38.7
Fumbles–lost 3/2 0/0
Penalties–yards 3/26 5/54

References

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  1. ^ "Syracuse University Athletics – 1985 Cherry Bowl". Retrieved March 15, 2016.