UW's Rally Falls Short vs. USC in Rose Bowl
January 01, 1963 | Football
A 23-point fourth quarter explosion wasn't quite enough as the Badgers dropped a 42-37 Rose Bowl encounter to Southern California. The Trojans had claimed a 42-14 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter before the Badger rally.
USC had a 21-7 halftime lead and extended it on the first play of the third stanza, before Ron Vander Kelen led one of the biggest charges in bowl history.
Vander Kelen reached paydirt on a 17-yard scamper to reduce the margin to 28-14. USC responded with a pair of touchdown passes by Pete Beathard and the Trojans led 42-14.
Lou Holland (13-yard run) and Gary Kroner (four-yard reception) tallied for the Badgers within three minutes. A bad snap on a punt resulted in a UW safety. After the free kick, Vander Kelen hit three straight passes, including a 19-yard score to Pat Richter for the final 42-37 margin.
Vander Kelen, the game MVP, set both school and Rose Bowl records with 401 yards passing. Richter caught 11 of those aerials for 163 yards. The 79 total points scored was a Rose Bowl record that stood for 28 years.
