William Christopher kicked the all-important point after and the Wildcats had gained a 7–7 tie." In a match-up of Wildcats, Kentucky defeated Villanova 24–14 in the Great Lakes Bowl played at Cleveland Stadium with attendance of 14,908 on December 6, 1947. Villanova, coached by Jordan Olivar, brought a 6–2–1 record into the game. Kentucky of the Southeastern Conference was in its second season under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and brought a 7–3 record into the game. In the first quarter Kentucky's George Blanda kicked a 27-yard field goal. At halftime Kentucky led 3–0. In the third quarter Kentucky's Jim Howe had a 29-yard touchdown run; Blanda's point after kick gave Kentucky a 10–0 lead. Yet Villanova, behind the accurate throws of highly touted quarterback Andy Gordon, marched back. Two plays into the fourth period, Villanova's Ralph Pasquariello, carrying several Kentucky defenders on his back, rambled 11-yards into the endzone. John Siano's conversion pulled Villanova within a field goal, 10–7. Later in the fourth quarter, Kentucky's Jack Griffin broke through the Villanova line to partially block a punt, giving Kentucky excellent field position at the 25-yard line. Several plays later, Kentucky's Bill Boller raced 25 yards for a touchdown, and after the Blanda extra-point, Kentucky had cushioned its lead to 17–7. With time now against them, Villanova went to the air, but Kentucky's Boller intercepted a Gordon pass and returned it 49 yards for another touchdown. Now trailing 24–7, Gordon returned to the air first hitting Zip Zehler with a 38-yard strike, Gordon then connected with John Sheehan for a 13-yard touchdown pass. With the Siano conversion the score was 24–14. Villanova Wildcats played in the Harbor Bowl on January 1, 1949 in Balboa Stadium in San Diego where they defeated the University of Nevada 27–7. Nevada, the nation's leading passing team led by All-American QB Stan Heath (American football), could do no better than match Villanova's aerial yardage. The first two times the Wildcats got hold of the ball they marched for touchdowns. The Wolf Pack got nowhere after taking the opening kickoff, and had to punt. Where upon Villanova drove from midfield some 47 yards to a score. Ralph Pasquariello, the plowing 228 pound fullback, hammered off tackle, and Bill Doherty tossed long to Ed Berrang.