College Football Old School Game of the Week: "Sooner Magic" Strikes Again as OU Holds Off OK State and Barry Sanders

Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer is carried by his players after the Sooners' 1988 win over Oklahoma State.

" Sooner Magic" is described as some sort of supernatural force that allows for the Oklahoma Sooners football team to pull out victories when less expected or when the team is in dire circumstances.

Such was the case on November 5, 1988 when the Sooners traveled to Stillwater to take on their intrastate rivals, the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a Big 8 showdown.

The Sooners came into the game ranked #8 with a 7-1 record, with their only loss being a 23-7 defeat to the USC Trojans back in September.

Oklahoma was led by head coach Barry Switzer, who had led the Sooners to at least a share of the Big 8 title 12 times in his 15 previous seasons and three national championships, thanks to his wishbone offense which in 1988 was led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Charles Thompson.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys entered the game ranked #12 with a 6-1 record under fifth-year head coach Pat Jones.

The Cowboys had a high-powered offense which had averaged 48 points per game up to this point thanks to quarterback and future Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, wide receiver Hart Lee Dykes, and Heisman Trophy candidate running back Barry Sanders.

Sanders, who had been the back-up to Thurman Thomas during his first two seasons, became the starting running back in 1988 and exploded on to the national scene as he ran for 1,476 yards and scored 24 touchdowns, 22 of those on the ground.

The nation would finally get to see Sanders as the game would be televised on ESPN, marking the first time the Cowboys had been on national television all year as they hoped to defeat the Sooners for the first time since 1976.

 The Sooners got the ball to start the game at their 20-yard-line where it took them only one play to drive into Cowboys territory as running back Mike Gaddis took a pitch from Thompson and ran 50 yards to the Oklahoma State 30-yard-line.

Gaddis would end the seven-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown to put Oklahoma ahead 7-0 just 2:27 into the game.

With the Sooners kicking into a swirling wind, the  Cowboys got good field position for their initial possession of the game as they took over at their 35-yard-line.

On 2nd down, the Cowboys attempted a flea-flicker but Gundy was sacked for a six-yard-loss, which was followed by a 10-yard pass to Dykes to set up 4th & 1 from the Oklahoma State 44-yard-line.

Jones decided to gamble and go for the 1st down but Sanders was stopped for no gain by Sooners defensive tackle Scott Evans to give Oklahoma the ball at the Cowboys' 44-yard-line.

Jones' decision would be made even worse when on the very next play Gaddis busted through the middle for a 44-yard touchdown to give Oklahoma a 14-0 lead with 10:21 left in the first quarter.

Down two touchdowns with a little less than five minutes into the game, the Cowboys needed a score as they took over at their 41-yard-line for their next possession.

Gundy would find Jarrod Green for 11 yards and a 1st down at the Oklahoma 47-yard-line, then scrambled away from the Oklahoma pass rush, to find Dykes, who made a spectacular one-handed catch at the Sooners' 18-yard-line for a 28-yard gain.

Then after three straight runs by Sanders for 14 runs, Gundy ran it in for the four-yard touchdown to put Oklahoma State on the scoreboard and cut their deficit to one touchdown at 14-7 with 6:52 left in the first quarter.

The Sooners would get the ball back at their 20-yard-line where they ran the ball three straight times, gaining 23 yards, before Thompson fumbled a snap from center to which he recovered to prevent a turnover and allow Oklahoma to keep the ball as they would face a 3rd & 2 at their 42-yard-line which they converted as fullback Leon Perry picked up the two yards needed for the 1st down.

Seven plays later, Perry was in the end zone as he scored from seven yards out to increase the Sooners' lead to 21-7 with 2:35 left in the first quarter.

Oklahoma running back Mike Gaddis would run for 213 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

Following an exchange of punts, the Sooners would produce the first turnover of the game as defensive end Greg Dixon intercepted a Gundy pass to give Oklahoma the ball at their 47-yard-line.

The Sooners were in prime position to blow the game wide open as Thompson ran the ball 47 yards to the Oklahoma State six-yard-line on the first play after the interception to set up 1st & goal.

But after two plays lost two yards, the Sooners would lose the football as Thompson fumbled the football which was recovered by Cowboys defensive back Lamar McGriggs at the Oklahoma State nine-yard-line, preventing Oklahoma from extending the lead.

It looked like the Sooners were going to force a three-and-out as a sack of Gundy forced the Cowboys into a 3rd & 16 where Gundy attempted to pick up the 1st down with his feet as he ran for 13 yards, three yards short of the 1st down.

But Dixon was called for a face mask, which was ruled incidental, but enough for the Cowboys to pick up the 1st down as the five-yard penalty was added to Gundy's run to give Oklahoma State a fresh set of downs at their 21-yard-line.

After being held in check for the 1st quarter, Sanders would explode on 2nd & 7 when he took a pitch from Gundy and ran around the right side for a 67-yard run to give the Cowboys a 1st & goal at the Sooners' seven-yard-line.

Sanders would get ball the next two plays, picking up only four yards, before Gundy went back to the air and hit Dykes for a three-yard touchdown to cut the Sooners' lead to 21-14 with 5:06 left in the second quarter.

With Oklahoma State now kicking into the wind, it would be the Sooners who would get good field position as they took over at their 35-yard-line for their next drive

The Sooners would go back to Gaddis who ran for 13 yards to start the drive, then ran for 37 yards on the next play to put the Sooners at the Cowboys' 15-yard-line.

But the Oklahoma State defense would hold as they would only allow five more yards on the next three plays, forcing the Sooners to settle for a 27-yard field goal by R.D. Lashar to increase the Sooners' lead to 24-14 with 2:08 left in the first half.

Following an exchange of punts, the Cowboys would run out the clock as the first half came to an end with the Sooners ahead 24-14.

Oklahoma would go three-and-out to start the second half, punting the ball back to the Cowboys who would take over at the Sooners' 44-yard-line as Oklahoma was kicking into the wind.

Three plays picked up nine yards setting up a 4th & 1 from the Oklahoma 35-yard-line when Jones again decided to go for the 1st down and again was denied as Sanders was tripped up for an one-yard loss by Sooners defensive tackle Curtice Williams giving Oklahoma the ball at their 36-yard-line.

The Sooners would drive to the Oklahoma State 42-yard-line before punting the ball back to the Cowboys who took over at their 20-yard-line, only to give right back to the Sooners as Gundy was intercepted by Oklahoma linebacker Kert Kaspar at the Oklahoma State 25-yard-line.

Oklahoma would run the ball three straight times but did not pick up the 1st down as they were inches short as 4th down approached.

Instead of attempting a 32-yard field goal, Switzer decided to go for the 1st down, but was denied as Perry was stopped for no gain giving the Cowboys the ball back at their 16-yard-line.

The Cowboys drove to the Sooners' 43-yard-line thanks in large part to a 24-yard screen pass from Gundy to Sanders but a holding penalty pushed the Cowboys 10 yards back to their 47-yard-line when Gundy was picked off again, this time by Oklahoma defensive back Kevin Thompson at the Sooners' 41-yard-line.

Running back Anthony Stafford would run for 15 yards to start the drive, but the next three plays picked up eight yards setting up 4th & 2 from the Cowboys' 36-yard-line.

Again, Switzer decided to go for the 1st down and this time it looked like they were going to convert as Thompson ran right past the markers until he was stripped of the ball by Cowboys defensive lineman Devin Jones, leading to a fumble that was recovered by Oklahoma State linebacker Sim Drain at the Cowboys' 32-yard-line with 1:20 left in the third quarter.

Dykes would make another one-handed catch, this time for 15 yards to give Oklahoma State a 1st down at the Sooners' 49-yard-line which was followed by two plays that picked up eight yards setting up 3rd & 2 at the Oklahoma 41-yard-line as the third quarter came to an end with the Sooners still up 24-14.

Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders would run for 215 yards on 39 carries and score two touchdowns.

Sanders would pick up the 1st down with a six-yard run, then ran for 34 yards on the very next play to put the Cowboys at the Oklahoma one-yard-line.

After Sanders was stopped for no gain on 1st down, Sanders dove over the top for his first touchdown of the game to cut the Oklahoma lead to 24-21 with 13:37 left in the fourth quarter.

The Oklahoma State defense would force a three-and-out to get the ball back at their 23-yard-line when Sanders ran for 14 yards to start the drive, which was followed by a 13-yard pass from Gundy to Green to put the Cowboys at exactly the 50-yard-line.

That is when the Cowboys called for the end around where wide receiver Curtis Mayfield ran around the left side and ran for 30 yards and a 1st down at the Oklahoma 20-yard-line.

Five plays later, the Cowboys were back in the end zone as Sanders took a pitch from Gundy and ran around the right side for a two-yard touchdown to give Oklahoma State its first lead of the game at 28-24 with 8:45 left in the game.

The Sooners would take over at their 20-yard-line and began the drive with back-to-back nine yard runs first by Thompson, then by Gaddis to give Oklahoma a 1st down at their 38-yard-line.

That is when Thompson completed his first pass of the day, a 22-yard screen pass to Perry to give the Sooners a 1st down at the Cowboys' 45-yard-line.

Three straight runs by Gaddis gained 11 yards and another 1st down, which was followed by a four-yard run by Thompson to set up 2nd & 6 from the 30-yard-line.

That is when "Sooner Magic" struck as the Sooners would fumble the football on back-to-back plays without the Cowboys recovering.

First on 2nd & 6, Stafford dropped a pitch from Thompson, only to recover it for an one-yard-loss to set up 3rd & 7 where Thompson connected with Gaddis on a screen pass for seven yards when Gaddis was hit by Cowboys linebacker Rod Smith, knocking the ball loose only to be recovered by Oklahoma offensive tackle Mark Van Keirsbilck at the Oklahoma State 25-yard-line to set up 4th & 1.

This time, Switzer had no choice to go for the 1st down, and it appeared for the third time he would not get it as Thompson dropped back to hand the ball off to Stafford only to collide with him.

But Thompson regained his composure to ran for two yards and pick up the 1st down at the Cowboys' 23-yard-line.

Then after Perry ran for five yards on 1st down and Gaddis was stopped for no gain on 2nd down, Thompson rolled around the left side and ran for a 18-yard touchdown to give the Sooners a 31-28 lead with 2:33 left in the game.

Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson leaps over an Oklahoma State defender for the game-winning touchdown with 2:33 to go in the game.

The Cowboys would get one more chance to either tie the game(There was no overtime in FBS in 1988)or pull out the win.

Jones put out Sanders for the kickoff, who unwisely took it out of his end zone and was stopped at the Cowboys' nine-yard-line.

However, it would take the Cowboys to get into Sooners territory as Gundy connected with Dykes for 23 yards to begin the drive, then hit him again for 24 yards to give the Cowboys a 1st down at the Sooners' 44-yard-line.

An incomplete pass and a six-yard completion set up 3rd & 6 from the Oklahoma 38-yard-line when Gundy handed the ball off to Sanders, who picked up 10 yards and a 1st down at the Sooners' 28-yard-line as Sanders crossed the 200-yard rushing mark for the third time in the 1988 season.

Following another incomplete pass, the Cowboys went back to Sanders who picked up eight yards on 2nd down, then was stopped inches short of the 1st down on 3rd down to set up 4th & inches from inside the Oklahoma 19-yard-line.

However, the referees called a dead ball personal foul penalty on fullback Garrett Limbrick for pushing Oklahoma linebacker Richard Dillon, though in the eyes of Oklahoma State fans it looked like the fullback was finishing his block.

The penalty meant instead of 4th & inches from the 19-yard-line it would be 4th & 15 from the 34-yard-line.

Jones could have had kicker Cary Blanchard attempt a 51-yard field goal to salvage a 31-31 tie but instead went for the 1st down.

That is when Gundy took the snap, rolled his right and fired a pass to the end zone for Brent Parker, who had the ball in his hands but dropped the sure touchdown, giving the ball back to Oklahoma at their 34-yard-line with less than 50 seconds to go.

"Sooner Magic" had struck again as the Sooners ran out the clock to come away with the 31-28 win, their 12th consecutive win over the Cowboys in the "Bedlam Series".

The loss knocked Oklahoma State out of the Big 8 title race, but not Sanders out of the Heisman race as he was just getting warmed up.

In the Cowboys' final three games of the regular season, Sanders would run for 847 yards and score 13 touchdowns to clinch the Heisman Trophy becoming the first and thus far only Oklahoma State football player to win the award.

Sanders topped his historic season with a 29-carry, 222-yard and five touchdown performance against Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl which the Cowboys won 62-14 to finish the season with a 10-2 record and #11 ranking in both the AP and Coaches polls.

Meanwhile, the Sooners would fall to Nebraska 7-3, denying the Sooners their fifth straight Big 8 title as they would conclude the season with a 13-6 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the Citrus Bowl to finish the season with a 9-3 record and #14 ranking in the AP and Coaches polls.

But the worst was yet to come for Oklahoma as Thompson would be arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover FBI agent in February 1989, which led to Switzer's resignation after 16 seasons as the Sooners head coach.

Switzer's depature would lead to a steep decline for the Sooners as they would not compete for a conference or national championship until Bob Stoops' arrival in 1999.

As for Thompson, he would be sent to jail following his arrest and be convicted and sent to prison in September of 1989 where he would spend the next 17 months in prison.

However, Thompson would redeem himself after his release from prison as he would go back to school and get his degree and become a motivational speaker talking to kids about not the mistakes he made in his life and how they should avoid them.