Bluebonnet Bowl
1968
SMU 28
Oklahoma 27
HOUSTON, Dec. 31 (UPI)- Southern Methodist’s Chuck Hixson, the nation's
No. 1 passer, tossed two fourth quarter touchdowns tonight, and then the
Mustangs squelched a rally by Oklahoma to gain a 28-27 victory in the
10th annual Bluebonnet Bowl.
Hixson threw scoring passes of 11 yards to Jerry Levias and 19 yards to
Ken Flemming in the thrilling final period. His toss to Fleming and
Bicky Lesser's third conversion gave the Mustangs a 28-21 lead with 2
minutes 42 seconds remaining.
But Mickey Ripley, subbing for the injured quarterback, Bob Warmack,
brought Oklahoma back with the split end Johnny Barr making a shoestring
catch in the end zone of a 30 yard pass to bring Oklahoma to within
28-27 with 1:16 to go.
Ripley went for 2 points rushing for the right sideline as he looked for
a receiver. But, S.M.U.'s defensive end, Mike Mitchell, shoved him out
of bounds before he could throw (video).
Oklahoma had another chance after Jerry Hetherington recovered the
ensuing onside kick. But Bruce Derr, who made three conversions, missed
a 34 yard field goal, wide to the left, with 19 seconds remaining.
Ripley who came on late in the second quarter with Oklahoma leading 7-0,
had a poor third quarter, but came back in the final period after S.M.U.
went ahead 21-14. He threw a 22 yard scoring pass to the end, Bo Denton,
to tie the score. It deflected off the defensive back, Larry Tunnell’s
hands and through the arms of the three other S.M.U. defenders into the
outstretched arms of the diving Denton in the end zone. Derr kicked and
it was 21-21 with 5:18 to go.
The
running back, Mike Richardson, scored S.M.U.'s other two touchdowns on
runs of 1 and 18 yards. The first touchdown, in the third-quarter, was
set up by a 21 yard pass from Hixson to Levias to the Oklahoma 8.
Warmack, who suffered a knee injury after throwing a pass, ran for the
game's only first half touchdown, a 7 yard bootleg in the first quarter.
He led all runners with 68 yards and was about even with Hixson (122
yards to 120) in passing in the first half.
The other Oklahoma touchdown came on a 30 yard pass from Steve Owens, a
tailback, to Barr in the third quarter. Barr caught eight passes for 138
yards and two touchdowns.
For Owens, the nation's No. 4 rusher, it was only the third pass of his
college career, and all have gone for touchdowns. The fourth quarter
rally for S.M.U. made it the seventh time in eight victories this season
that the Mustangs have come from behind to win.
SMU's Jerry Levias carries against the Sooners.
SMU's Rufus Cormier crushes OU quarterback, Bob Womack.
SMU's Pinky Clements snags a pass from Hickson.
Oklahoma's MVP, Joe Pearce, misses a diving interception attempt on a pass intended for Levias (23).
Hickson fumbles as he is brought down. He recovered his own fumble.
Attendance- 50,543
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Okla- Warmack 7 run (Deer kick)
Third Quarter
SMU- Richardson 1 run (kick failed)
Okla- Barr 21 pass from Owens (Derr kick)
Fourth Quarter
SMU- LeVias 11 pass from Hixson (Clements pass from Hixson)
SMU- Richardson 18 run (Lesser kick)
Okla- Denton 22 pass from Ripley (Derr kick)
SMU- Flemming 19 pass from Hixson (Lesser kick)
Okla- Barr 30 pass from Ripley (run failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
OU - Owens 36-113
SMU - Richardson 18-76
Passing
OU - Ripley 22-10-2-153
SMU - Hixson 43-22-2-281
Receiving
OU - Barr 8-138
SMU - Levias 8-112
