Oklahoma State University Athletics
Friday, December 25
El Paso, TX
Oklahoma State University
35
vs
33
West Virginia
1987 John Hancock Sun Bowl Recap
December 25, 1987 | Cowboy Football
EL PASO -- In one of the most entertaining postseason games of the year, Oklahoma State rallied to defeat West Virginia 35-33 in the snow of the 1987 John Hancock Sun Bowl.
The heroes for Oklahoma State were many but the list was topped by tailback Thurman Thomas who rushed for 157 yards on 33 carries and scored four touchdowns. It was a fitting way for the Cowboy All-American to end his collegiate career. He was named MVP of the bowl and played in front of a national television audience on CBS.
It wasn't easy for OSU, however. The Cowboys scored first on a five-yard run by Thomas, set up by a long Mike Gundy-to-Hart Lee Dykes pass play. West Virginia tied it 7-7 later in the first quarter, but OSU came back to take the lead 14-7 on a nine-yard run by Thomas.
The OSU lead was short-lived. West Virginia scored two touch-downs and a field goal in the second quarter that went unanswered by Oklahoma State and the Mountaineers led 24-14 at the half.
The Cowboys took the lead with 1:43 left in the third quarter on a six-yard pass from Gundy to J.R. Dillard and the successful PAT made it 28-27. The Cowboys took a 35-27 lead in the fourth quarter on a four-yard run by Thomas. O-State had to hold one more time, however, as West Virginia drove for a touchdown with just 1:13 left. OSU defender Shawn Mackey's goal line tackle on the two-point conversion try stopped West Virginia from tying the game in the final minute.
The heroes for Oklahoma State were many but the list was topped by tailback Thurman Thomas who rushed for 157 yards on 33 carries and scored four touchdowns. It was a fitting way for the Cowboy All-American to end his collegiate career. He was named MVP of the bowl and played in front of a national television audience on CBS.
It wasn't easy for OSU, however. The Cowboys scored first on a five-yard run by Thomas, set up by a long Mike Gundy-to-Hart Lee Dykes pass play. West Virginia tied it 7-7 later in the first quarter, but OSU came back to take the lead 14-7 on a nine-yard run by Thomas.
The OSU lead was short-lived. West Virginia scored two touch-downs and a field goal in the second quarter that went unanswered by Oklahoma State and the Mountaineers led 24-14 at the half.
The Cowboys took the lead with 1:43 left in the third quarter on a six-yard pass from Gundy to J.R. Dillard and the successful PAT made it 28-27. The Cowboys took a 35-27 lead in the fourth quarter on a four-yard run by Thomas. O-State had to hold one more time, however, as West Virginia drove for a touchdown with just 1:13 left. OSU defender Shawn Mackey's goal line tackle on the two-point conversion try stopped West Virginia from tying the game in the final minute.
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