1981 Sun Bowl

1981 Sun Bowl
Oklahoma Sooners Houston Cougars
(6–4–1) (7–3–1)
Big Eight SWC
40 14
Head coach: 
Barry Switzer		 Head coach: 
Bill Yeoman
APCoaches
NR19
1234 Total
Oklahoma 70330 40
Houston 0707 14
DateDecember 26, 1981
Season1981
StadiumSun Bowl
LocationEl Paso, Texas
MVPQB Darrell Shepard (Oklahoma)
RefereeJimmy Harper (SEC)
Attendance33,816
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersTom Brookshier
Hank Stram
Fred Dryer
Sun Bowl
 < 1980  1982 > 

The 1981 Sun Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the Houston Cougars and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Background

The Cougars finished third in the Southwest Conference, making their fourth straight bowl appearance. The Sooners finished second in the Big Eight Conference and made their seventh straight bowl appearance. This was not only the first Sun Bowl appearance for both teams, but the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Game summary

Darrell Shepard scored on a 34-yard touchdown run to make it 7–0 Oklahoma. Houston responded with a Lionel Wilson touchdown plunge to make it 7–7 at halftime. Michael Keeling gave Oklahoma the lead back on his 32-yard field goal in the third quarter. On the ensuing Houston drive, Robert Durham caught a pass from Wilson at the Sooner 47, and he dashed for what seemed to be a sure touchdown. But at the 3-yard line, Elbert Watts knocked the ball away, and the ball went out of the end zone for a touchback. A few plays later (highlighted by a 42 run by Shepard) ended with a touchdown plunge by Shephard to make it 17–7 early in the fourth quarter. A 14-yard punt by Houston led to Keeling's second field goal from 49 yards out to make it 20–7 midway through the quarter. A Houston fumble led to a Fred Sims 30-yard score a few plays later. Houston responded with a 74-yard, 13-play drive culminating in a Donald Jordan 6-yard score to make it 27–14 with less than three minutes to go. After Oklahoma recovered the onside kick, Sims' 48-yard run set up Ron Mills' touchdown plunge to make it 33–14 with 1:30 to go. John Truitt returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown to make the final score 40–14. Darrell Shepard, despite passing for -2 yards on 1 for 5 passing, rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries for 2 touchdowns. Backup Fred Sims, who had rushed for only 179 yards the entire season, ran for 181 yards on 15 carries after an injury to Buster Rhymes. Wilson threw 17 of 21 for 216 yards in a losing effort.[1][2]

Scoring summary

  • Oklahoma – Shepard 34 run (Keeling kick), 1Q – 5:05
  • Houston – Wilson 1 run (Clendenen kick), 2Q – 3:39
  • Oklahoma – Keeling 32 field goal, 3Q – 4:09
  • Oklahoma – Shepard 1 run (Keeling kick), 4Q – 13:07
  • Oklahoma – Keeling 49 field goal, 4Q – 8:03
  • Oklahoma – Sims 30 run (Keeling kick), 4Q – 6:19
  • Houston – Jordan 6 run (Clendenen kick), 4Q – 2:55
  • Oklahoma – Mills 2 run (kick failed), 4Q – 1:30
  • Oklahoma – Truitt 28 interception return (Keeling kick), 4Q – 1:16

Aftermath

While Houston has not returned to the Sun Bowl since this game, Oklahoma has returned twice (1993, 2009).

Statistics

Statistics Houston Oklahoma
First downs 26 15
Rushing yards 157 409
Passing yards 228 -2
Passing (C–A–I) 18–29–1 1–5–1
Total offense 385 407
Fumbles–lost 4–3 2–1
Penalties–yards 2–27 7–48
Punts–average 6–37.0 5–38.6

References

  1. ^ "History: Bowl Recaps". 2010 Houston Cougars Football Media Almanac (PDF). Houston, Texas: University of Houston Department of Athletics. 2010. p. 91. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  2. ^ "Oklahoma 40, Houston 14 | Recaps – Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | December 31, 2021 | el Paso, Texas".