The two-time defending National Champions and No. 3 ranked Oklahoma Sooners opened Big Eight play in Ames, Iowa, in front of a record crowd and the first undefeated Iowa State football team the Sooners had faced since 1961.
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Jerry Anderson |
| Win: |
500 |
| Date: |
October 2, 1976 |
| Score: |
(3) Oklahoma 24, Iowa State 10 |
| Location: |
ISU Stadium - Ames, Iowa |
| Head Coach: |
Barry Switzer |
| All-Time Record: |
500-195-47 |
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In the end, The Sooners had to rely on "Sooner Magic" to secure a victory, 24-10.
On its second possession, Oklahoma began at its own 37-yard line and reeled off eight straight running plays to advance to the Cyclones' seven. On second and goal from the Iowa State seven, Sooner quarterback, Dean Blevins tossed a touchdown pass to tight end Victor Hicks. Uwe von Schamann's kick made it 7-0.
A fumbled punt by the Cyclones' Dexter Green was recovered by OU tackle Sammy Jack Clapton at the ISU 35. The Oklahoma offense advanced the ball to the Cyclones 31, and von Schamann kicked a 45-yard field goal to give the Sooners a 10-0 lead with 10:30 remaining in the second period.
At that point, the determined Cyclones took control of the game. OU failed to earn a first down on any of its last three possessions of the first half and when ISU scored on a 32-yard Scott Kollman field goal just before halftime, the momentum began to swing.
The Cyclones picked right back up where they left off to open the second half and rolled 80 yards in 13 plays. Green, who rushed for 101-yards in the contest, cashed in with a one-yard run to pull the teams even at 10-10.
Iowa State continued to stymie the OU wishbone, keeping the Sooners in their own territory on four consecutive drives.
Finally, with the clock slipping under five minutes remaining in the game, Oklahoma got an unexpected touchdown. On a third-and-five play, OU called a halfback draw from the I-Formation with Horace Ivory. Ivory ran into his own lineman, Jamie Melendez, and appeared to be stopped short of a first down.
 However, Ivory broke free from a Cyclone tackler, bounced outside and sprinted to a 62-yard touchdown.
"When I turned around and looked up," Melendez said. "Horace broke that one tackle and was on his way."
Von Schamann's PAT made it 17-10 Sooners.
Following the Sooner kickoff, ISU took over at its 20-yard line. Three straight pass completions by Iowa State quarterback Wayne Stanley moved the Cyclones to their own 44.
Stanley, who had thrown 53 passes on the season with no interceptions, then dropped back to pass again. Forced to scrambled, he missed an open receiver and was injured on the play. Iowa State's back-up quarterback, Buddy Hardeman, took over.
His first attempt sailed over the intended receiver into the waiting arms of Sooner defensive back Jerry Anderson. He ran untouched for a 58-yard touchdown return. With Von Schamann's kick, the Sooners were up 24-10.
After the game, Barry Switzer, smiled and said "I guess it's going to be that kind of year." "I guess it was a couple of great plays by a couple of great football players: Horace Ivory and Jerry Anderson."
It also was a little "Sooner Magic."
- Sooner football historian Mike Brooks highlights the milestone wins for Oklahoma. |
Win No. 500
