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Tulsa Stuns Houston (Nov. 16, 1963)
10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 7, 2005
Tulsa, Okla. - By Phil Parrish Tulsa World Sports Writer (Nov. 16, 1963)
Cool Jerry Rhome brilliantly guided Tulsa on an 84-yard touchdown march in the final minutes, then passed for the winning two-points as the Hurricane roared from behind for 22-21 victory over Houston at Skelly Stadium Saturday.
With 5,662 faithful resigned to defeat, the Hurricane struck for two touchdowns in exactly five minutes of the fourth quarter for the biggest triumph of coach Glenn Dobbs' three-year reign.
The winning tally was a 42-yard home run Rhome pass to Billy Van Burkleo. The Rogers product made a Willie Mays catch inside the 10 and out-raced a crushed defender into the end zone.
Disdaining a tie, Rhome calmly picked out stringbean Jeff Jordan for the two-point pass that brought the unbelievable victory. Jordan refused to be outmaneuvered and simply outreached Houston defender Morris Wilson.
Rhome passed for all three Tulsa touchdowns, provided a surprising running punch and helped make a key defensive stop at the TU one as Houston threatened early in the third period for a clinching tally.
Rhome's first TD pass went to diving end Garry Porterfield early in the second period to cap a 67-yard march in 11 plays. The second was taken by Van Burkleo with 6:10 left in the fourth period to cap a 98-yard spree in 10 plays.
In all, the Southern Methodist transfer threw for 224 yards by completing 19 of 29 attempts.
TU's play compared to its 15-21 losing effort against unbeaten, bowl hopeful Memphis State the second game of the season. The sweet victory, however, made this one outstanding.
Houston was an eight-point favorite, but many observers thought the Cougars could name their score. Houston had played much superior opposition well.
The TU win again emphasizes the impossibility of predicting the outcome of any game in this series, which is now tied 7-7.
The Cougars sailed on a South wind to mount a 14-0 first quarter lead, then received a gift-wrapped tally just before half-time for a 21-7 margin. Quarterback Jack Skog scored the first two times, and passed for the third. The Cougar set a school season completion record by connecting on 15 of 27 to boost his total to 86.
Houston's touchdown just before halftime loomed increasingly large as the final minutes ticked off. Tulsa had stopped Houston at the Hurricane10, but on the first TU play Dwight Claxton fumbled and Houston center James Broussard recovered at the 11.
Skog immediately took advantage of this bonanza by hurried a TD strike to end Clem Beard. Claxton, a defensive specialist, had no business being in the offensive series, but couldn't be subbed out under the new rules.
Aside from the calculating Rhome, who pirouetted circles around Houston's determined rushers, the biggest game factor was the window-rattling South wind that gusted to 45 mph.
All touchdown marches, except Houston's gift tally, took the jetstream South, as passing into the breeze was a little difficult. Houston capitalized on winning the coin flip and kicked to TU, keeping the Hurricane buried in its own territory throughout the first quarter.
The Cougars scored their initial period tallies on marches of 52 and 50 yards as TU's punts went short into the gale. Only one play was run in Houston territory during this period.
Tulsa evened its record at 4-4, while Houston is 1-7. A well-earned week off precedes Missouri Valley Conference clashes with Wichita and Louisville.
By winning both, TU could tie Cincinnati for the Valley title.
Tulsa's spirited showing got a boost from fullback Hank Dorsch's return. The club's leading rusher, Dorsch had missed three games with a shoulder separation.
The Canadian picked up 12 key yards on TU's first touchdown drive, then broke a steaming 25-yard dash to start the first fourth quarter march. Dorsch almost got loose to go all the way, but couldn't' get running room before being caught from behind.
While Van Burkleo go the headline TD catches, sophomore end Howard Twilley, gutty tailback Charlie Phillips and tiny Eddie Fletcher contributed key hauls.
Twilley snagged six for 60 yards, Phillips hauled in four for 30 and Fletcher took one. That singleton, however, went for 45 yards on the winning drive.
Tulsa's defense showed marked improvement, stopping one near - certain touchdown drive containing Houston's passing in the clutch. Big yardage penalties twice crippled potential Cougar drives as Houston was hit with 103 yards in infractions to TU's 17.
Houston had a decided punting edge in Morris Wilson, who averaged 38.8 yards on five kicks. One was an intentional shortie which aggressive Cougar lineman downed on the TU two-yard line in the fourth period. TU overcame that blow to launch its 98-yard TD drive.
Tulsa's determination to not cave in after critical offensive errors, especially the fumble, must be heartening to Dobbs and his aides. It was strong testimony to the courage of the injury-hit squad.
It is ironic that Jordan's two-point conversation catch provided the victory margin. In last year's 35-31 Houston victory, it was Bill McMillan's five perfect placements for the difference. McMillan kicked three more Saturday, but Bill Goods wasn't given a chance for his third as Tulsa went all-or-nothing after touchdown No. 3.
Houston scored on its first series of the game, moving 52 yards in 11 plays. Skog's passes and Joe Lopasky's shifty running at up the yardage. Tulsa stiffened inside its 10, but Skog's six-yard pass to halfback Wally Ludtke and two-yard keeper got the final distance.
Taking over on its second series, the Cougars went 50 yards in seven plays to post their second tally in seven minutes. Again it was Skog and Lopasky doing the damage as the halfback broke 18 and eight-yard dashes, and Skog went the final seven on a keeper.
Rhome displayed his surprising running ability as Tulsa gained the wind's aid at the start of the second quarter. A six-yard Dorsch pickup and Rhome passes to Twilley and Mike Brown reached the TU 42.
Then Rhome scooted 13 yards on a keeper, and a 15-yard roughing penalty on Houston put it on the Cougar 25. Runs by Dorsch and Rhome set up the quarterback's 10-yard scoring pass to Porterfield, who had to make a great diving effort.
After two punt exchanges, the offensive miscues that plagued earlier TU games reared up again. Porterfield dropped a Rhome pass and Houston tackle Ray Dudley recovered at the TU 41. Tulsa stopped that drive at the 10, only to have the Rhome Claxton botch-up fumble as TU could only sub two men and the defensive specialist was left in.
Houston recovered the fumble at the TU 11 and Skog's toss to Beard gave Houston its third TD with 1:10 left in the half. Houston's Mike Spratt, who scored two TD's against Alabama, intercepted a Rhome pass and raced to TU's 25. Skog threw four incomplete, one broken up by Jordan in the end zone, in the final seconds.
Houston appeared certain of its fourth TD on its first series of the third period. McMillan's 38-yard scamper and Skog's 26-yard pass to Beard set up a first down at TU's 10. An incomplete pass and three line rams by Ronnie Powledge only reached the one in face of TU's magnificent defensive stand.
On the fourth down attempt, Powledge was ganged by Richard Goins, Rhome and Jordan.
Tulsa launched its own drive, reaching the Houston 11, but penalties halted the effort and Wilson's 52-yard punt wrecked the field position gained. TU's next movement was abruptly ended when Bill Howell intercepted a Rhome pass and raced to TU's 24. Penalties ended this golden Cougar opportunity, but Wilson buried the Hurricane with his perfectly-placed punt to TU's two-yard line.
Undaunted, Tulsa opened its 98-yard cross country feat. Dorsch set it off with his 25-yard opener. Only 10 plays were needed, including four Rhome passes for 30 yards and a 15-yard Van Burkleo sweep, aided by Porterfield's key block. A fine Dorsch line fake gave Rhome time to hit Van Burkleo for the score.
Tulsa took only four plays on its winning drive. Oddly, two were losses as Rhome was hit trying to pass. The other two pass strikes, however, were for 45 yards to Fletcher and 42 to Van Burkleo for the TD.
Special thanks to the Tulsa World for the reprint of this story.