I was at this one too.
Prior to it, we had lost 5 in a row to Switzer following by that god awful 6-6 tie in 1976 (a game we should have won). Going into the 1977 game, they were #2 and we were #5
Our 2nd play of the game was a pass BY Earl Campbell (Akers had been setting this moment up every game) but ou intercepted at our 14. It looked like they knew this trick play was coming (spying again, Barry?). But then we forced a fumble. This was one of those Fall days when sound seemed to carry. And the sounds from this game are one of my lasting memories, you could really hear the hits on this day. And there were alot of them as both Ds were stacked.
Another thing you could hear was the sound of Russell Erxleben's punts. This game had a lot of big kicks and he was literally knocking the crap out of the ball. All day long. Booming high arcs with distance. I know it sounds weird to be talking about punts, but if you saw his that day, you could never forget them. He was unreal.
Then, on the next possession after Earl's interception and 7th play of the game, starting QB Mark McBath got his legs wishboned by 2 sooners and tore ligaments (maybe a broken ankle too). Then just 11 plays later, Jon Aune, who was just as starter quality as McBath, blew out his right knee. Both injuries ended their seasons.
Randy McEachern was listed as a DB. You know the rest of the story. It was defense and Earl Campbell who had had 124 of our 209 total yards for the 13-6 win. Some of the guys on our D were Johnnie Johnson, Glenn Blackwood, Mike Hartinger, Steve McMichael, Lance Taylor, Brad Shearer, Bill Acker and Rick Churchman. It was the first game in 11 seasons that ou failed to score a TD. Besides his punts, Erxleben hit FGs of 54 and 69 yards (but missed a 69-yard attempt). His last punt though may have saved the game, going 69-yards from out of the endzone to pin them back.
Trent Williams may have rumbled/bumbled/stumbled for 50. I don’t remember. You said throwing into the end zone late in the fourth. I just clarified that.
