First year Oklahoma Head Coach Gomer Jones knew his chances for a winning season depended on a victory against Colorado. With games against highly-ranked Missouri and Nebraska looming, the game at Boulder was paramount.
Lance Rentzel
Win:
400
Date:
October 31, 1964
Score:
(7) Oklahoma 14, Colorado 11
Location:
Folsom Field - Boulder, Colo.
Head Coach:
Gomer Jones
All-Time Record:
400-167-44
His team came through with a 14-11 thriller.
The Buffaloes drove to the Sooners' 25-yard line before their drive stalled mid-way through the first period and ended in a missed field goal.
Oklahoma then drove 85 yards in nine plays to get on the board. Larry Brown's 19-yard burst got the Sooners to the Buffs' 43-yard line. Two plays later, Lance Rentzel, a senior back from Oklahoma City, took a pitch from QB Bobby Page.
Rentzel turned the left corner, cut back across the middle of the field, and set sail on a beautiful 40-yard scoring run, giving the Sooners an early 7-0 lead.
Midway through the third period, Colorado got a 31-yard field goal, cutting the margin to 7-3, but had a letdown in other special teams play that iced the game for OU.
Early in the final quarter, Rod Crosswhite delivered a bone crushing block on a Colorado defender to spring fellow defensive back Larry Shields on a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown. OU was up 14-3, but had to withstand a Colorado rally.
The low-scoring Buffaloes, who were rebuilding under former Sooner quarterback Eddie Crowder, had scored only six touchdowns on the season, but put together their best drive of the day, a 76-yard, 15-play effort to close within 14-9. Crowder called for a two-point conversion and it was successful when Buff QB Bernie McCall sneaked across to cut the score to 14-11.
With 2:04 to play, Colorado attempted an on-side kick, but Newt Burton, a senior, recovered for Oklahoma at the Sooners' 47, and the Sooners were able to run out the remaining time.
- Sooner football historian Mike Brooks highlights the milestone wins for Oklahoma.
