College Football Poll, 2006 Independence Bowl Recap

Last-Second FG Lifts Oklahoma State
by Mike Mitchell
12/28/06 8:30 pm est

Jason Ricks kicked a 27-yard field goal with 9 seconds left to lift Oklahoma State to a 34-31 Independence Bowl win over Alabama.

The Cowboys built a 31-17 lead early in the fourth quarter but watched it quickly disappear as the Crimson Tide scored two touchdowns in just over two minutes. After Javier Arenas returned a punt 86 yards for a score, Oklahoma State fumbled the ensuing kick-off at their own 21-yard` line. 'Bama scored five plays later to forge a 31-31 tie.

Oklahoma State's next possession ended with an interception that put the Tide back in business at their own 42-yard line. But six plays later, 'Bama was forced to punt and the Cowboys began a 74-yard, 10-play game-winning march from their own 15-yard line. Running back Dantrell Savage ran 3 times for 32 yards on the drive and caught a key 26-yard pass on 3rd-and-9 that moved the ball to the Alabama 15. Two plays and five time-outs later (two by OSU to conserve the clock, and 3 by Alabama to ice the kicker), Ricks drilled the kick.

Alabama played the game without a permanent head coach. After Mike Shula was fired, defensive coordinator Joe Kines prepared the team and served as interim head coach.

The loss was Alabama's fourth straight to end the season with a losing record at 6-7. Oklahoma State finished 7-6.