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Ricks' late field goal lifts Oklahoma State past Alabama

Dec 29, 2006 - 5:42 AM SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Jason Ricks had to wait longer than expected to enable Oklahoma State to dodge a bullet.

Ricks booted a 27-yard field goal with nine seconds left and Dantrell Savage rushed for 112 yards for Oklahoma State, which posted a 34-31 victory over Alabama in the Independence Bowl.

The Cowboys (7-6) failed to hold a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter before coming through on their final possesion for just their second victory in the last five games.

With the game tied at 31-31, Bobby Reid kept alive the late drive when he hit Savage for a 26-yard gain to the Alabama 15 on 3rd-and-9. Two plays later, Ricks calmly waited while the Crimson Tide called three consecutive timeouts before kicking the winning field goal.

The Cowboys appeared to have the game under control early in the fourth quarter, when Reid found Adarius Bowman for an 11-yard touchdown, opening a 31-17 lead before Alabama came alive.

Javier Arenas, the cousin of Washington Wizards superstar Gilbert Arenas, began the comeback with an Independence Bowl-record 86-yard punt-return TD to bring the Crimson Tide within 31-24.

"We were down by two touchdowns and we needed some type of momentum, something to get us going," Arenas said. "We didn't have that at the time for the offense or defense. The punt return gave us a little motivation, a little momentum."

After defensive back Chris Rogers recovered Grant Jones' fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Alabama tied it moments later when John Parker Wilson pitched the ball back to tackle Andre Smith, who rambled into the end zone from two yards out with 8:03 left.

Reid completed 15-of-29 passes for 212 yards for Oklahoma State, which defeated Alabama in the first meeting between the teams.

Savage was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player and linebacker Jeremy Nethon was selected as the Defensive MVP for making a career-high 11 tackles.

The Crimson Tide (6-7) were playing for interim coach Joe Kines, who was called upon to take over after Mike Shula was fired November 27 following losses in four of his last five games.

"This loss is my fault," Kines said. "I take full responsibility for it. Those youngsters did everything that we have asked them to do for a month. They went to class. They got eligible. They worked hard to try to get better. They played their heart out."

Wilson was 18-of-33 for 168 yards for Alabama, which leads the nation in bowl victories (30) and appearances (54).

"We moved the ball pretty good today," Wilson said. "We had 18 first downs. There wasn't a play call that I questioned all night. We threw a lot of different looks at them play-wise and personnel-wise."

Oklahoma State struck quickly after defensive end Victor DeGrate recovered Kenneth Darby's fumble at the Alabama 38. Savage scored a one-yard touchdown seven plays later to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead.

Wilson brought the Crimson Tide even later in the opening period by connecting with Matt Caddell for an 18-yard TD.

Keith Toston scored on a four-yard TD burst and Ricks booted a 29-yard field goal in the second quarter as the Cowboys opened a 17-7 advantage.

After Tim Castille capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run for Alabama, Toston recorded his second TD of the second period - a seven-yard run - to give Oklahoma State a 24-14 lead at the half.