Purdue's Chris Clopton (85) turns upfield past Oklahoma State defender Clint Metcalf (57) during a kickoff return in the first quarter of the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday night, Dec. 30, 1997. ERIC GAY/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Web posted December 31, 1997

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- Billy Dicken passed for 325 yards, and No. 17 Purdue scored three touchdowns in the third quarter on the way to a 33-20 victory over No. 24 Oklahoma State on Tuesday night in the Alamo Bowl.

After a low-scoring first half, Purdue pulled away from underdog Oklahoma State in the lively third quarter, extending a 10-6 lead to 30-13 with 3:52 left in the period.

Dicken completed 18 of 34 passes, including two touchdown passes and three interceptions. His 325 passing yards set a record for the 5-year-old Alamo Bowl, which is sponsored by Builders Square.

It also was the highest-scoring game in Alamo Bowl history.

Purdue opened the second half with a touchdown after gaining control of the ball when Adrian Beasley intercepted Tony Lindsay's pass and ran 36 yards to the Oklahoma State 6.

Dicken ran in from the 1 for a touchdown, and the Boilermakers led 16-6 with 12:02 left. Shane Ryan's point-after kick missed after the ball was moved back 15 yards because of a personal foul.

Oklahoma State sent backup quarterback Chris Chaloupka into the game on the next drive, and the Cowboys answered with a touchdown of their own with 9:01 left in the quarter. Jamaal Fobbs ran the ball in from 21 yards, capping an 80-yard drive and closing the Cowboys to 16-13.

As Oklahoma State was kicking the extra point, a man clad only in skimpy blue underwear dashed onto the field and was tackled by two police officers in the opposite end zone. The Alamodome crowd of 55,552 cheered as he was led away in handcuffs.

The Boilermakers then responded with a 60-yard pass play from Dicken to Ed Watson, who moved the ball to the Oklahoma State 16. Vinny Sutherland's 16-yard run gave Purdue a 23-13 lead with 7:34 left in the third period.

Purdue scored on its next possession on a 69-yard pass from Dicken to Chris Daniels, an Alamo Bowl record for longest reception. The touchdown gave Purdue a 30-13 lead with 3:52 left in the quarter.

The Boilermakers upped their lead to 33-13 early in the fourth with a 37-yard field goal by Ryan.

The Cowboys scored the final touchdown with only 55 seconds left in the game as R.W. McQuarters scored on a 17-yard pass from Lindsay.

Oklahoma State got on the scoreboard first with a 34-yard field goal by Tim Sydnes in the first quarter.

Purdue turned the ball over on its next possession when Kevin Williams of Oklahoma State intercepted Dicken's pass in the end zone.

Beasley intercepted for Purdue two plays later, and the Boilermakers scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Dicken to Brian Alford to lead 7-3 with 1:19 left in the quarter.

The Cowboys moved to within a point of Purdue late in the second quarter on a 22-yard field goal by Sydnes.

A 42-yard field goal by Ryan 10 seconds before halftime made it 10-6.

The Alamo Bowl capped a surprise season for both teams.

Each team was 8-3 entering the game, and both squads upset big-name opponents and surpassed early expectations during the season.

Purdue finished the regular season in a three-way tie for second in the Big 10, achieving its first winning record and bowl appearance since 1984.

Oklahoma State ended in a second-place tie in the South Division of the Big 12 and made it to its first bowl game since 1988.