The stars of the 1987 Sun Bowl between Oklahoma State and West Virginia were running backs Thurman Thomas (OSU) and Anthony “A.B.” Brown (WVU). Thomas set still-standing Sun Bowl records for rushing attempts (33), points (24) and touchdowns (4), while Brown ran for 167 yards and a score of his own.
Yet an argument can be made that the hero of the Pokes’ thrilling 35–33 victory was freshman defensive tackle Shawn Mackey.
With 1:13 left to play and a freak Christmas Day snowstorm falling in El Paso, West Virginia lined up to attempt a game-tying two-point conversion. Freshman QB Major Harris scrambled for several seconds before hitting tight end Keith Winn inside the five-yard line.
But Mackey was there to meet him and dragged him down two yards short of the end zone. Nearly 25 years later, Mackey — now an associate VP with Midwest Employers Casualty Company in Tulsa — is still remembered by Cowboys fans for that play.
The Mountaineers travel to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State again on Saturday – freak snow storm not included. Shawn Mackey profile
