Dallas Cowboys

Vs.

Houston Oilers

September 2, 1967

Houston Rally Falls Short By 13

Dallas Scores Unimpressive 30-17 Victory
 

By Jimmy Blair
Galveston (TX) News

HOUSTON- The fast gunslinging Dallas Cowboys invaded Houston last night and knocked off the Oilers 30-17 before the largest crowd ever to see a pro football game in the city's history

An estimated crowd of 53,123 was thrilled from start to finish with hard-nosed action, which included a fight between the two teams and a fantastic Houston rally in the final period.

Dallas built up a slim 13-3 halftime lead and then added 17 more before Houston made its big comeback in the final six minutes.

Following the final Dallas touchdown, Larry Collwell took the kickoff from his own two to the 19 to set up the Oilers comeback drive.

With Jackie Lee at the helm, the Oilers marched 81 yards in seven plays, Lee passing 20 yards to Charley Frazer for the first touchdown.

Houston regained possession of the football when Bobby Jancik recovered a Dallas fumble on his own nine. The Oilers quickly capitalized by covering the 91 yards in nine plays for the final touchdown of the game.

Lee completed a two-yard pass to Monte Better for the score after the Oilers had been stopped cold on three running attempts.

Dallas opened the scoring in the first period on an eight-yard pass play from ace quarterback Don Meredith to Pete Gent, but Houston made the count 7-3 six minutes later on a 17-yard field by John Whittenborn

The Cowboys struck again in the second period on a field goal by Harold Deters from 18 yards out. Deter came through for the Cowboys a few minutes later with another three-pointer from the 12 with only five seconds left in the half.

Late in the third period, following a punt by Houston's Jim Norton, the Cowboys marched 88 yards up the middle to move ahead 20-3 on a one-yard plunge by reserve quarterback Craig Morton.

In the fourth period Dallas scored its final six-pointer on a screen pass from Morton to Dan Reeves from the 13 yard line.

The big excitement before Houston's comeback was an Houston's comeback was an endzone fight between Dallas' Warren Livingston and Houston's Ode Burrell, when the latter was knocked down from behind on a touchdown pass attempt.

Burrell assumed that Livingston had flattened him from behind intentionally and started swinging. Both benches flooded the field and several blows were exchanged but no one was kicked out of the game. The Oilers, however, suffered a 15-yard penalty for personal foul.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

DAL- Gent 8 yard pass from Meredith (Deters kick)

Second Quarter

HOU- FG Wittenborn 17

DAL- FG Deter 12

Third Quarter

DAL- Morton 1 run (Percival kick)

Fourth Quarter

DAL- Reeves 14 tard pass from Morton (Percival kick)

HOU- Frazier 20 yard pass from Lee (Wittenborn kick)

DAL- FG Percival 29

HOU- Ledbetter 2 yard pass from Lee (Wittenborn kick)

Att-53,125

RETURN