COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Oklahoma and Texas A&M are notorious for the offensive fireworks and the down-to-the-wire finishes they’ve generated over the last seven seasons.

The fireworks were mostly duds Saturday night at Kyle Field. But the late-game drama was overflowing in the 18th-ranked Sooners’ 17-16 victory over the No. 21 Aggies.

It all came down to fourth downs in the fifth game decided by a touchdown or less between the two teams since 2000.

Facing a fourth-and-inches from its own 29, OU coach Bob Stoops elected to go for a game-sealing first down with 1:29 left.

It was the decision of the season. A first down would allow OU to run out the clock. Failing to get it would leave the Aggies in field-goal range with a stiff wind at their back.

Stoops was going to punt, but his mind changed when he looked at his players during a timeout.

“I just looked at all of the offensive guys,” Stoops said. “None of them chatted to me, but I could tell in their eyes. I thought to myself, ‘I can’t punt. I have to go for it here.’”

Paul Thompson gained 2 yards, but he didn’t have to. Texas A&M was whistled for too many men on the field and the Sooners had their first one-point victory since beating Kansas State 38-37 in 2001.

OU improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12 Conference and maintained its high standing in the bowl pecking order. The win put OU in sole possession of second place in the Big 12 South.

Bowl representatives from the Cotton Bowl were numerous at Kyle Field and they saw OU turn back a pesky Texas A&M team that was trying to snap a two-game losing streak to the Sooners.

The Aggies came close.

OU’s offense grounded almost to a complete halt in the second half. Quarterback Paul Thompson only threw for 39 yards and the Sooners only had 263 of total offense

However, Allen Patrick galloped for 173 yards on 32 carries. It was the junior’s third straight game with at least 110 yards and also his third straight with over 30 carries.

“We knew we had to go out and eat up the clock because it was going to be an important factor in the game,” Patrick said. “I think that’s what we were trying to do.”

For a quarter, it worked to perfection.