By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com
Big12Sports.com Correspondent

STILLWATER, Okla. – Just a note to ESPN programmers: If you want a Thursday night game that competes with any drama the network or cable TV can trot out, just schedule the Texas A&M-Oklahoma State game into perpetuity.

A game headed to channel flipping in the first half became a contest that was won, lost, won, tied, then won in dramatic, last-play fashion. The Cowboys’ Mr. Automatic, kicker Dan Bailey, was true with a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give Oklahoma State a 38-35 victory over Texas A&M in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

Four of the last five games in this series have been decided by a total of 10 points. Oklahoma State has won three consecutive games against the Aggies for the first time and this was as sweet as it was stunning.

“That was quite a game,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “I don’t know if I can remember a game that had as many turns emotionally for both teams.”

Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M’s senior quarterback, had thrown four interceptions in the Aggies’ last game. His turnover troubles continued with four interceptions and a lost fumble against the Cowboys. Johnson’s final mistake was an interception by Oklahoma State freshman Shaun Lewis. That set up Bailey’s game winning kick. He has made all seven of his field goal attempts in 2010.

“I was disappointed we didn’t win and they’re a sad group of men right now,” Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman said of his team. “(Jerrod) made some great throws and he missed some. It’s just unfortunate at the end (he) tried to muscle one in there.”

The Cowboys lost starting linebacker Justin Gent on the fourth play and junior starting safety Victor Johnson late in the first quarter. Lewis is listed as a linebacker but was playing safety on his interception.

“Shaun’s been making plays since the day he got on campus,” said Oklahoma State linebacker Orie Lemon, who had 14 tackles and a sack. “The way we came back and won shows these young guys that we’re not gonna give up.”

The loss was a kick in the crotch for the Aggies and Johnson. Texas A&M clicked off a school-record 106 plays for 535 total yards. But Johnson negated those numbers with his miscues.

“I tried to force the ball in there,” Johnson said of his game-tilting interception. “It’s extremely tough to swallow. It was our first chance to showcase our talent on national television and get Aggie football to where it needs to be. We’ve gotta find a way to win these games.”

Each team had started 3-0 against soft nonconference opponents and there were some who thought the Cowboys and the Aggies were winning thanks to smoke and mirrors. Instead the teams were almost mirror images in how they played. Oklahoma State’s offense sputtered, A&M’s clicked like an odometer on a cross-country drive. Then the Aggies couldn’t sustain an attack and the Cowboys started galloping up and down the field.

The Aggies’ blitzing defense confused Weeden, forcing a fumble and two interceptions and limiting the Cowboys – who entered the game averaging 57 points and 596 yards yards per game – to 107 total yards and seven points.

A&M’s 21-7 halftime lead appeared commanding. When the Cowboys took a knee instead of trying a final fling with 3 seconds remaining in the half, many in the crowd of 48,284 booed (although maybe they were yelling “Boone” in honor of benefactor Boone Pickens).

“We didn’t really change anything at halftime,” said Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, who was 28-of-42 for 284 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. “Their blitzes and their coverages were what we had expected. We weren’t blocking their blitz, we were making too many mistakes. We took out some of the plays that weren’t working and just stayed with the game plan.”

The Cowboys had scored on their last possession of the first half and then scored on three of their first four touches after the break to take a 28-21 lead. Then Johnson lost the ball scrambling and Oklahoma State linebacker James Thomas scooped and scored to give the home team a 35-21 lead with 12:47 remaining.

Johnson got on the road to redemption, leading the Aggies on two touchdown drives. The second resulting in a Ryan Swope catch and run for a 28-yard score with 2:54 remaining. When the Cowboys had to punt after four plays, A&M took over on its 29 with 1:16 remaining and two timeouts.

But Johnson, with a rusher in his face, overthrew his receiver and Lewis stepped in for the interception and a 28-yard return. Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter gained eight yards on the Cowboys penultimate play that preceded Bailey’s field goal. He pushed the pile until two seconds remained.

“I wasn’t sure he was going to get down in time,” the 26-year-old Weeden said. “He was pushing the pile and they were holding him up. I was signaling timeout, coach (Gundy) was trying to call timeout. I’m just glad he went down.

“I’m too old for this.”

If the Cowboys and the Aggies can keep playing games like this, it’s never going to get old.

“We did ESPN some justice on the ratings,” Gundy said.

Indeed.