2013 Rewind: How the Sooners beat the UL-Monroe Warhawks

Aug 31, 2013; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight (9) runs with the ball against UL Monroe Warhawks linebacker Cameron Blakes (3) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Lots of people believe the Oklahoma Sooners have no chance to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 2. The Allstate Sugar Bowl would be a colossal win for Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma program, and while a lot of people don’t believe it can happen, 10 wins did not seem all that likely either. OU faced adversity all season long, but managed to win 10 games and get one last shot at a BCS Bowl win. How did they do it? Well one-on-one, let’s see how the Sooners pulled off each win.

Opening day seems like a lifetime ago. Especially when the weather has been sub-30 degrees for the past few weeks. However, I remember that August night in Norman. It was a scorcher, however, it was the start of the new season and the start of a new era for a new Oklahoma quarterback.

Trevor Knight. A freshman out of San Antonio surprisingly took the job from fan favorite Blake Bell or “The Belldozer.”

The Sooners entered the game as the sixteenth-ranked team in the country, but behind an unfamiliar effective OU running game and stifling defense, Oklahoma shutout the Warhawks, 34-0.

Louisiana-Monroe was given the Pay-Per-View treatment for a reason, as they were no match for the Sooners. Though, how was this game won?

Well, the beginning of the game was not anything to gawk at. OU could not get much going on offense, though, the defense did their job.

The second quarter rolled around, though, and the Sooners went up 13-0. This game was won, though, in the second half.

Oklahoma put this game out of reach in the second half when they scored 21 points, in the third quarter, the most the scored in any quarter all season.

The defense held Kolton Browning to 128 passing yards on 39 attempts, zero passing touchdowns, and picked off one of his passes. The ULM run game was no match, averaging 1.7 yards per carry on 22 attempts.

Oklahoma won this game, because despite uncertainty, they were the better team and they proved it. OU may not be the “better team” than Alabama, but upsets happen, and Oklahoma just needs to be “better” for sixty minutes on one Thursday night.