Oklahoma Sooners Football: Samaje Perine makes history

The 2014 campaign has had it share of ups and downs. It has also had its share of deja vu moments. A series of thunder storms in the Norman, Oklahoma area, delayed an OU game in Norman for the second year straight. Like last year, it did not affect the Sooners ability to come out of the game with the victory. But unlike the 38-30 victory over tenth ranked Texas Tech a year ago. This game was pretty much no contest. Oklahoma not only dominated the game showing scoring style points in the new gimmick of game control. The Sooners made history.

Samaje Perine and the offensive line, took control on a day where the rain just poured continuously practically. In weather conditions that made both Cody Thomas and Micheal Cummings very ineffective. Combined, both quarter backs completed 11/35 for a grand total of 123 yards. Perine put the Sooners on his back, and never looked back.

During the course of the game, school records, a conference record, and a NCAA record that previous stood for 15 years, until Melvin Gordon broke the record last week, all fell in Norman. In the first half Perine’s first touch of the ballgame yielded a 49 yard touchdown run. That was just the begining. At half time Perine had accumulated three touchdowns, and 222 yards rushing. That broke a school record for most yards by a running back in any half.

Also in the first half, Perine broke Adrian Peterson’s season touchdown record. The previous record was 15 touchdowns by a freshman set by Peterson in 2004. Perine finished the day with 19 touchdowns, the most by any freshman in school history. He wasn’t done yet. During the third quarter another school record, set by Greg Pruitt back in 1971, of 294 yards in a game, the most by any Oklahoma Sooner running back fell, and fell hard. First play for the Sooners, Perine only needed 72 yards to tie the record. His first run of the 2nd half, he ran for a 66 yard touchdown.

Once that record was out of the way, he broke the Big 12 record set by Troy Davis in 1996 which originally stood at 378 yards. Finally, only needing a 23 yard run, Perine broke a record that only stood for a week. Melvin Gordons performance last week versus Nebraska netted 408 yards. The new record stands at 427.

At the end of the game, Perine, had set 5 records. Most touchdowns by a freshman in a season at Oklahoma. Most yards in any half as a running back at Oklahoma. Most yards as a running back at Oklahoma. Most yards in a single game in the history of the Big 12. Most yards in a single game in NCAA history.

Perine could have had another shot at another record. He ran for 5 touchdowns today. He needed 7 to set a new school record, for most touchdowns in a game for a running back at Oklahoma. He still has a shot at single season touchdown record that is currently 23 touchdowns which is held by Steve Owens and Billy Sims. He currently has 19.

Oklahoma also got a boost defensively in the stat sheets. The front seven lived in Kansas’s back field. Their offense could not get anything going, only accumulating 103 total yards. The defense played nasty in the nasty weather. Something I noticed that I have not seen in several weeks, the Sooners played more press man coverage.

Which could be a positive sign going down the stretch with Bedlam coming up and the eventual bowl game. Now, I realize, the weather probably helped Oklahoma defensively in this game, but at the same time, the previous week, this is a Kansas team that almost knocked off TCU in Lawrence. Also Oklahoma has not been using the press coverage portion of the defensive play book for some time. I began to think they lost it at the Cotton Bowl. That was the last time I remember seeing press coverage consistently in a game.

Oklahoma has a bye week to get ready for Oklahoma State. Also a little time for the team, and the fans, to enjoy the victory. And to enjoy the records set by Samaje Perine. Once again, congratulations on everything you was able to accomplish today. BOOMER SOONER!