Oklahoma football: Stoops’ 2008 Sooners vs. Riley’s 2017 Boomers/Games 3 and 4
By Chip Rouse
The best of seven Oklahoma football fantasy showdown series between the 2008 Sooners coached by Bob Stoops and the 2017 Boomers led by Baker Mayfield and coached by first-year head man Lincoln Riley moves to Game 3 with Stoops’ Sooners up two games to none.
If the game were just 30 minutes long, we would be looking at a completely different series to this point, with Riley’s guys being up two to zip. In each of the first two games in this virtual championship series, Mayfield has had his 2017 team out in front after a half, only to squander and eventually lose the advantage in the second half.
Stoops’ 2008 Sooners overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to win Game 1 38-26, and trailed by four points at the intermission in Game 2 before coming back to win 59-55 in double overtime.
Home field advantage shifts to Mayfield and Company in Games 3, 4 and, if necessary 5 as Riley’s 2017 Boomers try to get back in the series and swing the momentum back in their direction.
Game 3 — Bob Stoops’ 2008 Sooners vs. Lincoln Riley’s 2017 Boomers
Baker Mayfield and running back Rodney Anderson had banner games and Lincoln Riley’s 2017 Oklahoma team finally made a halftime lead stand up in the second half in taking Game 3 in the best-of-seven virtual championship series against Bob Stoops’ 2008 Sooners, 44-31.
Mayfield completed 21 of 26 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns, while Anderson gained 178 yards on the ground, including a dazzling 84-yard run in the third quarter that set up a field goal by Austin Seibert, making it a two-score game.
Sam Bradford was under pressure the entire game and completed just 27 of 39 passes for 379 yards and was picked off three times by the 2017 Boomers’ defense.
Chris Brown, who had totaled 269 rushing yards and five touchdowns for Stoops’ 2008 Sooners in the first two games, was held to just 38 yards on 21 carries in Game 3.
Seibert kicked three field goals for the 2017 Boomers, connecting from 34, 29 and 45 yards.
Unlike the first two games in the series, the 2017 team made a 35-24 halftime lead stand up, holding Bradford and the 2008 team to just seven points in the second half.
In the first three games in the series, the 2017 team has outscored the 2008 Sooners 80 to 55 in the first half.
Lincoln Riley’s 2017 Boomers 44, Bob Stoops’ 2008 Sooners 31
(Stoops’ 2008 Sooners lead the series 2-1 over Riley’s 2017 Boomers)
Game 4 — Bob Stoops’ 2008 Sooners vs. Lincoln Riley’s 2017 Boomers
Chris Brown rushed for 181 yards, including touchdown runs of 53, 52 and 9 yards, but it was not enough as Lincoln Riley’s 2017 Boomers defeated Bob Stoops’ 2008 Sooners 42-37 to even their virtual championship series at two games apiece.
Baker Mayfield enjoyed his best passing game of the series, completing all but seven of his 28 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns, and Abdul Adams contributed 133 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown run just before halftime to double the score and extend the 2017 team’s lead to 35-13.
Stoops’ 2008 Sooners rallied for 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 35-30, but a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to Mykel Jones widened the advantage back out to 42-30 at the end of the third quarter.
The usually accurate Sam Bradford struggled with his passing for a second straight game. He misfired on 18 of 40 pass attempts, throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns, along with one interception.
Mark Andrews and “Hollywood” Brown each caught touchdown passes from Mayfield. Andrews was on the receiving end of a 61-yard bomb to open the scoring two minutes into the game and give the 2017 Boomers a 7-0 lead.
Brown was named the Player of the Game. In addition to his 181 rushing yards, he also caught three passes for 43 yards. In four games, he has collected 488 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Lincoln Riley’s 2017 Boomers 42, Bob Stoops’ 2008 Sooners 37
(The series is now tied at two games apiece)