Oklahoma football: Four downs on a Bedlam boomer for bowl eligibility

The 117th and possibly last edition or Bedlam started out with an Oklahoma football roar but ended in more of a whimper.

We’re speaking offensively, of course. The defense got the most action — on the field for an extraordinary 102 snaps — and withstood the challenge in steady and stellar style.

Oklahoma delighted the capacity crowd at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on a chilly Saturday night, posting a 28-13 victory over its in-state rival and in so doing becoming bowl eligible for a 24th consecutive season.

The Sooners opened up the Bedlam battle with Oklahoma State in primetime Saturday night at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with a 28-point offensive explosion in the opening quarter. It was as if a light had clicked on and Sooner fans were watching some of the great Oklahoma offensive juggernauts of yesteryear.

Oklahoma put touchdowns on the board in four of its six first-quarter possession and could have had a fifth and after an interception of Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders at midfield around the nine-minute mark, but the Cowboys’ defensive stiffened to force a three-and-out and an OU punt. The Sooners threatened again three minutes later when Brayden Willis caught a 16-yard pass down to the OSU three-yard line but lost the ball and it was recovered by the Cowboys, who took over at the two.

If you had left the game after the first quarter, you would have seen practically all of the Oklahoma offense in the game. All of their points and all but three of the Sooners’ 17 first downs occurred in the first quarter. OU’s last first down came at the 9:33 mark in the third quarter.

Four downs that tell the story of this big but also somewhat baffling Oklahoma win:

First down

The Oklahoma offense received the opening kickoff and came out on fire, covering 75 yards in six plays and little over two minutes to take a 7-0 lead. After forcing an Oklahoma State three-and-out, the Sooners’ second possession featured a 93-yard scoring drive in nine plays to stretch the lead to 14-0 with 9:44 still remaining in the first quarter.

The Sooners would score twice more in the quarter, the fourth touchdown coming with 1:09 left on the clock, and record 299 yards of total offense, the most ever by an Oklahoma football team in the opening quarter. The first-quarter explosion was aided by three Sooner interceptions of OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders, who had thrown just five interceptions all season before Saturday.

Oklahoma’s four first quarter touchdowns took just six minutes of elapsed time.

Second down

This was a freaky game from an offensive standpoint. Oklahoma had 365 yards of offense in the first half (256 passing, 109 rushing), 200 more than Oklahoma State. After halftime, however, the Sooners gained just 69 total yards, a complete reversal of the opening 15 minutes, and seven three-and-outs.

Oklahoma punted three times in the first half but was forced to punt eight times in the second half. The only second-half possession that the Sooners did not punt was on the final possession of the game when OU was in victory formation. Oklahoma State ran 49 offensive plays in the second half to just 28 by OU.

Third down

After the first quarter, the Oklahoma offense didn’t do any favors for the Sooner defense, which has had its problems all season. But on this night, the OU defense stood steady and strong through 102 Oklahoma State offensive snaps and 19 Cowboy offensive possessions, allowing just one touchdown and two field goals to a team that was averaging 35 points a game.

Oklahoma’s four interceptions gives the Sooners for the season and ties them with Kansas State for the Big 12 lead.

The Sooner defensive unit tied a season-high with six sacks of OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders, and its 13 tackles for loss was one shy of tying a season high. Oklahoma also was credited with 12 quarterback hurries, its fourth most in a game since the tracking of defensive stats started in 1970.

Overall, a terrific Oklahoma defensive effort, one of the best, if not the best, of the season.

Fourth down

While penalties have been very costly to the Sooners this season — coming into Saturday they were the most penalized team in the Big 12 — OU was flagged just twice on Saturday night for 23 yards. Oklahoma continues to have problems, however, converting on third down. A week ago in the loss at West Virginia, the Sooners were just 1 of 11 on third down. They were even worse in Bedlam, converting just 1 of 14 tries. Third down has been kryptonite for the OU offense for much of the season.