And he credits those meat cleavers for causing the game-changing fumble by Texas tailback Jamaal Charles at the OU 4-yard line.
"He's very violent when he tackles,” Venables said of Lofton. "He's got tremendous natural strength.”
And while the memories of Saturday's win will be OU's big plays or 94-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, Charles' fumble and the Sooners' ensuing possession — even though it produced no points — were the game's turning points.
"I just secured the tackle and tried to knock the ball out,” Lofton said of the fumble.
Charles was on his way into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown when Lofton jarred the ball loose and OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy fell on it.
"I just saw the end zone and tried to do too much,” Charles said. "I was holding the ball well. He was just a good tackler.”
OU's Allen Patrick was stopped for a 2-yard loss on first down, but quarterback Sam Bradford completed a 16-yard pass to Juaquin Iglesias on second-and-13. The drive stalled at OU's 33, but a punt resulted in the Sooners pinning Texas at its own 12.
"It changed field position,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. "Then we make them go three-and-out and get the ball back at our 35.”
And on the first play, freshman DeMarco Murray went through a hole on the left side and outran Texas safety Marcus Griffin for a 65-yard touchdown and a 21-14 OU lead.
"Even though there were no points exchanged,” Stoops said, "we're changing the field position, resting the defense, playing as a team.”
