This time, OU offense steps up

NORMAN — Oklahoma’s defense repeatedly has been dialed in this season.

On Saturday night against Kansas State, it was the Sooners’ offense that repeatedly answered the call in a 42-30 survival mission on Owen Field.

Hey, weird things happen on Halloween night.

Everything seemed well in hand for OU after it jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first 10½ minutes.

The Sooners’ defense was expected to take command, and that would be that.

Instead, it was the much-maligned offense that saved the night.

The OU offense was good when it needed to be good, moved when it needed to move, scored when it needed to score.

You would assume a defensive-minded coach like Bob Stoops would be a tad grumpy after watching his defense surrender 30 points in the final 35 minutes of a game, but the Sooners’ 11th-year coach couldn’t have seemed more pleased after upping his home-field record to 64-2.

The OU offense hadn’t put a smile this wide on Stoops’ face all season.

"With everything we have gone through offensively with the personnel changes and all, to answer back and keep answering back was really special,” Stoops said.

Responding after your lead had been narrowed from 28-6 to 28-23 would have been no big deal with a Heisman Trophy quarterback and America’s best tight end at your disposal, but Sam Bradford’s throwing arm was in a sling and Jermaine Gresham still needs to use a crutch.

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