Oklahoma football: Sooners find positives despite allowing 97 points and 1,268 yards over last two games

Oklahoma's ability to make key stops at critical times — like overtime — played a big factor in beating Oklahoma State

 
By Jason Kersey | Published: November 26, 2012    Comment on this article Leave a comment

NORMAN — Mike Stoops answered a couple dozen questions after Monday's practice, speaking frankly and affably about his defense and its recent struggles.

photo - BEDLAM FOOTBALL: Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle (1) scores a touchdown during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. Oklahoma won 51-48. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
BEDLAM FOOTBALL: Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle (1) scores a touchdown during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. Oklahoma won 51-48. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

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Near the end of his session with reporters, Stoops asked, “What was Oklahoma State averaging before the game? 560 (yards)? 580?

“What'd they have? 490? They didn't get their average, did they?

“What'd we average going into the game? 520? What'd we get? 620?”

Stoops grinned as he made his way from the interview room.

“All right,” he said, chuckling. “End of story. Leave me alone.”

Oklahoma's 51-48, overtime victory over Oklahoma State last weekend raised more questions about the Sooner defense than it answered.

The Sooners enter Saturday's regular-season finale at TCU with the opportunity to claim at least a share of the Big 12 title with a win.

Stoops' unit has surrendered a combined 97 points and 1,268 total yards over its most recent two-game stretch, but there were actually some positives to take from Bedlam — and not just holding OSU beneath its season average.

After the Cowboys opened the second half Saturday with a 75-yard touchdown pass, they were forced to punt four times.

On OSU's overtime possession, it picked up one first down before having to settle for a field goal, which allowed the Sooners to win on Brennan Clay's 18-yard touchdown run.

“I think we felt like if we could hold them to a field goal, I think everyone thought we were gonna win,” Stoops said. “That was the honest feeling of everyone on our team. We need to just hold them to a field goal and we'll have a great opportunity to win.”

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