Basically, it was everything the Sooners and their nation could have asked for. Or, at least, for that portion of it that did not lay down a bet, giving 171/2 points.
Paul Thompson didn’t play well enough, but well, period. Adrian Peterson, even quietly, added another 165 yards to his name and Heisman candidacy, 171 if catches count. Oklahoma’s defense, other than a pathetic final 2 minutes, rebounded from early busts with game-changing plays after the half.
And the 84,577 in attendance got to see not one, but two punts in excess of 80 yards from Washington’s Sean Douglas. When has it ever happened that a guy kicks an 81-yard punt and it’s not his longest boot of the day?
Saturday, it happened.
Amazing.
Not that anybody but the few Husky faithful on hand were talking about Douglas’ iron foot on their way out of the stadium. No, the buzz from OU, Week 2, has to be what happened after the half and before Washington’s last drive for points.
Mainly, for the first time this season, the Sooners got that snowball rolling down the hill. For the first time, even with plenty of room to improve, for a while anyway, it looked like it’s looked most autumn Saturdays they play a game at Owen Field.
It’s kind of like this:
“It’s frustrating, we know we’re close,” Bob Stoops said, “but there is so much more potential on this team and ability to play better.”
And that is very, very good news for the Sooners and their nation. Because all last week proved was OU could beat a pesky Conference USA team without looking real good doing it. Maybe some questions were answered, but most of the post-Blazer frustration was from being so far away.
And really, the head coach may not be giving his charges enough credit.
Because there were times the Sooners weren’t close, but there.
It wasn’t a three-and-out, but coming out of the half, Washington was forced to punt from its side of the field. OU, starting at its own 31, went 69 yards in seven plays, Paul Thompson hooking up with Malcolm Kelly from 35 yards for the score.
Then came a three-and-out and the Sooners were back in business at Washington’s 26 after Jason Carter’s block of a Douglas punt set OU up deep in Husky territory. The Sooners stalled, but Garrett Hartley hit a 3-pointer and OU led 23-13.
Not a three-and-out, but another stalled Husky drive had the Sooners starting at their own 18. A few penalties later, Thompson wanted to throw from the end zone and was hit bringing his arm back. The ball tumbled forward, Washington recovered and the Huskies set up at the Sooner 4 … only to have Zach Latimer force a fumble from Isaiah Stanback and Demarrio Pleasant pounce on it on the very next play.
That set up another touchdown drive, 92 yards in just six plays with Peterson going the last 17.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
The defense was getting the ball back, once literally and with simple good play the rest. The offense was taking the ball down the field. The tailback was making plays, but also the quarterback, who has now thrown four touchdown passes and for 499 yards in the space of the second and third starts of his collegiate life.
All the way around, not bad.
“Week 2, we definitely made some good jumps,” Thompson said. “And in Week 3, going to Oregon, we need to make some more big jumps.”
He’s probably right about that, because the Ducks are really, really good and likely really, really mad at the Sooners for ruining their last visit to San Diego.
But after Saturday, there’s no reason to think those jumps won’t come. Because, after Saturday, it’s not so much about playing so much better, but about playing the way they’ve already played more and more of the time.
If UAB was a start, Washington was a downright indication.
“When you’re clicking like that and you start to play like you know you’re capable of playing, it’s a good feeling,” Stoops said.
Good for the Sooners. Even better for their nation.
Because now, this team’s got a chance.
Clay Horning366-3526cfhorning@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Sometimes, Sooners look like they're already there
Column by Clay Horning
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