DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown reported no changes in their condition Saturday. Both felt about the same as they have all year. There was nothing mysterious about how they played in the fourth-ranked Sooners’ 45-31 victory over No. 16 Kansas.
“The offensive line was getting a push,” Brown said after running for 92 yards and a touchdown. “They were getting up the field and making gaping holes.”
Those holes were huge for an offense that’s put up huge numbers in every game this season, but taken hits for its lack of run production against TCU and Texas. Coaches, players, even fans made no secret that OU’s obsession was to get back to being balanced against Kansas. Practices were physical and furious in the days leading up to the game.
Only getting 48 yards the week before against Texas was like a slap in the face. Something had to change if the Sooners were going to play at their full potential.
“That was the big focus from the coaches. They wanted to get the running game going,” center Jon Cooper said. “We came up to the challenge and it was great that the coaches gave us that opportunity.”
It became obvious something had changed late in the first quarter. That’s when Murray took a handoff and bounced outside for 17 yards. Runs like that are expected from Murray, but it was his longest carry since the season-opening win over Tennessee-Chattanooga. Then he took another and sprinted up the middle for another dozen.
It continued throughout the afternoon. Brown added a 14-yard touchdown run late in the first half to give the Sooners a 21-10 lead. He outran one defender the sideline then cut upfield while making another miss on the way to the end zone.
Those kinds of plays have been rare for OU’s running backs this season. Most carries have been more 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust than quick sprints into the secondary and beyond.
Most of it got overshadowed by the performance Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford put on. His record-setting 468-yard performance or Juaquin Iglesias’ 12-catch, 191-yard afternoon will be the lasting memory.
But it was also the day OU’s offensive line and running backs were challenged and an emphatic response was given.
“It was on our shoulders,” Brown said. “We had to come out and try to make a statement.”
OU Sports
Related Photos
-
KEVIN ELLIS
Discussion
Sooners on the run
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
-
Big 12, SEC deal breaks the mold
It is unclear what the on-the-field product of the game-for-which-there-is-not-yet-a-name will be. Indeed, all we really know is the Big 12 and SEC plan to play a game on Jan. 1, 2015 (and on every Jan. 1, thereafter) that will include ...
-
Rivalry helped shape program
For coach Patty Gasso, it goes all the way back to 1995, her first year at Oklahoma. That was when her Sooners played Arizona six times throughout the season. Those Sooners were “annihilated” in all six of those contests....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners make winning look easy
