OU vs. Oklahoma State football: Five takeaways from Sooners' win in Bedlam
NORMAN — OU poured it on early.
The defense mostly kept it up.
The offense did not.
But the first-quarter onslaught was enough, as the Sooners pulled off a 28-13 Bedlam win on Saturday night on Owen Field.
Here are five takeaways from the OU victory:
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Quick start
OU made a habit of starting quick during the Lincoln Riley era.
They haven’t exactly torn in up in the first quarter in Big 12 play this season — before Saturday night.
The Sooners led 28-0 after one quarter, outgaining the Cowboys 299-61.
OU’s 299 first-quarter yards were its most ever in a first quarter and the second-most in any quarter in program history.
It was behind only the 315 yards the Sooners posted in the third quarter against Colorado in 1980.
The difference in OU’s offense was evident quickly, as Dillon Gabriel completed a couple of quick passes into the flat on the second and third plays of the opening drive, getting Marvin Mims involved with the second.
Mims had a pair of drops a week earlier in the Sooners’ 23-20 loss at West Virginia.
Drake Stoops had five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter, setting a career high in catches.
The OU defense did plenty too, making it tough on the Cowboys to move the ball.
None of OSU’s first four drives — two punts and two interceptions — lasted longer than three plays — and C.J. Coldon and Jonah Laulu intercepted Spencer Sanders on the Cowboys’ second and third drives.
The Sooners had four interceptions — three in the game’s first 20 minutes — had have 12 interceptions over their last six games.
More:OU football uses 28-point first quarter to beat OSU & more key stats from Bedlam
It could’ve been worse
The Sooners were rolling early, with a 28-0 lead.
It very easily could’ve been an even bigger lead for OU.
Leading 21-0, the Sooners were on the doorstep of scoring again late in the first when Brayden Willis fumbled inside the Cowboys 15.
Of the three first-half interceptions, only one of them — Jonah Laulu’s that included a 26-yard return to the Cowboys’ 4 — led to points for the Sooners.
It wasn’t just that OU didn’t take advantage of those turnovers — they also let several other chances at interceptions go by the board.
Ethan Downs had a chance to pick off a pass on OSU’s first drive of the game, and Sooners’ defenders couldn’t handle several other chances.
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Offense slows to a crawl
After that initial burst, things slowed considerably for OU’s offense.
Dillon Gabriel completed just one pass in the second half, missing on his first nine attempts of the second half until Eric Gray’s 3-yard reception with less than nine minutes remaining.
In 12 drives after extending the lead to 28-0, the Sooners ran just 46 plays for 140 yards.
The Sooners finished just 1 of 14 on third down and failed to convert on their only fourth-down try. Over the last two games, OU is 2 of 25 on third down.
It wasn’t just that the offense struggled to move the ball, but even late, there were several instances where they snapped the ball with plenty of time left on the play call, throwing away chances to eat up the clock.
The Sooners had just 135 yards of offense after the first quarter.
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Bowl bound
With the win, the Sooners clinched a bowl berth for the 24th consecutive season.
It’s the longest streak in school history and second only to Georgia among active streaks.
The Bulldogs will extend their streak to 26 this season.
The question now becomes where will the Sooners go bowling.
OU’s cachet nationally, and the television draw that comes along with that, could move the Sooners up in the pecking order.
In the Big 12, bowls aren’t required to pick according to conference finish.
Possibilities for the Sooners include the Texas Bowl, played Dec. 28 in Houston, and the Liberty Bowl, played the same night in Memphis.
Both games would be against SEC opponents.
The Sooners have not played in either bowl.
Among non-College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six bowls, the Texas has the third pick among Big 12 teams while the Liberty picks fourth. The Alamo and Cheez-It bowls pick first and second.
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Awards season/Senior Day
During pregame Senior Day ceremonies, four players were presented with awards.
Drake Stoops was given the Bob Kalsu Award given to the player that displays character and dedication on and off the field.
Stoops, the son of legendary OU coach Bob Stoops, began his Sooners career as a walk-on from Norman North and quickly carved out a role on the offense.
After the presentation, Stoops went out and had the best game of his OU career with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.
A trio of Sooners — defensive back Justin Broiles, running back Eric Gray, and tight end Brayden Willis — shared the Don Key Award. The award honors the players who best exemplify the qualities of Don Key both on the field and in the classroom.
A pair of players who aren’t listed as seniors went through Senior Day festivities. Wide receiver Theo Wease and defensive tackle Jalen Redmond participated, though going through the festivities doesn’t necessarily mean they have finalized a decision whether or not to return.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Sooners beat OSU in Bedlam, reach bowl eligibility
