It's never been weirder than Saturday night at Owen Field
Published: 10/23/2011 10:16 PM
Last Modified: 10/23/2011 10:16 PM
Leftovers from Oklahoma-Texas Tech, the strangest night of football at Owen Field since they installed lights at the stadium…
Here's how desperate the Sooners have become rushing the football near their opponent's goal line: On second-and-goal from the Tech 1 late in the third quarter, OU tried its double-tight end I formation. Only, fullback Trey Millard lined up at tailback. The fullback was someone named Aaron Ripkowski, a 255-pound freshman walk-on from Dayton, Texas.
Heard of him?
Me neither.
Anyway, the play was a disaster. Linebacker Daniel Cobb smacked Millard in the backfield to pop the ball free. Landry Jones caught it in midair and took a loss back to the 5. An incomplete pass to Trey Franks later, the Sooners kicked a field goal, taking 3 instead of 7.
You do the math.
Still can't believe Tommy Tuberville called a fake punt from his own 41-yard line late in the third quarter. Still can't believe the two Sooners credited with stopping up man Jack Richards were receiver-turned-DB Joe Powell and Julian Wilson, a freshman from Southmoore who is filling Quinton Carter's shoes as KinderCare mentor in Norman.
Still can't believe I saw the Sooners run a fleaflicker on the series before the fake punt. It worked, too, as Jaz Reynolds was 10 yards behind the defense as the ball was being pitched around the OU backfield. The problem is it took too long to get the thing back to Jones. That helped surprised Red Raider DBs recover, and so did Jones' underthrown deep ball. Tech interfered with Reynolds to give the Sooners 15 yards, but the play should have been a touchdown.
This is the drive that eventually saw Millard and Ripkowski in the I, finished by Michael Hunnicutt's 22-yard field goal. Three instead of 7.
You do the math.
Hunnicutt made one but missed two field goals. Tech kicker Donnie Carona went 2-for-2. Just last week, the Red Raiders lost to Kansas State when Carona had two field goal tries blocked.
If Carona flubs one Saturday night… If Hunnicutt buries the 28- or 39-yarder he missed (or both)… Right. Math.
Bad enough that the Sooners couldn't stop Tech tailbacks Aaron Crawford and DeAndre Washington (33 carries, 146 yards). But how's this – the Red Raiders lost leading rusher Eric Stephens to a season-ending knee injury against Texas A&M two weeks ago. Washington is a true freshman who carried one time for a single yard against the Aggies. He carried 16 times for 86 on the Sooners.
Wes Welker (Heritage Hall) isn't the last Oklahoma prep wide receiver to burn the Sooners as a Red Raider. Tramain Swindall, whose acrobatic toe-dragger proved to be the game-winning touchdown, played at Millwood. According to his Tech bio, Swindall chose the Red Raiders over Arkansas, Texas A&M, Missouri and Kansas State.
Then there's Adam James. Five catches, 75 yards. Both career highs. All on Tech scoring drives.
Guess he's not just known as the broadcaster's son and Mike Leach's tormentor any longer.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
