OU defense clamps down on Huskers

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OU defense clamps down on Huskers

BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Sunday, December 05, 2010
12/05/10 at 4:02 AM

Sports Editor Mike Strain’s blog: The top five questions after another OU championship.

OU blog: Kevin Wilson discusses Indiana rumors.

John Klein’s blog: OU has good answers to the questions.

Dave Sittler’s blog: Could the Bedlam football game move away from the Thanksgiving weekend?

ARLINGTON, Texas - Defense, a staple through Oklahoma's run of seven Big 12 football championships, made the difference again Saturday night in a 23-20 win over Nebraska at Cowboys Stadium.

OU climbed out of 17-0 second-quarter hole because Landry Jones found some plays, yes, but mostly because the Sooners on the other side of the ball stopped all eight Nebraska possessions in the second half.

The Huskers had the ball 11 times after opening their lead nearly three minutes into the second quarter, and scored three points. They had the ball five times in the fourth quarter and picked up two first downs.

Linebacker Travis Lewis, who came up with three of Nebraska's four turnovers, recovered a Rex Burkhead fumble to stop one drive. Tackle Stacey McGee chased down scrambling quarterback Taylor Martinez to stop another.

Defensive end Frank Alexander sacked Martinez to force the next Nebraska punt. On the Huskers' final shot, safety Tony Jefferson drilled Martinez for a sack on second down, and cornerback Demontre Hurst broke up a slant pass on fourth down.

Plays came from all positions and all angles, and Nebraska had no answer.

The Huskers came out and ran I-back Roy Helu. That got them a 66-yard run and quick 7-0 lead, but they rushed for 79 yards the rest of the way.

They tried Burkhead in the Wildcat formation. He ran for 90 yards but didn't breaking anything longer than 25. And he certainly wasn't going to threaten with his arm.

That left Martinez, too slowed by turf toe to produce on the ground, to try to come up with a passing game from the pocket.

The Sooners' defensive front countered that with its best effort of the year.

Pryce Macon, Alexander, Jeremy Beal and Ronnell Lewis got to Martinez repeatedly.

A more experienced, poised quarterback might have at least gotten rid of the ball, but Martinez, a redshirt freshman, took sack after sack. Scrambling wasn't much of an option on that toe.

With each Martinez appearance over the final three quarters, the Sooners moved in a little closer to the kill. Hurst made it official in the final minute at Cowboys Stadium, a seventh Big 12 title on the strength of one long defensive stand.

Original Print Headline: Sooner defense clamps down on Huskers

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

OU's Ronnell Lewis, Frank Alexander and Jonathan Nelson sack Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez on Saturday. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World