Kansas State/Oklahoma: Report card
BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Sunday, September 23, 2012
9/23/12 at 5:51 AM
For more OU stories.
OFFENSE
F: Landry Jones went 28-of-43 for 298 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Those numbers are about as deceptive as they can be.
He gave Kansas State a touchdown when he fumbled the ball near his goal line. He threw an interception on his own half of the field, with OU leading 13-10 midway through the third quarter. That gave the Wildcats a short field, and they turned it into the go-ahead touchdown.
The same defense that gave up 505 passing yards and 58 points a year ago held OU to 19 points, 88 yards on 27 rushing attempts and without a first-half touchdown. It also forced three turnovers, and set the tone for the Sooners' first home loss against a ranked team since Bob Stoops became coach.
DEFENSE
D: Held Collin Klein in reasonable check for three quarters, but let him get loose in the game-deciding fourth quarter. Gave up 219 rushing yards overall and 130 to tailback John Hubert.
The biggest problem: On a night the Sooners needed a couple big plays - a sack here, a turnover there - to help along their offense, they never materialized.
In last year's rout in Manhattan, OU sacked Klein seven times. It never happened Saturday night. The Sooners forced a fumble a year ago. They came up empty in the rematch.
Mike Stoops has made a difference in pass coverage, but the turnovers aren't coming - OU has one interception and no forced fumbles in three games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
B+: Nothing wrong here. The Sooners kept lethal return men Tyler Lockett and Tramaine Thompson mostly out of play, thanks in part to a couple long kickoffs by Patrick O'Hara. Brennan Clay tried sparking his offense with a 36-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. He went 33 on his only return of the second half.
If OU's red-zone offense spun out, Michael Hunnicutt stayed the course. He converted field goals both times he was called on in the first half.
Associated Images:
OU's Blake Bell runs for a touchdown against Kansas State. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Sterling Shepard of Oklahoma is tackled by Kansas State's Randall Evans. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
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