Rousing finish: Sooners make their only Bedlam lead count
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Sunday, November 25, 2012
11/25/12 at 7:40 AM
NORMAN - Minutes after Saturday's Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game ended, "Don't Stop Believin' " blared over the sound system amid a crazy celebration scene.
"I knew OU would pull through," Tulsan Nickie Hunt said. "Of course we were going to win."
In a wild Bedlam battle, the No. 14 Sooners edged 22nd-ranked rival Oklahoma State 51-48 in the first overtime contest in the series.
Considering OU didn't lead until the last play, there were some tense moments for the crowd of 85,824, the second-largest attendance in stadium history.
Hunt, 37, was attending her first Bedlam and was seated in front of the end zone where the winning touchdown occurred. When Brennan Clay scored on an 18-yard run, he was mobbed by an ecstatic group of teammates.
"I ran straight to Brennan," receiver Kenny Stills said. "I think I was in his face the first five minutes of his celebration."
After completing a victory lap, the Sooners decided to stick around and dance with excited fans after "Jump Around" started playing.
"After the game, it was like a big party out there for 20 minutes, everybody jumping around and giving Brennan some love, saluting our fans," cornerback Demontre Hurst said. "It was very emotional."
Eddie Screechowl, 45, of Kiefer took his 6-year-old grandson, Justin, to his first OU game, and it was a memorable one.
"Very few fans actually left early," Screechowl said. "The postgame celebration, it was a great experience to be there and to be a part of that."
Said Cowboy coach Mike Gundy: "I can't speak for them, but it was a big celebration. I think now there is a respect that is present that maybe hasn't been there before."
The victory kept alive the Sooners' hopes for a Big 12 championship, but they must root for another rival, Texas, against conference leader Kansas State next week.
But on Saturday, all that mattered was vengeance against the team that handed OU a lopsided 44-10 defeat a year ago. The Sooners lead the all-time series 82-18-7.
"It's big, especially after last year," Clay said. "It was an embarrassing game.
"We wanted to come out and get this victory. ... We know how big this game is and we expect it to continue to be that way."
Original Print Headline: Rousing finish
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Oklahoma fans Luke Degraffenreid (left), Stephen Roberts, and Shannon Degraffenreid celebrate after an Oklahoma touchdown against Oklahoma State Saturday. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
OSU fans (left) Sara Hedgcoth and sister Paige Wiese share a tense moment in Saturday's Bedlam game. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World
Oklahoma's Brennan Clay celebrates with Tony Jefferson (1), Blake Bell (10) and Kenny Stills (4) after defeating Oklahoma State in overtime. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
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