Tulsa World: Run for No. 1

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Run for No. 1

OU receiver Manuel Johnson slips the tackle attempt of TCU's Tejay Johnson to score his second touchdown on Saturday in Norman. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/28/2008 2:03 AM
Last Modified: 8/20/2009 9:54 AM

Sooners rip Frogs 35-10, make case for No. 1 spot

NORMAN — Bob Stoops says the last time TCU came to Memorial Stadium, his Oklahoma Sooners were way overrated.

This time, the Sooners may have been way underrated. For now.

The Sooners, who started the season ranked No. 4 and played Saturday at No. 2, are a likely choice to be No. 1 when the new polls come out Sunday.

That's because OU overwhelmed the 24th-ranked Horned Frogs 35-10. If the Sooners do emerge atop the polls, it'll be their first time at No. 1 since the end of the 2003 regular season. Another week at No. 1 would be their 96th week in the top spot, breaking a national record they've shared with Notre Dame for five years.

Being ranked No. 1 in September is something for which Stoops and his troops say they care nothing.

"Talk to somebody else about it," Stoops said.

Saturday's game was semisweet redemption for a team that, in the 2005 season opener, was shocked in a 17-10 defeat at the hands of an unranked TCU club. Eleven current Sooners played on that team and, amid allegations of TCU spying mixed in with the assertion that a then-rebuilding OU program was overrated and outplayed, this year's game provided closure.

"This game meant a lot to us because what happened last time," said OU defensive lineman Gerald McCoy. "We got the win, so we were happy."

It's a win the Sooners averaging a victory margin of 41 points in their first three games will take.

"It was a good win," Stoops said. "Any time you play a ranked team, you've got to be at your best. Heck, the way things are any more, you've always got to be at your best."

As top-five teams fell one-by-one, Oklahoma, favored by 18 1/2 points, had easily its stiffest test of the season but improved to 4-0 ahead of next week's Big 12 Conference opener at Baylor. TCU fell to 4-1. It was OU's 21st consecutive home victory, tied for the second-longest streak in school history and the best since 1975.

The fourth-largest crowd in OU history, 85,158 already buzzing about No. 1 USC's loss Thursday at Oregon State, and keeping an eye turned to the scoreboard as No. 3 Georgia was routed Saturday night by Alabama and No. 4 Florida lost to Mississippi turned out to watch another record-setting performance by the Oklahoma offense.

Senior wideout Manuel Johnson set a school record with 206 yards receiving and scored on touchdown passes of 76, 55 and 63 yards.

"I'm a team player," Johnson said, "so when records and touchdowns come, they come within that."

Sam Bradford also set a school record with 202 yards passing in the first quarter (Jason White's 183 was the previous mark). Bradford finished with a personal best 411 passing yards, just the third 400-yard performance in school history.

The Horned Frogs stacked the line of scrimmage and refused the Sooners any rushing room OU finished with just 25 rushing yards, its lowest total since -23 against Alabama in 2002 but gave Bradford plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities.

"No need to square-peg it," said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "If our protection holds up, we've got some guys that can make some plays."

Said Bradford, "We definitely need to run the ball better. But if people want to load the box, we like our chances."

OU bolted to a 21-3 lead after one quarter, then managed just 43 yards on four straight possessions before Johnson turned a short third-down throw from Bradford into a 55-yard touchdown just before halftime.

In the third quarter, Bradford found Johnson for a first down on a short third-and-3 screen pass, but Johnson got a block from Brian Simmons and raced untouched 63 yards for the score and a 35-3 lead.

"That was wide open," Johnson said. "Coach Stoops could have run through that one."

Bradford, who also hooked up with Juaquin Iglesias on a 24-yard touchdown pass on OU's first possession, finished 19-of-34 with four touchdowns his 14th TD pass in OU's last three games.

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com

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Dr_Stickman, (9/28/2008 10:00:40 AM)

OU looked really good at times, but I am glad to read the grounded comments of the players and coaches, that being ranked #1 only matters after the last game of the season (Ask USC). Big XII South looks LOADED! Should be fun!

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