Tulsa World: Murray sets the tone

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Murray sets the tone
Running back provides highlights for Sooners.

DeMarco Murray

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/23/2008 3:28 AM
Last Modified: 11/23/2008 4:14 AM

Running back provides highlights for Sooners.

NORMAN — Sam Bradford enhanced his Heisman chances. The defense put its usual Owen Field stranglehold on Mike Leach's offense. But if you're an Oklahoma fan giving thanks for the Sooners' 65-21 slaughter of Texas Tech Saturday night, you'd better save some for DeMarco Murray.

On OU's second play from scrimmage, Murray shot between a hole opened by Jon Cooper and Brandon Walker and ripped off 18 yards. The Sooners' initial first down set the tone for the drive — Murray would carry three more times before powering in from the 1-yard line for a 7-0 lead — and the game.

Murray, appearing faster and more elusive than he has all year, racked up 125 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. The Sooners, hammering away at a defense that never brought its safeties up to help fill run lanes, rolled up 299 yards on 55 rushes as a team.

Chris Brown gained 108 and scored three times. But Murray was the tone-setting star.

His first highlight came on his third carry, a hard cut after an option pitch that left safety Daniel Charbonnet behind en route to a 25-yard burst. The Sooners were on to something by their second series, which Murray began with a 10-yard run behind blocks from Phil Loadholt and Jermaine Gresham.

By the second quarter, OU had dusted off the old misdirection pitch called "fling" they first used with Adrian Peterson against Texas in 2004. Murray slipped two tackles and picked up 23 on that play, then turned around and took a swing pass past safety Darcel McBath and linebacker Bront Bird for 31 more.

Murray had 14 carries for 110 yards, plus two catches for 44, at halftime. His team had rushed for 226.

The visiting Red Raiders, softened considerably by OU's punishing game plan but unwilling to change their scheme, trailed 42-7.

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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