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Run game key for Sooners
Many times, OU-Texas is decided on the ground.

Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray, running under pressure from TU defenders, ran 24 times for a season-high 113 yards while catching three passes for another 36 yards against Baylor last week. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 10/13/2009  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 10/13/2009  4:19 AM

 NORMAN — For all of the fuss over Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy, everyone analyzing Saturday's Oklahoma-Texas game might be missing the point. Everyone, that is, but OU running back DeMarco Murray.

"It's gonna come down to the O-line and running backs, really," Murray said. "That's it."

It's no longer an opinion, or a trend. It's a fact, proven over the past decade of this rivalry.

Since Bob Stoops became coach, the Sooners have outrushed the Longhorns in six of the 10 Cotton Bowl collisions. They have won all six. The Longhorns have outrushed OU three times, and have gone 3-0 in the process.

Once, in 2006, both teams rushed for 124 yards. But Texas' tailback duo of Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young combined to outgain OU's Adrian Peterson, 125-109, and the Horns prevailed, 28-10.

There's no getting around it, a point that had Texas coach Mack Brown laughing nervously when it was brought to his attention Monday afternoon.

About the Longhorns' 38-14 win over Colorado, Brown said, "We ran it so poorly Saturday night, that if that's the case (against OU), we've got a lot of work to do before Saturday."

Twenty-five Texas rushes net 46 yards, never mind that the Buffaloes rank 92nd nationally in run defense. Longhorn ball-carriers Vondrell McGee (shoulder) and Tre' Newton (concussion) left the game, and are classified as day to day as they try to heal for the Sooners.

"We have not consistently run the ball this year," Brown said, "and OU is one of
the best at stopping the run in the country (the Sooners rank third). So that's a real concern for us."

Flip possession and the Sooners must grind it out against the nation's top-ranked run defense.

"That presents a major opportunity and challenge because they're awfully good in their defensive front," OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said, "and their run support in the back end."

What Wilson has going for him, that Texas playcaller Greg Davis does not, is a proven gamebreaker in the backfield. Murray burst on the Red River scene two years ago with 128 yards, 65 of which came on one electrifying touchdown run which helped shoot the Sooners to victory.

Last October, his seven carries net six yards, a deflating day which, according to OU coaches, was a result of both Texas' defensive muscle and some poorly-executed runs Something else worth mentioning is Murray wasn't all the way back from the dislocated kneecap suffered the previous November at Texas Tech.

One year later, the Longhorns can still play defense. OU's O-line, particularly without starting left guard Brian Simmons, is hit-and-miss in terms of execution. But at least Murray feels like his old self.

"Definitely," he said. "All of the injuries are finally gone. I feel 100 percent."

That was apparent last Saturday against Baylor, when Murray rushed 24 times for a season-high 113 yards, while adding three catches for another 36. The 27 combined touches marked a career high, and came one week after he got 25 (23 carries and two receptions) at Miami.

"He's been increasingly competitive the last couple weeks," Wilson said. "We kind of challenged him and Chris (Brown, OU's other primary running back) that we needed to make some strides in the run game. I think they're prideful and pushing for that.

"We're trying to force the ball in his direction whether by run plays or pass plays (Murray ran several plays as a slot receiver against Baylor). He's more healthy, but also we're trying to get him more touches."

Murray entered the '09 season having undergone surgery on one hamstring the previous December, and having strained the other over the summer. So the Sooners took it easy on him during two-a-days, and through the first month of the season.

As Murray rounded back into shape, playmakers like Bradford, Jermaine Gresham and Ryan Broyles got hurt. By the Oct. 3 Miami game, there was no choice but to force the issue.

Murray didn't mind a bit.

"Them putting me (on the field so much) gives me a little more confidence, just like my freshman year," he said.

Brown has noticed.

"When you look at him, he is much better and is playing so well right now," he said of Murray.

So the Sooners come to the Cotton Bowl with an undependable offensive line charged with blocking a slobbery defense which allows 46 rushing yards per game. At least, though, they have Murray.

His return to form gives them a chance, if the last decade has taught anyone anything.

Red River Breakdown

How do you win the OU-Texas game? Win the running game. Take a look at the rushing yardage output from the last decade of this series:

1999: Texas 225, OU 15: Hodges Mitchell erupts for 204 yards in the Longhorns' 38-28 victory.

2000: OU 245, Texas -7: This time, Mitchell gains 20. Quentin Griffin picks up 87 and the Sooners roll, 63-14

2001: OU 63, Texas 27: Jason White hops off the bench and scrambles for 38 difference-making yards in a 14-3 slugfest.

2002: OU 266, Texas 53: Griffin goes off for 248 yards as the Sooners rally to win, 35-24.

2003: OU 189, Texas 171: Renaldo Works and Kejuan Jones combine for 193 yards. Cedric Benson is held to 21. OU cruises, 65-13.

2004: OU 301, Texas 154: Adrian Peterson introduces himself to the rivalry with 225 yards in a 12-0 shutout.

2005: Texas 203, OU 77: The Longhorns end their series slump, 45-12, as Jamaal Charles races for 80 of his 116 yards on one game-changing play.

2006: Texas 124, OU 124: The Horns repeat, 28-10, as the Charles/Selvin Young tandem outrushes Peterson, 125-109.

2007: OU 170, Texas 61: Freshman DeMarco Murray rips off 65 of his 128 yards on a highlight-reel TD run, leading the Sooners to a 28-21 win

2008: Texas 161, OU 48: While Murray and Chris Brown can't get started, Chris Ogbonnaya finishes Texas' 45-35 victory with 127 yards.

Up next

Vs. Texas

At Dallas

11 a.m. Saturday

TV: KTUL-8

Radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430

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

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COMMENTS 
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14 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/13/2009 9:15:02 AM)
Give 'em hell, Demarco.

BOOMER!!
Report Comment
tulsandn, out in the woods (10/13/2009 9:20:46 AM)
"Murray burst on the Red River scene two years ago with 128 yards, 65 of which came on one electrifying touchdown run which helped shoot the Sooners to victory."

The offensive coaches then rewarded him by playing him on special teams & leaving him on the bench until his injury against Texas Tech....

It's so sad to see DeMarco play at a level that is just a shadow of his former self, he doesn't have the ability to hit the hole fearlessly like he used too, the explosion that he once had when breaking into the open is gone because he can't break into the open anymore....A freshman phenom thoroughbred RB who his coaches turned into once great scarred up game workhorse who gets hurt....

The other RB closes his eyes & runs into people & falls downs, he'll have 12 carries & 14 yards on Saturday....
Report Comment
Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/13/2009 9:49:36 AM)
The other RB closes his eyes & runs into people & falls downs, he'll have 12 carries & 14 yards on Saturday....
_____________________________________

Chris Brown??

Might want to check your stats.
Report Comment
tulsandn, out in the woods (10/13/2009 9:55:01 AM)
Oilsooner, do you expect a big game from Chris Brown on Saturday????
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (10/13/2009 9:55:06 AM)
BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!
Report Comment
forkandknife, Tulsa (10/13/2009 10:07:02 AM)
I think it is going to be a well faught game.
HOOK EM' HORNS!

(may the best team win)
Report Comment
Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/13/2009 10:09:09 AM)
Oilsooner, do you expect a big game from Chris Brown on Saturday????
___________________________________________ _

He averages 67 ypg. If he gets 50, I'd be happy. Murray/Calhoun/Miller will take care of the rest. Don't be shocked if Miller is a household name in OK/Texas come Sunday.

Anyone care to remind me who the featured shorthorn RB is? If the running game is the determining factor in the game, we should discuss the UT RB. Only problem is, they dont have one.
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (10/13/2009 10:52:01 AM)
BOOMER SOONER!!
Report Comment
pusspocket, (10/13/2009 9:47:26 PM)
OU keeps losing players. Every week another goes out. Just a bad luck year for the sooners. That and we need the bad ass defenses we had in the switzer days.

This year not looking good for Sooners, But we can still start recruiting for the next years to come. and Bob maybe think about getting a better Defensive cordinator and some D backs
Report Comment
FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/14/2009 2:28:35 AM)
It's true OU is a weakened team. But champions always find a way to overcome adversity. Sooner Magic is still alive. GO OU
Report Comment
FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/14/2009 2:29:44 AM)
Look for a October Miracle.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (10/14/2009 9:53:21 AM)
I just hope Wilson has been hiding the "good" plays from Texas all this time.
Report Comment
TexaSooner, Houston (10/14/2009 11:23:36 AM)
Steff M; I'm with you I sure hope Kevin Wilson has some creative "good" plays he's been hiding, cause if we can't stay close we don't have a chance too win. Hey Kevin, show us what you got.
Report Comment
Kowboy335, Kingwood (10/14/2009 1:56:31 PM)
Game to be decided on the ground, huh? Well, let's see, Texas has 769 total yards rushing this season - who have they played? OU has 932 yards rushing this season, which includes production in games lost to BYU and Miami. You mean to tell me Texas could only come up with 85 yards total rushing against Wyoming? Only 46 against Colorado? That's pretty pathetic. If I were a Texas fan, I would be very nervous right about now. Wonder what the Texas Airplane banners will say this year?
 

 
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