For better or worse, the same way they've been doing it, Sooners do it again against Missouri
It was happening.
Oklahoma had done nothing with its first three possessions, yet lo and behold, the eruption began, the game got flipped and the Sooners would not only topple Missouri, but find themselves, too.
Right?
Defensively, of course, but for one trip to the Cotton Bowl, they were never lost.
Offensively, on the other hand, they’ve been … hold on while I think of a metaphor (or three) … trapped in a maze of doubt, wandering in a desert of uncertainty, drowning in a sea of confusion?
But here they were.
A huge second quarter to take the lead and a strong start to the second half, too.
Not a third straight touchdown drive, but a gimme 45-yard field goal from Tate Sandell that gave OU 17 points over its previous three possessions, a span covering 18 snaps and 155 yards gained, good for a healthy 8.6 per play.
They would win, clearly.
They would be back, too.
Right?
Sorry, try again.
OU stopped Missouri 17–6 on Saturday — neither team, as it turned out, scoring after Sandell’s field goal — placing itself one win from the College Football Playoff. To get there, it must only beat LSU next Saturday, also at home.
Once upon a time, the purple-and-gold Tigers were ranked No. 3. Since, they’ve fired head coach Brian Kelly and lost three of four games before meeting Western Kentucky late Saturday night.
The Sooners are in a great spot.
They are also maddening.
Has it occurred to anybody that were OU’s defense merely mediocre fans would be demanding Michael Hawkins get another shot behind center?
You know it’s true.
Instead, despite gaining fewer than 300 yards of offense the past two weeks; despite its quarterback failing to throw for 200 yards three of the past four; despite the running game tumbling the past two weeks … the Sooners are, nonetheless, winning rather than losing.
It’s crazy.
After kicking that field goal, OU possessed the ball seven more times. Six times it punted and the other time the game ended, soon after Eli Bowen’s put-away interception with 32 seconds remaining.
So, time after time after time, Missouri was in position to make it a one-possession game while OU was going nowhere.
“We’ve got to get better,” Venables said, before downshifting slightly. “Things can be a little easier if we can get better.”
Lately, the most that can be expected is one big quarter and hope it’s enough.
The third quarter against Ole Miss wasn’t enough. But the third quarter at Tennessee and the third quarter Saturday were, because defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ defense played sparkling enough to overcome head coach Brent Venables’ offense.
Missouri, the SEC’s most capable rushing team, finished with 70 yards on the ground, 32 of them on its first drive, resulting in the ugliest 39-yard field goal any of us will ever see.
Ahmad Hardy, who entered averaging 19.7 carries for 134.6 yards, 6.8 per pop, carried 17 times for 57 yards, 3.4 per pop.
The Sooners also sacked quarterback Beau Pribula four times for 20 yards in losses and made four other stops for loss for another 14.
Along the way, Missouri converted just 3 of 15 third downs, only 1 of 6 after the half.
Play-by-play man Sean McDonough, calling the game for ABC, offered a couple terrific notes from the pregame sit-down his crew was given with Sooner coaches.
One, Xavier Robinson would have been OU’s No. 1 running back to begin the season if not for being hurt in fall practice. So maybe I’ve been too hard on the Sooners for failing to play their best back most of the season.
If only they’d told us.
Two, Venables made it clear to his offensive staff when the week began he expected it to be more aggressive than weeks past.
You could see it.
Mateer went deep to Deion Burks on the Sooners’ first snap. It was incomplete, but offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle gave him the chance.
Then there was OU’s first touchdown, when Mateer hit Isaiah Sategna at full speed in stride on a deep crossing route that became an 87-yard score.
It felt like a harbinger.
Instead, that one perfect toss aside, Mateer completed 13 of 29 throws for 86 yards.
Not good.
Admittedly, it can be fun watching them play, each week a lottery to see if the offense can finally deliver or if the defense can bail them out again.
It’s no way to win, of course, nor is it attractive football, but it has its charm.
“It’s not pretty, but this is not a beauty contest,” Venables said.
He used another word, too, on his way off the field and in the interview room.
“Grimy,” he said, at least three times.
It’s maddening.
But at least it has a name.