FINAL SCORE: Oklahoma 31 – Texas 26
First half: Oklahoma 17 – Texas 13
Second half: Oklahoma 14 – Texas 13
First half observations‘”
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[*]The issue with the fumble/review on the first possession is that the replay doesn’t account for when the referee’s whistle was blown.
[*]Three false starts on the first drive for Texas. The offense needs to help themselves and giving away 15 yards isn’t it. Add in the Delay of Game and it’s -20. Nick Rose made the FG, but that’s not the point.
[*]Ross’ KO return is exactly what Charlie Strong means when he says this team doesn’t know how to win. Rose’s kicks have been solid all year and on his worst kick of the season, he kicks it short to a good returner, wiping out all the momentum built in the 3-0 lead.
[*]Shipley, who is a dependable fair catch guy, blows an opportunity and it costs the Horns field position. Just like the penalties on offense – this team is making it hard on themselves.
[*]The Holding penalty on Swoopes 70+ yard keeper. That’s 7 penalties on the offense in the 1st quarter. I’m not counting yardage anymore. (Although it should be noted that the keep on the read option was a good playcall – it was wide open on the first drive and Watson went right back to it.)
[*]The sack on Swoopes to end the 1st quarter looked avoidable if he had stepped forward in the pocket. Swoopes did throw one away early in the quarter and prevented the lost yardage. “It’s a process.â€
[*]Colbert with Kick Catch Interference – mistakes continue….
[*]For Swoopes and the offense to answer the pick-6 with their own TD was critical. Great 3rd down throw to Harris (especially after looking at Shipley throughout the half).
[*]3rd down efficiency has been good in the first half. When Swoopes hit Marcus Johnson late the 2Q for the first down, it capped an excellent half for the stat. That is what this offense needs.
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Second half observations‘”
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[*]On their 1st drive of the 3rd quarter, Oklahoma found some room to run on the perimeter of the Texas defense. There was nowhere to go between the tackles in the first half. Interested to see if that’s an adjustment they make for the 2nd stanza.
[*]After a 3-and-out on the opening Texas possession of Q3, William Russ uncorks an unbelievably good punt. Maybe his best of the season, and that’s saying something.
[*]Shipley’s drop on the 2nd possession of the half was a rarity. Charlie Strong talks about the importance of winning on 1st down – that was illustrated on that drive.
[*]Oklahoma picks up the tempo on offense and the result is their best drive of the game and a TD that gives them an 11-point lead.
[*]Another 3-and-out from the Texas offense after OU’s touchdown., but Oklahoma reverts to their slower tempo and instead of the Sooner O building momentum, the Texas defense holds.
[*]On OU’s touchdown drive at the beginning of the 4th quarter, the OL and downfield blocking was tremendous. The way the Sooners looked on that drive is how most offenses have looked in the 3rd quarter against the Horns.
[*]The second TD catch of the day for Harris was pretty.
[*]It felt like all the simple mistakes and timeouts caught up in the final 5:00 of the game.
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Two takeaways‘”
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[*]Unemotionally speaking…this team is improving. It’s a painful thing, but it’s happening. The team that played the Sooners would beat the team that played North Texas.
[*]Turnovers, penalties and special teams lost this game. Period.
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Notable Stat’s
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[*]Texas had 13 more first downs, 45 more rushing yards, 205 more passing yards and held the ball for almost 16 more minutes than OU.
[*]Oklahoma was 1-11 on 3rd down.
[*]Texas had four trips to the red zone and only came away with two TD’s and 2 FG’s. 50% for touchdowns needs to improve.
[*]Both Malcolm Brown and Tyrone Swoopes both rushed for more than 4 ypc.
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