• The Road Warrior Report - Texas Tech Review - October 27, 2013

      NORMAN - Say what you want about the Sooners’ 38-30 win yesterday over previously unbeaten Texas Tech, but you can’t say it was boring. Well, at least not after the first quarter. That was pretty much a snoozer. Perhaps it was the hour-plus rain delay that caused everyone to get going slowly.



      Indeed, we must admit, even with our massive reserves of perspective and patience, even we became frustrated enough, after only two first downs and multiple three-and-outs in the first quarter, to rashly call for someone, anyone, on the offensive side of the ball to be replaced. QB, offensive coordinator, anyone, really.

      And, of course, at literally that moment, the Sooner offense embarked on their best drive of the season, a 97-yard jaunt to tie the game with Texas Tech at 7-7 and spark the apparent return of the squad that dominated Notre Dame a few short weeks ago.

      After a fumble recovery on the next possession, Blake Bell went deep successfully for the first time all season, hitting Jalen Saunders in stride for a 76-yard strike that gave OU a 14-7 lead at the half. An 86-yard TD drive to open the second half made it 21-7, and it looked like the Sooners were in control.

      But new Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury lived up to his “fortune favors the bold” mantra, pulling out every trick in the book. The Red Raiders’ first half TD came on a halfback pass, then Kingsbury ran a creative punt return play where the entire return team went away from the ball and drew off the coverage team, leading to a big return that set up a field goal to pull the score to 21-17. An onside kick (which sure looked to us like it hit a Red Raider before it went 10 yards, but clearly did not) was recovered by Tech, and three plays later, the Sooners trailed 24-21.

      Five plays after that, though, Lacoltan Bester took a double reverse flip and looked like he was going to throw the ball to Bell, then cut back all the way across the field for a 35-yard TD to give the Sooners the lead back for good. Another TD made it 35-24, but a Tech score, with a missed two-point conversion, made it 35-30 halfway through the fourth quarter, and the Sooners needed to do what they had done a number of times all season – grind out clock.

      And they did just that. Passing the ball only twice, once on the opening play of the drive and once on a crucial third and eight conversion to Sterling Shepard, the Sooners moved the ball to the Tech 14 with 1:21 to play. A Michael Hunnicutt field goal made it 38-30, and the Raiders had one last chance. It didn’t amount to much, though, as a sack on first down by Chuka Ndulue left Tech in a hole, and three incomplete passes later, House of Pain’s “Jump Around” was once again ringing through Owen Field in celebration of a big win over Texas Tech.

      The Sooner injury bug continued, of course, with perhaps the worst injury of the season – Trey Millard’s torn ACL that ended his Sooner career. Fittingly, at least, the last time he carried the ball in the crimson and cream, he hurdled someone. Get well soon, Trey. We’re gonna miss you.

      Frank Shannon got hurt early and missed most of the game as well. Hopefully, his injury won’t be as serious as the others we seem to have continually suffered at key positions.

      Frankly, Bell and the offense, after that sleepwalking first quarter, played arguably their best game of the year. They had a 10-minute time of possession advantage on Tech, which went a long way toward keeping their scoring opportunities down. That will be a huge thing against Baylor – playing defense by keeping their offense off the field.

      A week from Thursday night is going to be huge. This team, its failings aside, is back in the BCS top ten, and a win over Baylor would skip them over several of the one-loss teams ahead of them. Where that ends up, who knows, but might as well get as high in those rankings as you can. The conference is still wide open, and Kansas State showed how Baylor can be had. OU is built to follow that same kind of plan in Waco. It will be tough, no doubt, but if the Sooners can pull it off, who knows where things end up?

      It ought to be fun. See you in Waco.
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