No. 7 Sooners squeak by Utah State 31-24
By JEFF LATZKE, AP College Football Writer Sep 5, 12:18 am EDT

NORMAN, Okla. (AP)—Given a few extra moments to think about it, Bob Stoops made a pivotal decision about how best to stave off a surprising charge from Utah State.

Needing less than a yard to move the chains, he put the ball in DeMarco Murray’s hands and went for it on a fourth down in his own territory.

Murray needed to dive and stretch the ball out in front of him as he headed toward the sideline, picking up the most crucial of his career-best 218 yards rushing and sending No. 7 Oklahoma to a 31-24 victory against the Aggies on Saturday night.

“I thought we could make a half a yard,” Stoops said. “And I was almost wrong.”

Two plays later, Murray went zooming down the left sideline for a 63-yard touchdown run—his second of the night—to extend the Sooners’ lead to 28-17 midway through the third quarter. That was just enough to hold off Utah State and Diondre Borel, who shredded Oklahoma’s inexperienced secondary for 341 yards and two touchdowns.

“No disrespect to Utah State, but they should have never been that close to us,” said Murray, who also had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. “We didn’t help the defense out, going three-and-outs a couple times in a row, and offensively we should have put a lot more points out there.

“We’re still young, we’re still learning.”

Oklahoma’s Jamell Fleming secured the 800th win in the program’s history by intercepting Borel’s pass in the final 5 minutes, dragging his feet to stay inbounds near the sideline. The Sooners are only the seventh Division I school to reach that mark, joining a handful of powerhouses including Michigan, Texas and Notre Dame.

It certainly didn’t come easy.

“As players, we thought we were at the top of the world, ranked seventh, all that,” linebacker Travis Lewis said. “A Utah State team comes in here and they almost beat us. So, it’s a great humbling experience as a team, as a defense and as players.”

Utah State had lost 54-3 in Norman three years earlier and was paid $500,000 to come to Owen Field. The Aggies nearly got the biggest win in the history of the program to go along with that big payday. They have only one victory against a Top-25 team and they have never beaten a top-10 team.

“We came in and played our hearts out,” said Aggies receiver Dontel Watkins, who had 91 yards receiving and a touchdown. “All summer long, coach told us, `Don’t put Oklahoma on a pedestal.”’

It was the second straight rough opener against a Utah-based team for Oklahoma, which started last season with a 14-13 loss to BYU in which 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was injured.

At least this one ended with a victory.

“Both sides of the ball, I thought we were inconsistent and I’m really not at all pleased with it in any way,” Stoops said.

Oklahoma certainly can’t feel comfortable with Christian Ponder and No. 20 Florida State coming to town next weekend. Ponder had four touchdown passes in a 59-6 rout of Samford, and he didn’t even play in the second half.

The Sooners were still working hard after intermission.

After falling behind 21-0, the Aggies could have come back to tie it had receiver Eric Moats’ touchdown pass on a fake field goal not been called back because of a penalty. Instead, they settled for Peter Caldwell’s 40-yard field goal before Michael Smith’s 4-yard TD run and Borel’s 42-yard score to Watkins.

Murray, no longer sharing carries as he did in his first three seasons, rushed a career-high 35 times and was still out chewing up the clock after Fleming’s pick with 4:12 to play.

“For the game to end the way it did, I’m kind of shocked, to be honest,” Murray said.

Landry Jones, thrust into a relief role when Bradford was hurt in last year’s opener, was regularly off-target and finished with 217 yards on 17-for-36 passing with two interceptions and two first-half touchdown passes to Ryan Broyles.

Jones said he rushed himself and didn’t trust his protection enough—maybe

“I was a little off tonight. I didn’t play very good,” he said. “It’s frustrating not playing the way you know you’re capable of playing. I’ll get better.”

Updated Sep 5, 12:18 am EDT
digg del.icio.us

Head to Head - Week 1

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Utah State 421 341 80 21 36.8% 6/48 4 28:44
Oklahoma 422 217 205 23 29.4% 7/70 2 31:16

92 Comments

  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    JHOWA 1 hour ago Report Abuse
    the sooners will send fla state back to fla wanting to fire jimbo fisher and rehire a bowden!!!!
    fla state geez, gimme a break you play a fcs team in your opener have your starters in the game in the 4th quarter throwing the ball to beef up the stats for your boy jimbo.......youll know who your daddy is once you leave norman.
  • 1 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    Jacob Kilpatrick 9 hours ago Report Abuse
    Im a big time OU fan, and the defense didn't really play well, but I will say this...those penalties put on by Tom Wort were a fkn joke! he didnt even do anything wrong. Wort, Travis Lewis, and Quinton Carter played great. OU's offense was good then bad, but that was all on Landry Jones...lets face it he sucks @#$%! Blake Bell needs to step in, that kid is the real deal im telling you. All you haters are stupid...Texas beat rice by 14 points wow how amazing??? Oklahoma State beat Washington State and all you @#$%s from stoolwater think yall are bad @#$%??? Washington State finishes last every year in the PAC 10??? real impressive guys! LOL what a fkn JOKE!
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    ShingL Mon Sep 06, 2010 01:12 pm PDT Report Abuse
    It is not a good day for Sooners, a home field start fresh game ended up needing a 4th down, the game just ended in one goal difference. Like Texas and USC, this year won't be pretty without their experienced players
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    T.G. Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:40 am PDT Report Abuse
    forcier should join brennan and stills in oklahoma
  • 3 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    mike Mon Sep 06, 2010 08:58 am PDT Report Abuse
    as a nebraska fan i'll miss the oklahoma rivalry, I hope oklahoma was just trying some things out that game and turn out a good team i would like to see nebraska and the sooners play for the big 12 title win or lose would be a nice good bye for my second favorite team in college football best of luck sooners
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 1 users disliked this comment
    Richard 32 Mon Sep 06, 2010 08:39 am PDT Report Abuse
    this sooner team is way overrated, watch out the wichita freashmen will be in the qb. position before long maybe after the fla.state game
  • 2 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 4 users disliked this comment
    D J Mon Sep 06, 2010 04:27 am PDT Report Abuse
    This just proves that pre-season rankings are a love fest for programs with a great history having little to do with what is going on now. If Oklahoma is really a #7 team, then Utah State is the most improved program in the country, and should be ranked about #15. As an Aggie fan, somebody has to be, I wish that were the case, but I think it is more likely that Oklahoma is about #40 this year. When you look at all the numbers, make special note of 3rd downs, if the Aggies had the same turnovers as OU the win would have been for USU.

    Consider this, no one has said that Boise State or even Nevada need to take a second look at Utah State. Utah State has improved, and are not picked to bottom out the WAC this year, but the top two programs in the WAC are still not worried, maybe Oklahoma should consider a division 2 team for the opener next year, or losing that game could become a habit.

    With Utah and BYU leaving the MWC, I wonder if Fresno and Boise are having second thoughts about leaving the WAC? Because with those two teams gone, the MWC is only TCU stronger than the WAC, making the move almost lateral instead of a full step up as intended.
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    Cole Mon Sep 06, 2010 12:55 am PDT Report Abuse
    Our defensive line could not get a decent pass rush. We're really missing Frank Alexander at the other end position. Our corners did make a couple of mistakes, but at least they each had a pick. Honestly, I thought the corners played a decent game considering that USU's QB had plenty of time to throw. Our D is still having trouble defending mobile QBs and it has been a reoccurring theme for the last few seasons.
  • 1 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 2 users disliked this comment
    Niners74 Sun Sep 05, 2010 03:05 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Murray's comment about USU shouldn't be that close to us was stupid and arrogant.....OU thought pretty much the same when they got smacked by Boise in the Fiesta Bowl.
  • 1 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 2 users disliked this comment
    Boomer Sooner Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:56 pm PDT Report Abuse
    OU is like the Yankees, the most hated team because of their talent, and they have such a great program. The first game they play and granted it wasnt the best, everyone wants to hate. No team is perfect ...i'm a very huge Sooner fan and i know that they wont win all the games. The coaches are very mature and not@#$%y like some coaches are. They have alot of young talent on the field who are very dominate but need more work on the field. It was their first game which EVERY team has first game jitters. I'm not gonna down any teams on here but OU will come around..and for those who call us "hillbillies" we're called the SOONERS...get that straight!
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 5 users disliked this comment
    devilnole Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:39 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Hard to believe all of you football experts don"t have a job with ESPN. Instead of making insane predictions and showing your ignorance, let's just enjoy the season and see how things turn out. GO NOLES!
  • 3 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 1 users disliked this comment
    Timothy Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:26 pm PDT Report Abuse
    OU didnt exactly light it up in this game, but they were ahead 21-0 and looked to be cruising before they clearly let up and took them a while to ramp it back up.

    Regardless, it was an ugly win. But anyone who has done an ounce of research would notice several things: 1) Utah State is turning things around under a 2nd year coach, they had a top 15 offense in the NCAA last year, 2) Utah State may be a perennial loser, but they at least compete in the FBS 3) FSU destroyed Samford, SAMFORD! who IS NOT in the FBS. 4) even in the FCS, Stamford could not manage a winning season last year, and only had ONE more victory than Utah State....

    so basically who cares how good FSU looked against an FCS program?

    We shall see on Saturday how good both teams are.
  • 1 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    ronny Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:13 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Landry Jones sucks. 217 yards on 17-for-36 passing with two interceptions, at home, against Utah State's defense? Really? It's going to be a long season for my Sooners.
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 2 users disliked this comment
    Danny Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:09 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I'm a Sooner fan, but it looks like the FS "O" is going to rain down some maga yards through the air.
  • 2 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 2 users disliked this comment
    Tripp Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:07 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Nothing to worry about Sooner fans. The good ol' boys system is still in place so that mediocre, unimpressive win against a cream puff won't hurt your ranking at all!
  • 2 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 8 users disliked this comment
    Damien Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:07 pm PDT Report Abuse
    How did the #7 team barely pull off a victory from one of the wac's bottom feeders? How can a team that lost its star quarterback (and a few other good players) come off of a 8-5 season ranked in the top ten? A non BCS team would get dumped out of the rankings if they lost their towel boy. This is bullcrap. Oklahoma hasn't had a good team since they lost to boise in the fiesta bowl. They keep going to BCS bowl games and championships, and they keep getting beaten because they don't belong there.

    Most overrated teams:
    Alabama
    Ohio state
    Texas
    Oklahoma
    USC
    Virginia tech
    Any team from the big east
    Houston
    Miami
    Florida state
    Florida

    Most underrated:
    Utah (Will win the MWC)
    BYU
    Air force
    Iowa (Will win the big ten this year)
    Georgia Tech (Will win the ACC)
    Comment hidden due to low rating. Show Comment
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    EricM Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:03 pm PDT Report Abuse
    As an FSU fan, I think UO was looking ahead and they will be ready for FSU next week. It should be a great game. Looking forward to it.
  • A Yahoo! User
    1 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 7 users disliked this comment
    A Yahoo! User Sun Sep 05, 2010 01:00 pm PDT Report Abuse
    CHOKE-LA-HOMA!!!
  • 1 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 0 users disliked this comment
    atul s Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:17 pm PDT Report Abuse
    So, OU, UT and UF are all way over ranked.
  • 4 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 2 users disliked this comment
    William Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:12 pm PDT Report Abuse
    As a lifelong OU fan I was utterly embarrassed by the performance our team gave against Utah State. But it wasnt the defense that disappointed me so much. The Utah St. QB is an awesome player and if you disagree you obviously didnt watch the game. He was completing some insane throws. But honestly the most disappointing thing was the play of the offense and of Landry Jones. Landry was sailing passes over open receivers all night and getting intercepted by one of the worst defenses in the nation. It seemed like the only passes he could complete were ones he made while rolling out to the right or to the left. When he sat in the pocket he had a hard time making easy throws. So we're gonna have problems this year and no we don't deserve to be in the top 25 with this kind of terrible offense. Outside of Broyles, we dont have any play makers on offense....period. We will lose to Cincinnati on the road, to Texas, possibly to Florida State, and most certainly to one more team. We'll go 8 - 4 and play in a boring bowl game. Thats the season for OU. I hate it but it's true. Get ready for it OU fans.
  • 0 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 9 users disliked this comment
    Carey Don Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:06 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Better stay in that cream puff big 12. Play one fair team like Texas and get a free ride to BCS champ. game. Come get you some SEC and get that @ss kicked again.
  • 4 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 4 users disliked this comment
    MacPro Sun Sep 05, 2010 11:13 am PDT Report Abuse
    One game does not a season make . . . for anybody . . . else why not just play the season on the Yahoo board?
  • 8 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 2 users disliked this comment
    plutaris Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:51 am PDT Report Abuse
    #7 in the country???? You gotta be kidding me. Holding on for dear life at home against a yearly doormat like the Utah State Aggies (not to be confused with the Utah Utes, who have a good program) and giving up 421 yards to them, doesn't even warrant a TOP 25 ranking, let alone #7. More proof, there should be NO rankings until the Non-Conference is over. Utah State has one of the worst programs in D-1, have for like 35 years.
  • A Yahoo! User
    5 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 9 users disliked this comment
    A Yahoo! User Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:39 am PDT Report Abuse
    Utah State is a perennial joke in the WAC which includes the football juggernauts Idaho, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State (do you know the way to San Jose). This conference is such a joke, Boise State is leaving it. Of course Boise beat Oklahoma so maybe.....the Chokesters should avoid future games with WAC teams. They're too high-powered for Choklahoma, even the bottom feeders of the WAC, like Utah State who was 3-5 in the Powerhouse WAC last year and 4-8 overall. Final note, the $500,000 Choklahoma spent to get a "W" was pretty well thought out, since Utah State has had 2 winning seasons in the last 30 years. What teams won't do these days.
  • 4 users liked this comment Please sign in to rate this comment up. Please sign in to rate this comment down. 1 users disliked this comment
    devilnole Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:29 am PDT Report Abuse
    Choke-la-homa!!!

Post Comment

Sign in to post a comment, or Sign up for a free account.

Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Utah St.
D. Borel D. Borel, QB
17-36, 341 yds
2 TDs, 3 INTs
 Oklahoma
D. Murray D. Murray, RB
35 Rush, 218 yds
2 TDs

Conference Scoreboard

NCAAF - Week 1
Yahoo! News Network