Lincoln, NE--The build-up for this game was as college football fans expected. Everyone knew future glory was riding on the outcome of this game. This was the type of game college football fans would look back upon with fond memories, depending on which side of the rivalry you were on. Fortunately for Sooner fans, Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson came ready to play today and when their moments came to them, they made the most out of it.Franks, the junior cornerback from Tulsa, OK started the fireworks when he intercepted Husker junior QB Zac Lee late in the first quarter (see above) at about the 32 yard line and took it back for a touchdown. That put the Sooners up 10-7 and swung momentum to the visitors side of the field. Oklahoma would go on to stop the Huskers on the next few possessions and scored again about three minutes into the second quarter on Chris Brown's 1 yard TD dive (below).
Nebraska would come right back and score on a 10 yard TD pass from Zac Lee to M. Holt. The score was now 17-14 in favor of the Sooners. Quarterback Sam Bradford took the field looking to score before the half and to give his team a 10 point lead. He did just that on a 2 yard sneak (see below) to the right side of the line with only 6 seconds left in the half. The Sooners go into halftime leading 24-14.
The third quarter and most of the fourth saw the Sooners offense run dry. Nothing was working except for the punt team. Nebraska took advantage and scored on another TD pass from Lee to Holt to bring NU within a field goal of the lead. Both teams struggled in the 4th quarter. Nebraska put together a nice drive only to have their hearts ripped out as cornerback Brian Jackson intercepted QB Lee at the goalline.
From there Oklahoma ended up getting back on the board with a 7 yard TD run by senior fullback Matt Clapp.
The Clapp touchdown wouldn't have been possible without this near desperation pass from Bradford to Jameel Owens from the Sooner endzone on 3rd and 11.At this point, Oklahoma is now up 31-21 and appeared to have broken the camel's back but Nebraska didn't agree. They once again came back from adversity to score in just over one minute on a Lee 5 yard TD pass, this time to B. Kinnie to bring NU once again within 3 points of the Sooners. The Sooners came out in a clock crunching siuation and did just that. The Sooners needed at least one first down to secure the win. They were able to do that running the ball. The Sooners shot down any thoughts Nebraska had of an undefeated season.
The Players of the Game were Sam Bradford for Oklahoma and Ray Helu for Nebraska. Bradford was 24 of 33 passing for 351 yards and had one rushing touchdown. Helu ran the ball 24 times for 91 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in two catches for 25 yards. It should also be noted that Coach JHeb gave the gameball not to Sam Bradford but to DE Jeremy Beal for his outstanding performance. Beal had 11 tackles, 6 of the for a loss as well as 3 sacks. Also of note was junior DT Gerald McCoy, who had 5 tackles, 2 of them for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble.
The #4 Sooners (8-1, 5-0) next face Texas A&M (NR) in Norman while #9 Nebraska (8-1, 4-1) travels to face #18 Kansas (7-2, 3-2) in Lawrence, KS.
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