Big plays on defense helped Oklahoma ward off a Kolar-esque Cyclone attack and capture a 28-21 win over Iowa State on Saturday.
A hard hit on ISI QB Brody by cornerback Lawrence Key dislodged the ball and allowed Jalen Redmond to scoop and score on a 42-yard fumble recovery to give the Sooners a second quarter lead that the Cyclones were never able to overcome.
But with 2:57 left in the game, Iowa State managed to narrow the gap, scoring on a two-yard Purdy-to-Kolar pass that capped a 75-yard drive made up mostly of passes to the Norman North alum Charlie Kolar.
In the closing seconds of the game the Sooners defense ended the Cyclone threat on a tipped pass and interception by Pat Fields, ending the game in fitting fashion on a big defensive play.
Oklahoma’s defense sacked Purdy seven times. The Cyclones had allowed only 12 sacks all season.
“Defensively, our pressure was relentless all day. The physicality was apparent. We did a great job on third down,” Oklahoma Coach Lincoln Riley said.
Delarrin Turner-Yell lead all Sooners with nine solo tackles. He also got his third interception of the season.
What a hit
— Sooners 24/7 (@Sooners_247) November 20, 2021
The OU defense held Iowa State to 51 rushing yards (season low by an OU opponent and season low for ISU) and limited Cyclones leading rusher Breece Hall to just 58 yards (entered the day averaging 117.2 rushing yards per game).
Riley said the most impactful play of the game was Redmond’s fumble recovery for touchdown, a play that ended up being the difference in the game.
Offensively, the Sooners never got in sync. QB Caleb Williams was 8 for 18 passing for only 87 yards. In many instances, Williams scrambled out of the pocket, unable to find an open receiver. He was sacked four times.
OU Coach Lincoln Riley relied more on the Sooners run game. Oklahoma had 238 yards rushing, but only 96 yards passing. The passing yardage was the lowest for Oklahoma in the Lincoln Riley era.
Oklahoma’s offense did get off to a good start. Williams streaked for a 74-yard touchdown run on OU’s opening possession. It was the Sooners’ longest scrimmage play of the season. It was the eighth-longest rushing play ever by an Oklahoma QB and the longest ever by an OU freshman QB (longest QB run since Kyler Murray’s 75-yard TD run against Kansas in 2018).
Kennedy Brooks rushed for 119 yards on 17 carries.
The win was made all the more impressive after a week of practices in which more than 20 players were out with the flu.
“Give the kids some credit. It was a pretty disjointed week,” Riley said.
The win moves the Sooner record to 10-1. But some might call the season disappointing, as the Sooners seem likely to be excluded from the college football playoff.
“We’ve had disappointing moments this year, sure. But we’re 10-1. We’ll pass that along to anyone and see what they think of that,” Riley said.
Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s post-game press conference.
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