Late-Game Surge Lifts Oklahoma to win in Bedlam

The Sooners' offense exploded late to put away the Oklahoma State Cowboys to clinch a three-way tie in the Big 12 South.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:04 pm

By: News On 6

Late-Game Surge Lifts Oklahoma to win in Bedlam

Originally Published: Nov 27, 2010 11:13 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Two huge fourth-quarter touchdown passes lifted the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners to a 47-41 win over the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys to win the 2010 Bedlam game.

After the teams score just seven points in the third quarter – a 20-yard touchdown strike from Brandon Weeden to Josh Cooper to tie the game at 24 – they combined for 40 points in the final 15 minutes.

Oklahoma kicker Jimmy Stevens – who had been inconsistent throughout his career – connected on three consecutive field goals to give the Sooners a 33-24 lead with six minutes left in the game.

But the Cowboys responded, led by Weeden. The 27-year-old signal caller connected on all five of his pass attempts on the drive, including a 15-yard strike to Justin Blackmon, to close the gap to two points.

On the Sooners’ next possession, quarterback Landry Jones, who had thrown three interceptions early in the game, hit Cameron Kenney on an 86-yard touchdown strike to extend the lead to 40-31.

Justin Gilbert responded on the ensuing kick, returning the ball 86 yards for a score to once again put OSU within two points, but the Sooners kept their foot on the accelerator.

After starting their next drive with a four-yard rush, Jones connected with tight end James Hanna for a 76-yard touchdown to put Oklahoma back ahead by nine.

That touchdown reception was the third score in 29 seconds.

Gilbert returned the ball to the Cowboys’ 43-yard line and eight plays later Cowboys’ kicker Dan Bailey connected on a 34-yard field goal to close the gap to a touchdown with 36 seconds left on the clock. However Oklahoma State was unable to recover the onside kick and the Sooners ran out the clock.

Oklahoma finished the game with 588 yards, 468 of which came through the air, after entering the final quarter with just 347 total yard and 265 passing yards. Jones, who started slowly, finished the game with four touchdowns to his three interceptions and tied the OU single-game record for passing yards with 468. Kinney finished with 141 yards on six receptions and two touchdowns.

For Oklahoma State, Weeden finished the game with 257 yard and two touchdowns, breaking the Cowboys’ single-season touchdown record with 32, breaking the record set by Josh Fields in 2002. Blackmon’s 105 yards and one score made it 11 consecutive games with more than 100 yards and a TD reception, tying the NCAA record.

With the win, the Big 12 South title becomes a three-way tie, with OU, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M all vying for the spot in the Big 12 title game.

The tie breaker will be determined Sunday when the BCS Rankings are announced.