Big 12 game next for Sooners; OSU bowling

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ No wonder Oklahoma doesn't want to play Oklahoma State on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. <br><br>The 8th-ranked Sooners were beaten by Oklahoma State 38-28 on Saturday, their

Sunday, December 1st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ No wonder Oklahoma doesn't want to play Oklahoma State on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The 8th-ranked Sooners were beaten by Oklahoma State 38-28 on Saturday, their second straight loss to the Cowboys.

Last year's victory by OSU cost Oklahoma the Big 12 South title and a possible crack at the national championship. Saturday's outcome wasn't as costly, but it did finally extinguish the national championship hopes that had been flickering since a loss to Texas A&M on Nov. 10.

``I told the players leaving the locker room that a year's work for us doesn't go out the window in one game,'' Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. ``We put ourselves in position to compete for a Big 12 championship next week by winning the South.''

The Sooners (10-2, 6-2) locked up the South Division by battering Texas Tech 60-15 a week ago. Their defense dismantled Tech's passing game, and many expected a similar inspired effort against Oklahoma State, especially considering the sting of last year's stunning loss.

Instead, Oklahoma State (7-5, 5-3) controlled the game from the beginning. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, led 35-6 in the third quarter and were never seriously threatened.

``We just got outplayed just about every play,'' defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson said. ``They did an excellent job of reading our defense and running the plays that they had for us.''

The biggest difference maker was Oklahoma State receiver Rashaun Woods. Woods had a career-high 12 catches for a school-record 226 yards and scored three first-half touchdowns, getting wide open on all three.

Woods has 98 receptions this year and 207 for his career, moving past Hart Lee Dykes on OSU's career chart. His 16 TD catches this season are a Big 12 and school record.

``You just basically put it where the defense can't catch it and where he can, and he will go up and make plays,'' quarterback Josh Fields said. ``He just drove their defense into the ground. He goes out there and does it every game.''

Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said the Cowboys just made plays and OU didn't.

``We never felt like we had control of the game,'' he said. ``They didn't make it real complicated, either. They had a great game plan and utilized the strengths of their team. We didn't have an answer all day for them.''

Oklahoma scored two second-half touchdowns to cut the lead to 35-21 early in the fourth quarter. Then Oklahoma State used 7 1/2 minutes in driving down the field for a field goal that made it a 17-point margin with just over 4 minutes left, and settled any doubt about the outcome.

Fields was 18-of-27 for 357 yards and four touchdowns. The Cowboys also moved the ball effectively on the ground, with Tatum Bell running for 106 yards. Overall, they had 506 yards of offense.

``To come out here against a team like OU who is hoping for a national championship and spoil their dreams is a dream come true,'' said OSU safety Chris Massey. ``It's amazing to me to come out here and dominate a game two years in a row like we did.''

By winning, Oklahoma State likely ensured that it won't have to play its bowl game in Boise, Idaho. Coach Les Miles said Sunday that he hadn't heard anything official, but he is speculating that the Cowboys could wind up in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Miles said he expects to find out something officially Monday or Tuesday.

Oklahoma, which has decided not to play games on the Saturday after Thanksgiving anymore, lost any momentum it gained with the victory over Texas Tech. Now the Sooners have to gear up to play Colorado on Saturday in Houston.

``We will take our lumps from this, shake it off and get ourselves in position to win a championship,'' Bob Stoops said. ``I believe we have the character to do that.''