No. 1 Oklahoma looks to regroup for Kansas State

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma's first perfect regular season in 13 years had far from a perfect ending. <br><br>The top-ranked Sooners needed a big defensive stand in the closing minutes to overcome

Sunday, November 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma's first perfect regular season in 13 years had far from a perfect ending.

The top-ranked Sooners needed a big defensive stand in the closing minutes to overcome a poor day by the offense and beat Oklahoma State 12-7 on Saturday.

Now 11-0 for the first time since 1987, Oklahoma will prepare to play Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game this week in Kansas City. A victory would send the Sooners to the Orange Bowl to play for the national title.

``We can't play like this, like we did today,'' linebacker Rocky Calmus said. ``If we play like that, we'll get beat.''

The Sooners entered the game averaging 43 points and 452 yards per game. Their 12 points were the fewest in 26 games, the 309 yards were a season low and Josh Heupel's 154 passing yards were his fewest in two years at Oklahoma.

``I think our team just realized that when you play a team that has nothing to lose and can go all out, and you're going to get everybody's best shot to begin with, that you need to be sharp and on top of your game or you're going to get in trouble,'' offensive coordinator Mark Mangino said. ``Thank goodness that our defense played extremely well today.''

The defense gave up just 275 yards, 60 of them on a third-quarter touchdown run by Tatum Bell that brought the Cowboys (3-8) within 12-7.

Oklahoma came up with a big stop late in the game, after a 22-yard punt return gave Oklahoma State the ball at the Sooner 39-yard line.

The Cowboys moved downfield and had first-and-goal at the 10-yard line. They gained 1 yard on first down, Aso Pogi scrambled for two more on second down, then they were hit with an illegal procedure penalty.

On third-and-goal from the 12, Pogi threw the ball away under pressure. On fourth down, he threw to 6-foot-4 tight end Marcellus Rivers in the end zone, but the ball was slightly underthrown and freshman cornerback Derrick Strait broke up the pass.

``Our defense has been outstanding all year and has come up with big plays in a lot of big games and did today,'' coach Bob Stoops said. ``Football is the ultimate team sport, and you've got to find ways to win and help each other and we were fortunate to do that today.''

Oklahoma State, playing its final game under coach Bob Simmons, often dropped nine players into pass coverage in an effort to frustrate Heupel. He wound up completing 19 of 36 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions.

The touchdown pass, a 3-yarder to Curtis Fagan, capped a 99-yard drive on Oklahoma's first possession. But the Sooners averaged just 19 yards per drive the rest of the day.

``It's disappointing because we know we're better than that,'' Heupel said. ``The difference between being successful and not successful is a very thin line. We were on the wrong side of it today for the most part. We need to get things corrected and get ready to go next week.''

Heupel and the offense have had a difficult time the past two weeks. His 248 yards passing in a 27-13 victory over Texas Tech had been his season low before Saturday.

But as he did last week, when he drove the Sooners 71 yards for a clinching touchdown late in the game, Heupel came up with some big plays Saturday. On Oklahoma's final possession, he completed a 12-yard pass on third-and-11 to keep the drive alive. Later, he ran for a 4-yard gain on third-and-2, allowing the Sooners to run out the clock.

Asked about Heupel's Heisman Trophy chances, Stoops noted Oklahoma's 11-0 record and the many big games Heupel has had.

``I think he's in great shape,'' Stoops said.