No. 1 Oklahoma 12, Oklahoma St. 7 - Final

<br>STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma survived an off day by Josh Heupel and a scare from Oklahoma State to beat the Cowboys 12-7 Saturday and complete its first perfect regular season since 1987. <br><br>The

Saturday, November 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma survived an off day by Josh Heupel and a scare from Oklahoma State to beat the Cowboys 12-7 Saturday and complete its first perfect regular season since 1987.

The No. 1 Sooners (11-0, 8-0 Big 12) will play Kansas State next Saturday in the Big 12 championship game, where a victory would send them to the Orange Bowl to play for the national title.

Oklahoma State (3-8, 1-7) put up a great effort in Bob Simmons' final game as coach but came up short in the closing minutes.

The 12 points were Oklahoma's fewest in 26 games, since a 29-0 loss to Texas A&M in 1998.

Oklahoma drove 99 yards for a touchdown on its first possession of the game, then played sporadically the rest of the way. Heupel was 19-of-36 for a season-low 154 yards with two interceptions.

But Heupel completed a clutch pass to Curtis Fagan on a third-and-11 play with just over two minutes remaining and the Sooners at their own 11. He later sealed the victory by running for 4 yards on a third-and-2.

Oklahoma had held Oklahoma State in check before freshman Tatum Bell took a pitch around the left side and raced 60 yards for a touchdown that made it 12-7 late in the third quarter.

The Sooners appeared to take control again on the next possession, using a nice run-pass mix to drive from their 21 to the Cowboys' 19. But the drive stalled and Tim Duncan missed a 45-yard field goal.

The Cowboys used a 22-yard punt return by Gabe Lindsay to begin their final drive at the Oklahoma 39. They moved inside the 10-yard line before an illegal procedure penalty on third-and-goal pushed them back. On fourth-and-goal from the 12, Aso Pogi threw in the end zone for Marcellus Rivers, but cornerback Derrick Strait broke up the play.

Heupel was 5-of-7 for 49 yards on Oklahoma's first possession, including a 3-yard TD pass to Curtis Fagan. A 39-yard run by Quentin Griffin put the Sooners deep in Oklahoma State territory.

The Sooners got a field goal and safety in the second quarter, when two other drives ended with Heupel's interceptions. The field goal was set up by an interception and 35-yard return by J.T. Thatcher. The safety came late in the quarter when Pogi was called for intentional grounding in the end zone while being tackled by linebacker Rocky Calmus.

Heupel threw his first interception near midfield on the next drive, but Oklahoma got the ball back one play later when linebacker Torrance Marshall picked off Pogi.

The Sooners drove to the 15 before Heupel was intercepted again.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Oklahoma, Griffin 21-115, Heupel 7-17, Savage 2-13, Fagan 1-10, Littrell 1-5, team 1-0, Norman 1-(minus 5). Oklahoma St., Bell 8-90, White 14-44, Pogi 11-42, Burrough 2-1, team 1-0, Lindsay 1-(minus 2), Fobbs 1-(minus 2).

PASSING_Oklahoma, Heupel 19-36-2-154. Oklahoma St., Pogi 9-20-2-102.

RECEIVING_Oklahoma, Fagan 6-44, Griffin 5-59, Mackey 4-36, Norman 2-11, Litrrell 1-2, Savage 1-2. Oklahoma St., Woods 2-26, Fobbs 2-22, White 2-5, Lindsay 1-21, Young 1-19, Jackson 1-9.