Oklahoma wins despite poor performance

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma's game against Texas Tech left the top-ranked Sooners undefeated and unhappy. <br><br>For the second straight week, Oklahoma made several mistakes but was able to overcome

Monday, November 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma's game against Texas Tech left the top-ranked Sooners undefeated and unhappy.

For the second straight week, Oklahoma made several mistakes but was able to overcome them to remain unbeaten and No. 1.

The Sooners (10-0, 7-0 Big 12) had 11 penalties in a 27-13 victory Saturday. They had a field goal and an extra point blocked, lost two of their four fumbles, were intercepted twice, and had their lowest yardage and point totals of the season.

A week earlier, they had struggled before rallying to beat Texas A&M.

``We have to get better,'' coach Bob Stoops said. ``I said that a week ago. I fear our team thought maybe I'm just giving some coachspeak, talking about if we want to accomplish our goals we need to get better.

``I believe now they know I'm not just giving some coach talk. The last couple games, I don't believe we've played near our ability.''

Saturday's game matched the Sooners against their offensive coordinator of last year, Mike Leach, who now is Texas Tech's head coach. It was Leach who installed the spread passing game that Oklahoma had used to score 44.7 points and average 460 yards through the first nine games.

The defenses' familiarity with the offenses made things difficult for both teams. Kliff Kingsbury threw a school-record 61 passes, but totaled 295 yards _ 4.8 yards per attempt. He was intercepted twice, including one that was returned 85 yards for a touchdown by J.T. Thatcher in the first quarter.

Josh Heupel of Oklahoma was 24 of 38 with a touchdown, although his 248 yards were a season low and he was intercepted twice. The offense took longer than any game this season to get into the end zone, not scoring until there was 5:38 left before halftime.

``More than anything it was just a lack of execution on our part at times,'' Heupel said.

As usual, Stoops found himself answering questions about Heupel's Heisman Trophy chances.

``He's special,'' Stoops said. ``I hate to get in a situation where I need to lobby, but I think people see that. There's not a whole lot of teams in better position than we are right now and he's the main reason.''

Heupel showed his mettle after the Red Raiders (7-5, 3-5) had scored a touchdown to get within 21-13 with seven minutes left in the game.

He had thrown two incompletions on the previous possession, which went three and out, and had thrown an interception on the drive before that. But after Tech got within eight points, he directed a 12-play scoring drive that ended with a touchdown to secure the victory.

Heupel was 7 of 8 for 60 yards on the drive, including a 15-yard reception on a third-and-4 play to set up Quentin Griffin's short touchdown run. Stoops said it was Heupel who suggested running the bootleg play, which worked perfectly.

``He's 10-0 and has directed us. He does things like the third-and-4 call on the 18-yard line. He makes the call and executes the play,'' Stoops said.

Saturday's victory clinched the Big 12 South Division title. Oklahoma closes out the regular season Saturday at Oklahoma State, then will play North Division champion Kansas State on Dec. 2 in Kansas City for the conference championship.

But first, Stoops said, the Sooners need to improve.

``Turnovers, dropping the ball, penalties, blocked kicks, those kind of things you can't have,'' he said. ``We need to get some work done this week if we're going to continue to push like we want to.''