By Michael Kinney
Photo: OSU Athletics
The University of Oklahoma closed out its long history of dominance over Oklahoma State with what could be classified as one of the program’s worst defeats.
In the final Bedlam for the foreseeable future, the Sooners fell 27-24 to the Cowboys Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.
While OU still leads 91-20-7 in the overall series, the Pokes left with the knowledge of knowing that if the two in-state teams were to never play again, they got the last laugh. That includes its fans tearing down their own goalpost and drowning it in a lake after the game.
“I did tell the team, and whoever else was in the locker room, the one thing they should remember is these are special moments,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “The one thing they can take with them for the rest of their lives is the thrill they gave these fans out here for this game. There’s been a lot of years, a lot of history and a lot of tradition in Bedlam, and the crowd is more engaged with our team than any of the years I’ve been here, about 30-plus years. Our crowd, our fans and our students are more engaged with our team than ever. So, what they did is they give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I made sure that they knew we owed them.”
While much of the talk after the game centered on several calls and a blatant no-call in the endzone by the game’s officiating crew, the Sooners still had their opportunities to steal the contest late.
Trailing by three, Oklahoma took possession with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter and quarterback Dillon Gabriel tried to pull out the same type of late-game heroics that appeared against Texas. However, the Sooners found themselves needing to convert a crucial 4th and 5 with just over a minute left in the contest.
Gabriel rolled to his left and hit senior Drake Stoops, who was immediately tackled two yards short of the first down marker. The Sooners turned the ball over on downs and the Cowboys ran out the clock in the victory formation to end the game.
“Should have been better,” Gabriel said. “There’s a lot of things (to fix), but we just have to find a way to flush it and fix it because it can get worse. Gotta wake up. It’s just going to get worse if you don’t flush it and try to win the next game. So that’s what we got to do.”
Stoops hauled in a season-high 12 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown. But it was his last catch in the rivalry that had the OU coaching staff having to explain themselves.
OU coach Brent Venables was asked if he should have used their last timeout before the final fourth down play.
“No. “I liked the play. Obviously, we need to run a route that can get open and convert right there – wound up being short,” Venables said. “But we got the play we wanted with the coverage that we wanted.”
Gabriel completed 2 6 of 37 passes for 344 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Tailback Gavin Sawchuck added a career-high 111 yards and a score.
Oklahoma’s defense, which played without linebacker Danny Stutsman, allowed 481 total yards. That includes 334 through the air from quarterback Alan Bowman.
Heisman hopeful Ollie Gordan rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns and had some strong words coming off the field about where the real team in the state resides.
“There is only one Oklahoma and it ends with State,” Gordan yelled on an OSU athletics X (formerly known as Twitter) video.
With their second consecutive defeat, the Sooner’s chances of making the College Football Playoffs may have withered on the vine.
“We just didn’t play well enough,” OU offensive coordinator Lebby said. “That’s the reality. I didn’t coach well enough, didn’t call it good enough and we didn’t play good enough. That’s the reality of it when you’re on the wrong side. So, again, we’ll get on the bus. We’re going to watch the tape and get right to it.”
Both teams will be back in action on Nov. 11. Oklahoma (7-2) plays host to West Virginia while Oklahoma State (7-2) heads to Orlando to face UCF.
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