Sooner defense is dominating against Idaho State
BY DAVID UBBEN
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8
Published: September 13, 2009
NORMAN — A defense that played well against Brigham Young turned the dial to dominant against a helpless Idaho State team.
Oklahoma defenders wrapped up ballcarriers in the backfield. They launched themselves at receivers and swallowed up the Bengals quarterback. After the game’s opening half, they had gained more ground than the offense they were supposed to be defending, holding the Bengal offense to minus-two yards and just one first down. "We came out with something to prove tonight,” said linebacker Travis Lewis. "Last week didn’t go the way we wanted to, but we stepped up tonight. Even though it wasn’t a big-time opponent, we still went out there and prepared like we were playing the best in the world.” Sophomore defensive end Frank Alexander keyed off the 64-0 rout with a three-yard fumble return for a touchdown after defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sacked Idaho State quarterback Kyle Blum, forcing the fumble and putting Oklahoma up 14-0. "We always stayed in an attack mentality, regardless of the score,” Lewis said. "That’s why our first-team defense and offense started in the second half, just to make a statement and put an exclamation point on the board.” The Sooners’ dominant front seven refused to let Idaho State earn any yards on the ground. In the first half, the Bengals rushed 18 times for minus-15 yards. Despite playing primarily reserves in the second half, the Sooners still held the Bengals to minus-22 yards rushing, and 44 total yards in the game. Lewis was responsible for much of the dominance at the line of scrimmage, notching eight tackles in the first half, two for losses. "Just real sound, fundamentally. Very few if any busted assignments,” coach Bob Stoops said. "Regardless of who you’re playing, if you’re out of position, you’re going to give up plays. And we were really in position all night.”
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night. They were a no show. If OU could move down to Div 1-AA they would be able to
compete with there top 10 teams with some success, hopefully, of course nothing is for
sure with Stoops. Eventually he'd find a way to look bad at that level. Lets see what D
shows up against Tulsa. Lets see what D shows up in road games and the rest of the
season, when you have to play teams in D-1. If OU could schedule 4 D-1AA schools
every year they would be just like K-State.