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Oklahoma spoils OSU's BCS hopes with Bedlam blowout
Published Sunday, November 29, 2009 12:05 AM
By JEFF LATZKE
Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. -- DeMarco Murray ran for two touchdowns and the Oklahoma Sooners knocked No. 11 Oklahoma State out of contention for a Bowl Championship Series bid with a 27-0 win Saturday.

With representatives of the Fiesta and Orange bowls watching on, the Cowboys (9-3, 6-2 Big 12) fell completely flat with their worst offensive performance of the decade.

Oklahoma State was shut out for the first time since 2005 by an Oklahoma (7-5, 5-3) defense coming off its worst outing of the year in a loss at Texas Tech last week.

Zac Robinson threw for only 44 yards on 9-for-21 passing after missing last week's game with injuries to his head and shoulder. He was pulled in the fourth quarter with his lowest passing total since taking over as the starting quarterback early in the 2007 season.

Ryan Broyles, who decommitted from Oklahoma State to play for the Sooners, also had 103 yards receiving. Patrick O'Hara, the walk-on who had never played football before taking over as Oklahoma's kicker two weeks ago, hit field goals from 24 and 19 yards.

The Sooners have won seven in a row in the Bedlam rivalry and 30 straight home games, the longest streak in the Bowl Subdivision.

Broyles' 47-yard reception set up Murray's first scoring run, a 13-yarder that he punctuated by leaping from the 4-yard line out of bounds past where the goal line would have extended. He also had a 12-yard TD run following Robinson's only interception, which safety Jonathan Nelson returned 37 yards.

The crowd started chanting "Overrated!" after Broyles let Quinn Sharp's punt sail over his head, then fielded the bouncing punt, turned around and raced 88 yards to make it 27-0.

The shutout was preserved when tight end Trent Ratterree tracked down Justin Gent from behind on a fumble return in the final minute, stripped the ball and recovered it. That allowed Oklahoma to run out the clock.

Oklahoma State didn't have a single first down in the second half and finished with only 109 yards of total offense.

A season riddled with injuries continued for the Sooners, who played without left tackle Trent Williams. The NFL prospect was the only player on Oklahoma's offense that had started the first 11 games, and his absence left the team with only one of its starters on the front line. Tight end Eric Mensik made his first career start on the offensive line to replace Williams.

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, also out for the season following shoulder surgery, appeared in a videotaped message before the game to thank fans and encourage them to support the Sooners. And receiver Corey Wilson, who injured his back in an offseason car accident, climbed out of his wheelchair and took a few steps with the aid of a walker at the end of Oklahoma's senior day ceremony.

Neither team, or the referees for that matter, gave the fans much to cheer for early on. Fumbles and constant replay reviews -- including one that required a second look for officials to get the down and distance correct -- made it a forgettable Bedlam.

The Sooners squandered early scoring chances when Landry Jones fumbled immediately after Broyles' 59-yard punt return set Oklahoma up with first-and-goal at the 7-yard line and O'Hara missed a 35-yard field goal.

But at least the Sooners got something going. Jones finished 20 for 37 for 224 yards and Oklahoma had 143 yards rushing.



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