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Bradford throws three TDs as Oklahoma edges Texas

Oct 7, 2007 - 2:26 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Sam Bradford bounced back from his worst career performance and helped Oklahoma exact some revenge against bitter rival Texas.

Bradford was the hero in Saturday's 102nd edition of the Red River Rivalry, throwing three touchdown passes to lead No. 10 Oklahoma to a 28-21 victory over 19th-ranked Texas at the Cotton Bowl.

The Sooners rebounded nicely from last Saturday's upset loss at Colorado and cemented their status as the top team in the Big 12 Conference South Division.

"I just feel fortunate to be here, winning like this," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who improved to 6-3 in his career against Texas. "I thought it was a really well-played game on both sides. I thought Texas really played well.

"I'm proud of our guys to hang in there and play like we did and make the plays in the fourth quarter that we felt we had to make to win."

Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1 Big 12 South) also ended its two-game losing streak in this storied rivalry and gained some payback for last year's 28-10 loss.

"We tried hard and everybody gave it their all," Texas running back Jamaal Charles said. "The media saw it and the fans saw it and everybody tried hard."

A redshirt freshman, Bradford went just 8-for-19 last week against Colorado and was intercepted twice in his fifth career start, a 27-24 loss to the unranked Buffaloes.

But Bradford, a 6-5 Oklahoma City native, was outstanding in his Red River Rivalry debut, completing 21-of-32 attempts for 244 yards without an interception.

"I think Sam, as young as he is, has a lot of confidence and a lot of cool to him," Stoops said. "He doesn't make too much of a situation. He trusts the guys around him to make plays. I think he does an excellent job of doing what the offensive coaches are asking him to do."

Bradford helped Oklahoma convert 9-of-18 third downs while completing 12 straight attempts during a stretch bridging the second and fourth quarters.

But Bradford saved his best play for the end of the contest, completing 7-of-8 passes on Oklahoma's go-ahead scoring drive early in the fourth quarter.

"On that last drive, we knew we had to get the ball out of our territory," Bradford said. "We got some quick throws in and got open, got going. I saw good things, and we just got rolling."

"(Bradford's) demeanor never changes," said Sooners wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who hauled in the go-ahead 35-yard scoring strike from Bradford. "He has the right attitude and says 'Let's get this. Let's get it done.'"

Bradford was assisted by fellow freshman DeMarco Murray, who rushed for 128 yards on just 17 carries. Kelly hauled in five receptions for 105 yards while Juaquin Iglesias chipped in six catches for 99 yards for Oklahoma, which improved to 40-57-5 all-time vs. Texas.

Bradford outdueled Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy, who tossed three TDs against the Sooners last year and was brilliant once again Saturday. The sophomore finished 19-of-26 for 324 yards and two TDs, but he tossed a costly interception in the fourth quarter and failed to lead Texas for a late game-tying score.

"Oklahoma is a great football team and you've got to give them credit," McCoy said. "They played really well defensively and offensively. It was a great game."

Oklahoma snapped a 14-14 tie with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter thanks to Murray, who added his name to this storybook rivalry with the most electric play of his young career.

With the Sooners starting a drive on their own 35-yard line, Murray gave Oklahoma a 21-14 lead on the first play of the series. The freshman broke a tackle off the left edge, hurdled a fallen defender and raced past two defenders up the left sideline for a 65-yard score.

"That was a big play in the game," Bradford said. "To turn around and watch DeMarco go 65, it gave us some momentum back. It was key in getting us going and getting us into a rhythm. That play just kind of sparked us."

However, Texas (4-2, 0-2 South) responded on the next drive, marching 70 yards on nine plays to forge a 21-21 tie.

McCoy converted a 3rd-and-1 with a 29-yard completion to fullback Chris Ogbonnaya, moving the ball to the Oklahoma 6. Two plays later, Vondrell McGee plunged into the end zone from a yard out to tie the score just three seconds into the fourth quarter.

"It was probably (McCoy's) best game this year," Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis said. "I know from the standpoint of visiting with him on the headsets and what he was seeing."

The Sooners fired back with a 12-play, 94-yard drive capped by Bradford's 35-yard TD to Kelly with 10:42 remaining, giving Oklahoma a 28-21 advantage.

"That was a busted coverage," Texas cornerback Ryan Palmer said. "Someone was supposed to come over the top, but you can't go pointing fingers and say 'He was your man.' If it was a busted coverage, then I put it on the whole defense for not getting the play known to everybody."

Oklahoma had a chance to add to its lead thanks to star cornerback Reggie Smith, who intercepted McCoy at the Sooners 36. Charles barely got his hands on the ball and tipped it to Smith, who reeled off a 33-yard return.

"We had a very unfortunate tip that went right through Jamaal's hands into (Oklahoma's) hands," Texas coach Mack Brown said.

But after a 15-yard penalty pushed the ball back to the Texas 46, the Sooners were forced to punt the ball back to the Longhorns, who moved back to its own 48.

That set the stage once again for Smith, who made another huge play on 3rd-and-11 by knocking the ball away from Texas star wide receiver Limas Sweed on a would-be touchdown pass.

The Longhorns were forced to punt on the following play, and the Sooners maintained possession over the next four minutes. Texas got the ball back on its own 20 with 2:10 left, but McCoy tossed three incompletions and was sacked once.

The Longhorns had one last chance after Oklahoma's Garrett Hartley missed a 38-yard field goal, but a holding penalty on the game's final play forced the waning seconds off the clock, sealing the victory for Oklahoma.

Charles rushed for 79 yards on 17 carries while tight end Jermichael Finley had four catches for 149 yards and a score for Texas, which has lost consecutive contests.