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Potent Oklahoma offense too much for Kansas State

Oct 25, 2008 - 10:40 PM MANHATTAN, Kansas (Ticker) -- Defense seems to have become an afterthought for Oklahoma.

The fifth-ranked Sooners set a school record for points in the first half Saturday en route to a 58-35 victory over Kansas State in another Big 12 Conference shootout.

DeMarco Murray scored four touchdowns in the first half - two rushing and two receiving - as Oklahoma (7-1, 3-1 Big 12 South) raced to a 55-28 halftime lead. The Sooners' previous school record for points in a half was 52 set against Rice in 1978.

"I thought our running backs really ran hard for a long time," Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford said. "Today, I thought they ran very well and our offensive line played great today, as there were some huge holes for our running backs to run through."

Last week, Bradford passed for a school-record 468 yards in a 45-31 victory over Kansas.

Bradford had a quiet game Saturday, completing just 13-of-32 passes for 255 yards, although he did throw three touchdowns to give him 29 for the season.

The Sooners surrendered more than 500 yards Saturday, but overcome their defensive deficiencies with a quick-strike offense that scored four touchdowns in the first quarter on just 14 plays from scrimmage.

"For the second time this year, we played a team that I think has the ability and the system to win a national championship," said Kansas State coach Ron Prince, whose team lost to sixth-ranked Texas Tech, 58-28, three weeks ago. "Clearly, they have the talent, the schemes and the system put in place."

Oklahoma also took advantage of five turnovers by Kansas State, converting them into 21 points.

Josh Freeman completed 29-of-51 passes for a career-high 478 yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats, but was picked off three times after coming into the game with just two interceptions all season.

"Defensively, we gave up some big plays," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "Josh Freeman scrambling around, buying extra time, throwing the ball with that arm made it tough containing him.

"Fortunately, in the second quarter, we buckled down and come up with some big turnovers and had five on the day. So that part was positive, but then again there is a lot of stuff that still needs to be improved on."

Kansas State (4-4, 1-3 Big 12 North) erased a 28-7 deficit with three straight scores, but the Sooners erupted for four touchdowns in a five-minute span late in the second quarter.

"You do something positive, they come right back out and they play some of their most physical football at 28-28," Prince added. "There was no question, no doubt left, as to who is the more physical football team at 28-28."

After Bradford tossed a 10-yard TD pass to Murray to make it 35-28, Oklahoma took advantage of turnovers for its next two scores - Bradford's 29-yard TD pass to Jermaine Gresham and Murray's 4-yard TD run.

Freshman Ryan Broyles returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown with 1:23 left in the half to complete the barrage.

"I think the first half was the best we have played all season," Bradford said. "Everything seemed to go as we drew it up. It was a great first half."

The Sooners managed only a field goal in the second half, possibly because its offense was worn out. Oklahoma scored touchdowns on seven of its nine first-half possessions.

"As a coach, you always want to be perfect, but you have to give credit to Kansas State," Stoops said. "Josh does a great job for them and he is competitive and a big guy. Sometimes, we had three guys on him trying to bring him down, and he still gets away. Guys like that are going to make their share of plays, too."

Kansas State missed a chance for another score when a fourth-down from the 1-yard line fell incomplete in the fourth quarter.

"It is frustrating on how we came out and played in the second half," Bradford added. "But any time you can go on the road and get a win, you have to be happy."

After Bradford's record-setting performance last week, Oklahoma was focused on a more balanced attack, and the Sooners punished the Wildcats with a powerful running game that amassed 273 yards.

Chris Brown (20 carries for 143 yards) and Murray (17 for 108 yards) each surpassed the century mark for Oklahoma, which has gained more than 1,200 yards in the last two games.

"Balance is something that we have talked about, and I felt today that we were very balanced," Bradford said. "If all that happens, I feel we are a hard offense to stop."