Oklahoma Holds Off Kansas State, 38-37

Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops wanted more big plays from his receivers. He got them from Antwone Savage, and the third-ranked Sooners are still unbeaten.

Savage caught two long scoring passes and threw a touchdown pass on a fake punt, helping Oklahoma build a three-touchdown lead before holding on to beat No. 11 Kansas State, 38-37, Saturday.

Oklahoma beat the Wildcats for the third consecutive time. Oklahoma won, 41-31, in Manhattan, Kan., last October, and 27-24 in the Big 12 title game in December.

“We found a way to make enough plays to win the football game, and that’s special,” Stoops said. “We’re not concerned around here whether we win, 13-2 or 50-49 or 38-37. Whatever it takes, find a way to win.”

The Sooners (4-0, 1-0 in the Big 12) have won 17 in a row, the longest streak in the nation, and have won 16 in succession at home.

Kansas State (2-1, 0-1) hurt itself with 17 penalties for 139 yards, and had a September winning streak that dated to 1991 end at 32 games. But the Wildcats didn’t go quietly.

After falling behind, 35-14, midway through the third quarter, they rallied behind the play of quarterback Ell Roberson, eventually pulling within the final margin with seven seconds remaining. But Roberson’s final pass, from midfield, was knocked down at about the five-yard line as time ran out.

Kansas State succeeded in shutting down Oklahoma’s running game, holding the Sooners to nine yards rushing. But Nate Hybl, despite having three passes intercepted, threw for 283 yards to Savage and other receivers who got open against man-to-man coverage.

Oklahoma didn’t let tailback Josh Scobey get going, but Roberson made up for that by running for 115 yards and three touchdowns, and throwing for 257 yards and another touchdown.

Savage caught touchdown passes of 63 and 75 yards, and threw a 33-yard pass for a touchdown off a fake punt in the second quarter. The 75-yard play, on which Savage shook free from cornerback DeMarcus Faggins after making the catch, gave the Sooners the three-touchdown cushion with 7:15 left in the third.

Then Roberson led the Wildcats back with two successive scoring drives. On the first, he ran for 16 yards, Rock Cartwright ran for 27, and two plays later Roberson scored on a 37-yard run, breaking several tackles along the way.

An interception and return by Jon McGraw gave the Wildcats the ball at the Oklahoma 17, and Roberson scored on a sneak five plays later, making the score 35-27.

“We told our defense if you get us the ball, we’re going to do the best we can to get it in the end zone,” Roberson said. “They kept giving us the ball and we just drove down and tried to do the best we could.”

Oklahoma, which made only one first down on its first five possessions of the second half, put together a 16-play, 71-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Tim Duncan’s 33-yard field goal. Kansas State was hit with two pass interference calls on the drive.