The Oklahoma Sooners football team proved it is worth its number one ranking by defeating the Florida State Seminoles 23-13 in a defensive struggle Saturday night.
Oklahoma’s offense marched down the field on their opening drive, which lasted 6:25, eventually scoring on a quarterback sneak by junior signal-caller Landry Jones.
In a surprising turn of events, Oklahoma’s defense took the field along with senior linebacker Travis Lewis, who suffered a foot injury during preseason football practice. Lewis and the Sooners’ defense held the Seminole’s offense to a 53-yard field goal by Florida State kicker Dustin Hopkins.
The Sooners’ second drive ended when Jones, who was forced out of the pocket and tackled as he let go of the football, threw his first of two picks in the game. Despite being under pressure for most of the contest, Jones finished the day completing 18 of 27 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown.
Jones later became OU’s all-time passing leader with 8,417 yards late in the third quarter. Jones surpassed former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who held the record with 8,403 yards.
Thanks to a few tremendous defensive plays, including one by sophomore linebacker Tom Wort, Oklahoma led Florida State at the half 13-3.
A touchdown was all that separated the Sooners and Seminoles going into the fourth quarter. However, Florida State would be forced to finish the game behind redshirt freshman Clint Trickett, who replaced starting quarterback E.J. Manuel after he suffered a shoulder injury in the third quarter.
Florida State’s offense converted a crucial third-down as Trickett connected with freshman wide receiver Rashad Greene on a 56-yard pass, evening the score at 13-13, with 9:32 left in the fourth quarter.
With the momentum heavily in the ‘Noles favor, Jones silenced the crowd on the ensuing drive by completing a pass of 37 yards to sophomore wide receiver Kenny Stills to cap an 8-play, 83-yard drive with seven minutes remaining.
Stills, who served a one-game suspension in week one, was the player of the game on the offensive side of the ball, catching seven passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Junior defensive back Javon Harris was the defensive player of the game, recording three tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup.
Senior Kicker Jimmy Stevens sealed the victory for the Sooners, making a field goal from 31 yards out with a little over two minutes remaining in the game.
"To finish the game like we did I just really want to start off by saying how proud I am of the character and poise we showed in the fourth quarter,” Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops said. “When they sensed blood and the stadiums on you, you feel they have the momentum and we just seized it right back.”
"I told our guys it was probably as good a character fourth that we have had since maybe the 2000 year down at (Texas) A&M where we had to answer the bell in the fourth quarter and we did,” he said. “It's just pleasing to win that way."
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