NORMAN, Okla. --- The Oklahoma football team showed Saturday why it is ranked No. 4 nationally in the Football Bowl Subdivision preseason polls and is considered a strong candidate to play for a national title at the end of this season, defeating Chattanooga 57-2.
The Sooners, 1-0, scored on every first-half possession and made few mistakes en route to 50-0 halftime lead and the runaway victory. Following a storm delay after halftime, the Mocs were able to leave with some pride in their performance.
“We looked at it as playing a first half and a second half,” senior defensive end Neil Brown said. “It was a great experience for an FCS-level team to play at the No. 4-ranked team in the nation. In the end, our mistakes cost us.”
Oklahoma running back Chris Brown scored the first of his three touchdowns on a six-yard run at 10:42 of the first quarter, and fellow back DeMarco Murray tallied his first of two touchdown runs on the ensuing Sooner possession with a one-yard run at 7:42.
Highly-touted quarterback Sam Bradford, who was 14-of-17 passing for 151 yards in the first half, hit Quentin Chaney on a three-yard touchdown pass, and a missed extra-point kick left the score at 20-0 with 3:55 left in the first quarter.
The second quarter started inauspiciously for the Mocs as a snap from center on a punt attempt sailed over punter Jeff Lloyd's head and out of the end zone for a safety at 13:33 of the second period.
Brown's second TD run, a nine-yard spurt, came at 12:35, and Bradford's second touchdown pass was seven yards to Manuel Johnson at 6:53.
Juaquin Iglesias hauled in a 36-yard scoring pass from OU backup quarterback Joey Halzle at the 4:17 mark, and the halftime lead was 50-0.
Chattanooga settled down in the third quarter following a lightning delay that lasted over an hour. The Mocs (0-1) got on the scoreboard at 13:15 of the third quarter when the snap on an Oklahoma punt formation sailed over punter Mike Knall's head for a safety and two points. The Sooners made it 57-2 with 1:52 left in the quarter, capping an 11-play, 56-yard scoring drive with a one-yard Brown run. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Three UTC quarterbacks saw action. Starter Jare Gault did not complete a pass in eight attempts, although one completion was ruled a lateral by official statisticians. Junior Tony Pastore was 3-for-8 for 20 yards, and freshman Sloan Allison was 0-for-1.
Junior college transfer Shaun Kermah led UTC rushers with 37 yards on 17 carries. Junior Erroll Wynn had eight total rushing yards on 10 carries before a hand injury took him out of the game.
Bradford finished 17-of-22 passing for 183 yards and two TDs. Halsle was 14-for-16 for 122 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Murray led all rushers with 124 yards on 15 totes, and Brown followed with 63 yards on 14 carries.
Johnson collected a game-high 120 yards on nine receptions, and Iglesias had four catches for 73 yards.
An 1:12 severe storm and lightning delay at halftime kept the teams in the locker room and sent fans scurrying for cover under the stands. The delay began at 7:54 p.m. CT, and the game resumed at 9:10 p.m. Many of the 84,715 fans in attendance did not return following the storm.
The Mocs open the home portion of their schedule next Saturday as Cumberland University from Lebanon, Tenn., comes to Finley Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Scoring Summary
O ? Chris Brown 6 run (Jimmy Stevens kick), 10:42 1Q 7-0 OU
O ? DeMarco Murray 1 run (Stevens kick), 7:42 1Q 14-0 OU
O ? Quentin Chaney 3 pass from Bradford (kick missed), 3:55 1Q 20-0 OU
O ? Murray 1 run (Stevens kick), :21 1Q 27-0 OU
O ? Safety punt snapped out of end zone, 13:33 2Q 29-0 OU
O ? Brown 9 run (Stevens kick), 12:35 2Q 36-0 OU
O ? Manuel Johnson 7 pass from Bradford (Stevens kick), 6:53 2Q 43-0 OU
O ? Jauquin Iglesias 36 pass from Joey Halzie (Stevens kick), 4:17 2Q 50-0 OU
C ? Safety, punt snapped out of end zone, 13: 3Q 50-2 OU
O ? Brown 1 run (Stevens kick); 1:52 3Q 57-2 OU
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August 30, 2008
