Sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford provided another offensive show Saturday, passing for a school-record 468 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Bradford, who was 36-for-53 on the day, led the Sooners to their sixth victory with his precise game management and accurate passing.
OU recorded 674 yards of total offense on the day, the most of the year.
Bradford’s favorite target throughout the day was senior wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias. Iglesias set an OU record in the first half with 10 catches for 178 yards.
“[Bradford] had another great day, and he’s great for us all the time,” Iglesias said. “The game he had, and the balls he throws, you can’t get much better than that.”
Manuel Johnson, the Sooners’ leading receiver coming into the game, left with an injury after his first catch.
Senior Quentin Chaney stepped up after Johnson went down, netting six catches for 105 yards.
Iglesias finished with a team-high 12 catches for 192 yards, both personal season highs.
OU’s running game was energized by impressive performances from both running backs, junior Chris Brown and sophomore DeMarco Murray.
Brown ran for 92 yards on 12 attempts (7.7 avg) and one touchdown while Murray ran 16 times for 83 yards (5.2 avg) and two touchdowns.
After disappointing performances against Texas and TCU, the Sooners seem to have the running game back on track.
“Offensively, it’s pleasing when you’re effective doing both,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “Sam Bradford was spectacular. And I thought both backs ran the ball well.”
OU balanced its offense effectively, complementing Bradford’s 468 passing yards with 206 rushing yards.
The balance of the offensive attack began with the big men up front.
The offensive line didn’t give up a sack in 97 plays, and created holes for the running back tandem to cut through.
“[The offensive linemen] were the first ones in the locker room to get a game ball,” Stoops said. “To be able to be balanced, to be able to protect the quarterback and establish the run, everything begins with those guys. They were good and solid.”
Senior center Jon Cooper played a pivotal role in the offensive line’s powering to 206 yards rushing.
“I think we played very well, everyone talks about the run game we just got in a rhythm this time,” Cooper said. “We take what they give us, they didn’t stack the box as much, and we beat their blitzes.”
The offensive line’s performance Saturday gave Bradford enough time to hit his targets, which consequently helped establish an effective run game.
Murray ran for two touchdowns on the day — a three-yard and a seven-yard run — and both were tough runs up the middle.
The sophomore appeared to be running with more explosiveness and power than he did against Texas.
“Our O-line did a great job blocking,” Murray said. “We challenged ourselves to get more rushing yards. It’s been real frustrating hearing all the talk about blocking. I just pushed it to the side and played my game.”
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