Sunday, October 23, 2011

Texas Tech deals No. 3 Oklahoma 1st loss 41-38

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops acknowledges his team's lackluster results in the red zone, but he doesn't seem too concerned.

Receiver Ryan Broyles' big-play ability is surely a big reason why.

Broyles and the rest of the third-ranked Sooners look to extend the longest home winning streak in the country when they host Texas Tech on Saturday night.

Oklahoma (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) ranks fourth in the nation in total offense (547.2 yards per game) and sixth in scoring (45.3 ppg). That offensive prowess was on display during last Saturday's 47-17 rout of Kansas as the Sooners gained more than 600 yards for the third time this season.

Landry Jones threw for 363 yards along with three touchdowns and Dominique Whaley ran for a career-high 165 yards and a TD.

It was Broyles, though, who made the biggest splash.

The senior wideout, who caught 13 passes for a school-record 217 yards and two touchdowns, became the NCAA's career leader with 326 receptions -breaking the record on a 57-yard TD pass. He also now owns the Big 12 record with 44 career touchdown receptions.

"Ryan Broyles was just out of this world. When you set a national record, that's pretty special, but to do it with over 200 yards is unreal," Stoops said.

"We recognize what an exceptional player he continues to be and we are proud of the way he continues to play."

While Oklahoma's offense is exceptional overall, its performance inside the red zone leaves much to be desired. The Sooners, who settled for four field goals inside the 20 last week, have crossed the goal line on just 56 percent of their red-zone possessions.

"It happens. You're not going to be perfect all the time," Stoops said. "We were seven-for-seven scoring. Michael made all those (field goals). ... It's something we're working on, but we're down in that red zone a lot. We're down there more than a lot of people. We have to keep scoring."

Oklahoma, winner of 39 straight games in Norman, has averaged 39.8 points during a seven-game home winning streak versus the Red Raiders (4-2, 1-2), which continued with a 45-7 win last Nov. 13.

Jones threw for 317 yards and five touchdowns in that game, while Broyles hauled in eight passes for 119 yards and matched a career high with three TDs.

Despite the recent history, Oklahoma isn't taking this meeting lightly against one of the few offenses that could keep pace with the Sooners. The Red Raiders rank sixth in the nation with 533.8 yards per game and ninth with an average of 43.8 points.

"They're really good overall, good quarterback and good receivers," Oklahoma defensive back Gabe Lynn said. "They throw the ball well, so our secondary is going to have to blow up and defensive line going to have to rush. We'll just have to come altogether to stop their offense."

Lighting up the scoreboard hasn't been an issue for the Red Raiders, but an inability to keep the opposition from doing the same has caught up to them over the last two weeks.

After suffering a 45-40 defeat to then-No. 24 Texas A

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