When Rhamondre Stevenson trotted off the field after scoring his third touchdown, he flashed a T-Shirt underneath his uniform that had the words “I’m Back” stenciled on it.
Indeed he is. And perhaps it means even more regarding Oklahoma’s return to the conference championship race.
Stevenson’s low-center-of-gravity running style blew up the Texas Tech defense and gave QB Spencer Rattler the balanced attack (38 rushing plays/39 passing plays) to lead the Sooners to a 62-28 Big 12 conference win in Lubbock on Saturday night.
It was Texas Tech’s Halloween nightmare.
Stevenson lead Sooners rushers with 87 yards on 13 carries.
The Sooners’ coaching staff found out about Stevenson’s reinstatement by the NCAA on Friday.
Rattler said when teammates found out Stevenson would play, “We all got chills.”
It was also the return from suspension of defender Ronnie Perkins. Perkins had three tackles, two for losses.
“You see the impact he otherwise could have had for us here earlier in the season,” said defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. “We’re thrilled to have him back.”
“What I said to the team last night was, ‘It’s time to go out and embarrass somebody.'” — Rattler
Rattler finished play midway through the third quarter after completing 21 of 30 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
This game was over at the half. And whereas many fans have been worried about repeated collapses of Oklahoma’s defense and stagnancy of offense in second halves this season, that wasn’t going to happen this time.
“What I said to the team last night was, ‘It’s time to go out and embarrass somebody,'” Rattler said.
Stevenson had been suspended from playing in OU’s college football playoff loss to LSU in December and hasn’t been on the field since — all due to a failed drug test at the end of last season. That year, his junior campaign, saw him rush for 515 yards and six scores.
On Saturday, he looked even better, slicing through the Tech defense with abandon.
Also stellar in Oklahoma’s win was a defensive front combination of Perkins, Perrion Winfrey, Isaiah Thomas and Nick Bonitto stymied Tech QB Henry Colombi most of the night. The defense had two sacks on the evening and held Red Raiders rushers to 134 yards.
The win was Oklahoma’s seventh straight against Tech.
The game began with concern. The Red Raiders marched down the field, going 75 yards in seven plays and ending in a five yard TD run by RB SaRodorick Thompson. But that lead didn’t last.
Oklahoma scored its most first half points since 2008 when it scored 49 against Nebraska.
Momentum in the game turned the Sooners’ way early, with Colombi (15 of 28 for 227 yards) throwing two interceptions in the first quarter — both tipped balls snagged by OU’s Tre Norwood. Both set up Oklahoma touchdowns. The Sooners lead 48-14 at the half.
Oklahoma played without WR Charleston Rambo and DB Dalarrin Turner-Yell. Also, LB Robert Barnes, who was injured last week against TCU did not make the trip.
The Sooners finished with 559 total yards — 346 yards passing and 213 yards rushing.
Although the Sooners have two conference losses, the loss of previously undefeated Oklahoma State to Texas on Saturday makes the conference race wide open.
“One game at a time. We’re getting better as a team. It’s like when you guys asked about playoffs during the last couple of years … we’re just trying to get better. If you do that, things work out like they are supposed to,” Riley said.
The return of a bruising run game by the Sooners puts them in prime position to defend it’s 2019 conference championship.
NEXT: Kansas in Norman. 7 pm Saturday. ESPN2.
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