Tough defense marked by Tre Brown’s INT’s and important kickoff returns were key
An anemic second half offense put the Sooners defense in the position of having to hold off an Iowa State comeback lead by scrambling and seasoned QB Brock Purdy.
And they did.
The win was sealed by the OU defense — specifically a last minute interception of a Purdy pass by cornerback Tre Brown.
And so Oklahoma won its sixth straight Big 12 Championship in a tremendous 27-21 win over Iowa State before the Covid-limited 17,827 spectators at AT&T Stadium on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
“Someone was gonna have to make a play to win that game … to see Tre do that as a senior, thrilled for him. Thrilled for us,” defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said.
Brown’s interception capped the game, but his important kickoff returns also factored heavily in a field position game that favored the Sooners most of the second half.
Sooner fans were on edge late in the game as Iowa State kept gaining momentum. With 5:15 left in the game it looked like the Sooners defenders might be wearing down, holding onto a narrow 3-point lead, despite a stellar pass rush led by tackle Perrion Winfrey that never gave Purdy much comfort in the pocket most of the game.
But the first half of the game was marked by a flawless Oklahoma’s offense, giving the Sooners an early lead.
You knew the Sooners had the karma for the day at the end of the first quarter when a Spencer Rattler pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, then almost intercepted but batted in the air and snagged by receiver Marvin Mims for a first down.
A rare double deflection and then catch.
Mims had seven catches on the game for 101 yards and one touchdown.
Up 17-0 midway through the second quarter the Sooners gave Iowa State a chance to get back into the game with a face mask call against Winfrey on a third down play that allowed the Cyclones drive to later put 7 points on the board with a Brock Purdy pass to Norman native Charlie Kolar.
But on the ensuing kickoff return by Tre Brown to the Iowa State 45 yard line the Sooners were set up with great field position and ultimately scored on a 9-yard run by Rattler around the right end, behind a block from Drake Stoops. That gave Oklahoma a 24-7 halftime lead.
Rattler was a remarkable 14 for 18 with 184 yards passing in the first half. Running back Rahmondre Stevenson had 67 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving.
But the offense went sour in the second half, converting only 1 of 8 third downs and having to punt five straight times.
A third down sack of Rattler with 5:03 left in the third quarter was a turning point for Iowa State. It lead to a 9 play 90-yard drive and a leaping Breece Hall touchdown to cut the Sooners lead to 24-14 late in the third quarter.
Hall was not much of a factor in this game. Oklahoma’s defense held him to 79 yards rushing.
The Oklahoma offense stumbled through much of the second half. But the Oklahoma defense made the Cyclones scrap for every down and every score, slowing the comeback enough to make the dwindling clock an ally late in the game.
The offense was helped late with a second kickoff return by Tre Brown to the Sooners’ 44 yard line. The offense moved the ball into the red zone where Gabe Brkic kicked his second field goal of the day, a 32-yarder, to give the Sooners a six point lead, forcing Iowa State to have to go the length of the field to score a touchdown late if they were going to win the game.
That drive ended with Brown’s interception of a wobbly ball affected by a fearsome Sooners pass rush.
“I was just praying, my mom’s praying to God. I hadn’t made a play yet. I know every year my number’s been called — this may last year. I had to go with a bang,” Brown said.
It was the third Purdy interception of the day — this time nabbed by Brown. Tre Norwood and Pat Fields had earlier interceptions to deny the Cyclones scoring opportunities.
Rattler ended the game completing 22-34 for 272 yards and one touchdown. Stevenson had 97 yards on 18 carries and four catches for 36 yards receiving.
Photo: Tre Brown’s kickoff returns were important in an old-fashioned field position defensive game.
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