WACO, Texas — The sport was primarily over.
A handful of seconds stood between Baylor and a shocking upset over Oklahoma on Saturday at McLane Stadium. The Bears held a 24-14 lead with 43 seconds left once they took a quarterback knee on the Sooners’ 13-yard line.
Baylor’s followers voiced their pleasure as the ultimate seconds trickled down, however the Bears known as a timeout with three seconds remaining.
That meant little to the followers, who prematurely stormed the sector. The stadium’s announcer pleaded with the group to return to its seats to little avail.
In the meantime, OU’s gamers retreated to the tunnel amid the chaotic scene.
“Properly, it turned a security problem,” OU head coach Lincoln Riley mentioned. “I care in regards to the security of my gamers… I am pulling them off… How the officers do not implement a 15-yard penalty while you’ve in all probability acquired 5,000 folks on the sector is unbelievable to me.”
Officers urged OU to return to the sideline, which had been overrun by Baylor followers at this level after they’d been corralled by safety.
It took round 10 minutes for the Sooners to conform. OU’s workers finally summoned 11 gamers from the tunnel, which was simply sufficient for the ultimate play of the sport.
No extra. No much less.
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The Sooners lined up for what figured to be one other quarterback kneel, however Baylor had one thing else in thoughts. The Bears as an alternative lined up for a 32-yard discipline aim try, and Riley stood on the sector as Hankins kicked the ball by the uprights to seal the 27-14 victory.
1000’s of Baylor followers engulfed the turf in a matter of seconds, and Riley met Bears head coach Dave Aranda at midfield for a short handshake earlier than shuffling previous the group and getting into the tunnel.
“There is a code of sportsmanship that I consider in,” Riley mentioned of the late discipline aim. “I would not have completed it. However that is his resolution. That is his soccer staff.”
In all equity, the Sooners have not at all times adopted the code of sportsmanship both.
OU burned some bridges when it shocked the Large 12 by setting itself as much as be a part of the SEC together with Texas, however Aranda claimed he tried the late discipline aim for a special purpose.
Baylor is true in the midst of a heated race for the Large 12 title, and Aranda opted to kick the sector aim for level differential in case of a three-way tie.
“(Riley) was upset, and I can perceive why,” Aranda mentioned. “I take into account Lincoln a pal, so I am certain we’ll discuss right here fairly fast.”
Truly, the further three factors will not assist Baylor’s trigger within the Large 12 title race.
Level differential is used to interrupt a three-way tie by which the tied groups’ outcomes towards the remainder of the convention groups are precisely the identical.
That situation doesn’t exist this season, making the late discipline aim ineffective.
“To see (Baylor) kick a discipline aim on the finish of the sport was sort of loopy to me,” senior security Delarrin Turner-Yell mentioned. “Why are you kicking a discipline aim? It’s third down with three seconds left. Why don’t you simply kneel the ball and get off the sector? Perhaps that’s one thing they’ve with their program.”
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Backing up Brkic
Gabe Brkic was due for an off day.
The redshirt junior kicker has been elite for OU all season. Brkic entered Saturday’s contest with 17 made discipline targets on 20 makes an attempt, and 5 of these makes got here from not less than 50 yards out.
However the Chardon, Ohio, native had an uncharacteristically poor efficiency towards Baylor. After going wide-right on a 51-yard discipline aim try within the first quarter, Brkic went wide-right as soon as once more on a 40-yard strive within the second quarter.
Brkic completed the day 0-for-2 on field-goal makes an attempt. Saturday’s recreation marked the first time in his four-year OU profession that he missed a number of field-goal tries in a recreation.
Regardless of the tough outing, Brkic’s teammates nonetheless expressed confidence within the veteran kicker after the sport.
“We’re not shedding any confidence in Gabe as a result of we all know the issues Gabe can do,” Turner-Yell mentioned. “I hate to say it, however he was simply having a foul day at present. Issues didn’t go his means. I’m fairly certain he’ll work on these issues this upcoming week and repair it going to the Iowa State recreation.”
Brkic is hoping to win his first Lou Groza Award, which is given to school soccer’s high placekicker every season. He was named a semifinalist for the award on Nov. 6, marking the third season in a row that he reached that feat.
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Preserve searching
Brian Asamoah acquired the beginning on Saturday as a result of absence of senior DaShaun White, and he made essentially the most of it.
Asamoah racked up a career-high 10 tackles, together with 1.5 tackles for loss, and the spotlight of his efficiency got here within the third quarter.
Baylor’s R.J. Sneed hauled in a 9-yard cross, turned and noticed a white blur hurling towards him. The clashing of pads echoed all through the stadium as Asamoah delivered the hit, and the ball popped out of Sneed’s arms within the course of.
Nik Bonitto then recovered the unfastened pigskin to present OU possession.
It is unclear what prompted White to be scratched from the lineup on Saturday, however Asamoah confirmed why he entered this season as a breakout candidate.
The redshirt junior linebacker even earned a comparability to former OU star Kenneth “K9” Murray, who now performs for the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Brian performed phenomenally,” redshirt senior defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas mentioned. “Brian was far and wide. After each drive, I saved telling him ‘Preserve searching.’ It is spectacular to see.
“He sort of seemed like K9-esque. It seemed like when Kenneth Murray used to fly from left to proper, sideline to sideline.”
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Damage updates
Caleb Kelly suffered a season-ending proper leg damage throughout a punt within the third quarter. The redshirt senior linebacker wanted assist getting off the sector, and he later took to Twitter to offer an replace on his standing.
“Properly, seems I’ve performed my final recreation within the Crimson & Cream,” Kelly’s tweet learn. “I really like you Sooner Nation! I gave the whole lot I had and went out on the sector. You all turned a California child into an Oklahoma man.
“We have made quite a lot of reminiscences that I am going to cherish perpetually! #BoomerSooner. CK out.”
Woodi Washington noticed recreation motion on Saturday after lacking the Sooners’ final seven contests. The redshirt sophomore completed the day with two tackles.
OU additionally acquired a lift on offense with the return of senior extensive receiver Michael Woods, who had missed the staff’s final two outings. Woods recorded team-highs of 4 catches and 53 receiving yards towards the Bears.
Senior linebacker DaShaun White, freshman outdoors linebacker Clayton Smith, redshirt freshman security Bryson Washington and freshman offensive lineman Savion Byrd didn’t swimsuit up for OU.
Justin Martinez will be reached at [email protected] or @JTheSportsDude on Twitter. Make certain to subscribe to The Oklahoman to remain updated with all native sports activities.
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