Written by RUGBYMag Staff    Saturday, 19 February 2011 00:00    PDF Print Write e-mail
Sooners Scorch K-State in Second Half
Colleges - College DI-A

It took Oklahoma a little while to settle into its first game of the season, but once the Sooners did they scored eight tries en route to a 53 -12 victory over former West-Central foe Kansas State in Wichita Saturday.

After spending much of the first 15 minutes camped in K-State’s half, the Sooners finally got on the board with an Arrynn Wilkinson try set up by a Taylor Mokate line break. Kelton Miller added the conversion.

After an OU kick straight to touch awarded K-State an attacking lineout in the Sooner half, speedy Wildcat wing Kenny Scott capitalized on the opportunity with a tryscoring run to bring KSU within two at 7-5.

Oklahoma’s Brad Henry played some solid defense on the outside shutting down a couple of promising K-State attacking opportunities, and an errant K-State kick down the middle of the field to Wilkinson was followed by an effective counterattack try, this time with Mokate touching down for the five pointer. Miller kicked a penalty goal a few minutes later to make it 15 – 5 at halftime.

The Sooners scored early and often in the second half, beginning with a Michael Lair 30-meter try down the blindside, which followed another Mokate line break. The next Sooner scoring possession started when Henry caught a K-State kick under pressure. Oklahoma recycled the ball and then Miller put Mokate through a hole. Blake Hodges continued to run hard in support and received an inside pass from Mokate to score under the sticks. 

Matt Long replaced Hodges, who injured his shoulder being tackled as he touched down for the try. Long made his presence felt by stealing a K-State lineout deep inside the Sooner half, which Oklahoma turned into an 80-meter try. Meaad Muse got his hands on the ball and made the right decision to pass to Wilkinson, who made an effective cut-out pass to Miller, who fed Jerremy Jackson for a long run and eventual inside pass to Zac Givens for the try.  

K-State was awarded a penalty try while Lair was in the sin bin. When Lair returned to the game he scored his second try and the Sooners sixth of the match. Heath Thompson got his name on the stat sheet touching down for the Sooners late in the second half. Givens' second try of the day rounded out the scoring for the Sooners.

Oklahoma Scoring
Tries: Wilkinson, Mokate, Lair (2), Hodges, Thompson, Givens (2)     
Con: Miller (5)
Pen: Miller (1)

KState Scoring
Tries: Scott, Penalty Try 
Con: D'Agostino