Patrick's career day leads Oklahoma to 49-17 Bedlam win

By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Allen Patrick returned to form just in time for the postseason, running for a career-best 202 yards and two touchdowns as No. 10 Oklahoma wrapped up a spot in the Big 12 championship game with a 49-17 win Saturday against Oklahoma State.

Patrick, who had four 100-yard rushing games after Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone last season, passed the century mark for the first time since September and also caught a touchdown pass in easily his best game of the season.

The Sooners (10-2, 6-2 Big 12) had been all but assured of playing in their fifth Big 12 title game in the past six seasons even with a loss, but a Bedlam blowout left no doubt.

Sam Bradford returned after sustaining a concussion in Oklahoma's 34-27 loss at Texas Tech last week to break the NCAA freshman record for touchdown passes in a season. He had four scoring passes, including two to tight end Joe Jon Finley, to give him 32 this year. Nevada's David Neill (1998) and Texas' Colt McCoy (2006) held the old record with 29.

The Sooners were playing without leading rusher DeMarco Murray (knee), but that didn't stop them from pummeling their in-state rival with a constant ground attack. Oklahoma went with the rush on 28 of its 35 first-half plays, and Patrick carried most of the load a week after a fumble on his first carry led to Bradford getting hurt while making the tackle.

Patrick went for more than 100 yards for the first time in eight games, clearing the mark early in the second quarter with a 32-yard run around the left end that set up Chris Brown's 3-yard touchdown push to make it 21-7.

By that point, Patrick had already been in the end zone twice on an 11-yard scoring pass from Bradford and a 5-yard TD run.

The Sooners then came up with a huge goal-line stand, stuffing Oklahoma State (6-6, 4-4) on four straight rush attempts from the 1-yard line. On fourth down, three Sooners converged on quarterback Zac Robinson just shy of the goal line to jar the ball loose, and safety D.J. Wolfe scooped it up to end the threat.

Patrick ran on each of the next four plays to pick up 31 yards, and Oklahoma cashed in on Bradford's 2-yard touchdown pass to Joe Jon Finley for a 28-7 lead.

Finley also caught a 12-yard TD pass from Bradford, and Patrick's 2-yard run in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 42-17.

Bradford finished with 150 yards on 11-for-15 passing with one interception, which set up one of the Cowboys' two touchdowns on the day.

Dantrell Savage scored them both, catching a 16-yard pass from Robinson and rushing in from 6 yards out. He ran for 112 yards for his ninth straight 100-yard game.

Pregame warmups brought a glimmer of hope for Oklahoma State, as leading receiver Adarius Bowman jogged around and went through drills a week after coach Mike Gundy announced he'd be out for the rest of the regular season. Bowman was in uniform and had his helmet on, but didn't play in the game.

The result was Robinson's least productive passing day since he took over as the starter in the third game of the season. He completed 8 of 20 passes for 105 yards before being replaced by backup Bobby Reid in the fourth quarter.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department