In what many thought would be a defensive battle, the complete opposite has broken out in this 2021 version of Bedlam. The Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys enter the half tied at 24 apiece after an interception by cornerback Woodi Washington set the Sooners up in the red zone leading to a beautiful touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Brayden Willis.
Williams has seemingly freed himself from the funk that he was in for the last two games. His arm has kept the Sooners in the game and has them going blow for blow with an Oklahoma State team that has completely deviated from the ball control, run-heavy offense many expected.
The two teams traded punts on their opening possessions before Spencer Sanders found Tay Martin on the outside for a 30-yard touchdown. The Sooners would answer as Caleb Williams hit H-Back Jeremiah Hall for a huge gain, setting up Williams and Brian Darby’s 9-yard connection for a touchdown.
They would trade touchdowns back and forth before the Sooners would have to settle for a field goal on their first possession after giving up a 100-yard kick return to Brennan Pressley to make it 21-17 Cowboys.
The Cowboys would answer once more with a field goal of their own after being stymied in the red zone thanks to a massive tackle for loss by All-American Nik Bonitto. The play was huge as a touchdown would’ve given the Cowboys an 11 point lead.
Instead, with Oklahoma State driving late in the second quarter, Woodi Washington jumped a route, picked off Sanders, returning it to the red zone. Caleb Williams then threw a beautiful ball to H-back Brayden Willis for the game-tying touchdown.
To round out the half, Williams ended up 14 of 21 for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Perhaps the best throw of the first half was this one to Austin Stogner, who made an incredible catch before throwing up the “X,” former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant’s touchdown celebration.
The Throw. 🔥
The Catch. 🔥#OUDNA x @CALEBcsw x @austin_stogner pic.twitter.com/gY9ArF1CNC— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) November 28, 2021
Heading into the second half, the Sooners will need to figure out the Cowboys’ offense as they often looked confused and out of place multiple times in the first half.