OU Survives College Station

by: Staff Reporter

November 12, 2000

The Oklahoma Sooners football team improved its record to 9-0 and moved one step further towards a trip to the Big 12 Championship with a tough win over the Texas A&M Aggies yesterday. The Sooners trailed the Aggies for much of the game, but stormed back to take the lead late in the fourth quarter when Senior Linebacker Torrance Marshall intercepted a Mark Farris pass and ran in back for the game's final touchdown.

With more than 87,000 fans cheering on their team, the Aggies built a 24-10 lead in the third quarter and another 10 point lead in the fourth quarter. However, Josh Heupel and the Sooner offense marched the field and scored on a Quentin Griffin run. Then moment later, Marshall's interception return gave the Sooners a 35-31 lead. 

Texas  A&M wasn't done. The Aggie offense, helped by an OU roughing the passer penalty and two great pass receptions, had first down and goal from inside the Sooner 10 yard line. 

On first down, the Aggies gave the ball to their big fullback Ja'mar Toombs for a two yard gain. On second down, they did the same thing. Then on third down, Farris threw an incomplete pass.

It came down to fourth and goal from the Sooner four yard line. Farris dropped back and threw a pass towards the end zone only to have it knocked away by Sooner safety Ontei Jones. 

The Aggies got one more chance after the Sooner offense failed to make a first down. But the Aggies couldn't get a first down and the game was over. 

The Sooners improved their overall record to 9-0 (6-0 in the Big 12). Next week the Sooners can clinch the Big 12 south division with a win over Mike Leach and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

The game against Texas Tech is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and will be regionally broadcasted on ABC.