DeMarco Murray had a breakout performance Saturday night, rushing for 101 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two catches for 40 yards.

Murray nursed a sore hamstring throughout the preseason and was fighting a slight toe injury in the season opener. Saturday, he moved as though without ailment.

"It feels good, just getting out there and getting hyped because you're in game mode," Murray said. "It feels great carrying the ball and getting some blocks. I felt well out there."

Return weapons

Ryan Broyles returned Idaho State's first two punts more than 20 yards and Dominique Franks had a 62-yard return that would have been a touchdown called back for an illegal block.

Both showed the potential for bigger things coming in the return game.

"Those guys, between Ryan (Broyles) and Dominique (Franks), are capable of some big plays if you give them some space," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "Again with the conditions as they were, their punter was hitting some at us where you had a chance instead of being able to hang them up there and let the coverage get there."

No big deal?

The shutout was the Sooners' first since 2006 and OU held Idaho State to negative rushing yards. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said brains had more to do with the performance than brawn.

"Not to take anything away from them but we played like we should have played," he said. "I don't think that we did anything that was Superman-like by any stretch of the imagination. We outmanned them but we played well. We played with technique, very sound and disciplined."

John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com