• OU’s running game sputtered until Brown got his touches

Oklahoma prides itself on being able to run the ball under just about any circumstances. Against nine-man fronts or when a defense absolutely knows it’s coming, it doesn’t matter.

So when the third quarter ended and the Sooners’ 20 rushing attempts had netted only 40 yards, there was cause for alarm.

Why not abandon it?

Sam Bradford was hot once again, throwing for 235 yards and completing 20-of-27 attempts by the end of third quarter.

But there was a reason OU kept banging away.

“You have to,” Sooner coach Bob Stoops said. “It’s part of what we do.”

It was also a big reason No. 6 OU turned back No. 11 Missouri 41-31 Saturday night at Owen Field.

After three quarters of rushing futility, everything clicked in the fourth quarter. Sophomore running back Chris Brown, who rushed for a game-high 67 yards and three touchdowns, had a lot to do with it.

He’d alternated with Allen Patrick throughout the first three quarters with little to show for it. Between them, they had just 30 yards when the fourth quarter began and the Sooners trailed 24-23.

Despite the deficit, Brown saw something from the guys in the black helmets across the line of scrimmage.

“They were kind of tired and you could see it in their faces,” Brown said. “We just had to stick with it.”

The reason why was evident on OU’s first possession of the fourth quarter. After a couple passes moved the Sooners to the Missouri 33, Brown took over.

Six straight plays finished with the ball in his hands.