Published: October 22, 2006 01:30 am            

Dominant night

• Sooner defense continues string of solid play



Zach Latimer, after making six tackles, four all by himself, two for losses with an interception to boot, explained what’s happened to the Oklahoma defense, the same one that had trouble stopping Alabama-Birmingham and Washington before being torched by Oregon for more than 500 yards.

“We’re going out there and playing on an edge,” said the Sooner linebacker, who lived in Denver before making Norman his collegiate home. “We’re playing like our hair’s on fire.”

Latimer’s head is shaved, yet his point was well taken after the Sooners played their fourth consecutive strong defensive game, leading OU to a 24-3 victory over Colorado.

Beginning with the Saturday after the Sooners suffered the injustice of their trip to Oregon, OU shut out Middle Tennessee, held Texas to just 222 yards of total offense, held Iowa State to 238 yards and only nine points before doing everything but shutting out the Buffs.

Saturday night, Colorado rushed for just 74 yards, threw for only 39, completed only 3 of 14 passes and picked up only five first downs.

“You get greedy,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “I was disappointed we gave up that third-and-19 there, to let that drive continue … but we had tight coverage, kid makes a diving catch.”

It was Buff receiver Cody Crawford who made the catch, and it led to Colorado’s only points, a 39-yard field goal from Mason Crosby that culminated a 11-play, 51-yard drive with 6:13 to play.

The drive took almost 5 minutes. So, for about 55 minutes, the Sooners gave up just 62 yards of total offense.

“Everybody’s playing their role. Everybody’s doing their job,” said linebacker Rufus Alexander, who led the Sooners with 11 tackles. “That’s why guys are making plays.”

Was that not happening earlier in the season?

“We weren’t a cohesive unit. Now, everybody’s learning how to play together,” Alexander said. “We’ve learned how to trust each other and defense is a lot about trust.”

The Buffs’ offense suffered five three-and-outs, one turnover on downs and one four-play drive that ended via Latimer’s interception.

“We didn’t make a play and they are good,” Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said.

Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables believes it all comes down to practice.

“It’s maintaining that focus and really practicing well during the week,” he said.

Over the last month, Venables added, OU has practiced first team vs. first team more than in previous seasons.

It’s been a lesson in maintaining focus and intensity the Sooners have apparently taken to heart.

“It’s more than just being excited to play,” he said. “It’s having an edge. It’s about playing with an intense focus … and playing and having fun and turning it loose.”

        

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