When the Oklahoma Sooners meet the West Virginia Mountaineers, offensive fireworks are expected. Everyone still remembers the 50-49 shootout between the two teams during the 2012 season.
After a slow start, the teams are living up to expectations. West Virginia and Oklahoma are tied 24-24 after two quarters of play.
Two players proved to be the difference-makers for each team.
West Virginia’s Kevin White entered the contest as the nation’s second-leading receiver with 460 receiving yards during the first three games. White continues to add to his season total with a strong effort in the first half. The wide receiver already has four receptions for 111 yards. White also got the offensive fireworks started with a 68-yard touchdown reception to give West Virginia an early 7-3 lead.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, found its offensive groove during the second quarter once head coach Bob Stoops and his staff decided running the football with 243-pound freshman running back Samaje Perine was the team’s most effective strategy. Perine rumbled for 111 yards and exploited West Virginia’s soft defensive interior.
As impressive as White and Perine have been, there have been plenty of other explosive plays.
The Sooners scored their first touchdown courtesy of a reverse pass from wide receiver Durron Neal to quarterback Trevor Knight. And just when it looked like the Mountaineers would take a seven-point lead into halftime, Oklahoma’s Alex Ross returned a kick 100 yards for the tying score.
The teams combined to score five touchdowns in the final eight minutes and 58 seconds of the second quarter.
The second half game plan is simple for both teams -- continue to score as much as possible. It’s a simple plan, but one defensive stop by either team may be enough to eventually claim the victory.
