By CLIFF BRUNT
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Ty Simpson handed for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 9 seed Alabama rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 on Friday night time within the first spherical of the School Soccer Playoff.
“I just couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer mentioned. “Resiliency. It’s been kind of a theme all season long, but it showed up tonight on the road. Down 17, coming back the way we did just one score at a time — just really stayed the course.”
Alabama freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who didn’t rating a landing within the common season, scored two and had season highs of 5 catches and 79 yards.
It was the third assembly between the faculties in 13 months. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 24-3 final November at house, then beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 final month on the street.
DeBoer claimed his first playoff victory for the Crimson Tide since arriving from Washington two years in the past. Alabama (11-3) superior to play No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman Trophy successful quarterback Fernando Mendoza in a quarterfinal sport on the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Oklahoma’s John Mateer handed for 307 yards and two touchdowns, however he threw a pricey interception that Alabama’s Zabien Brown returned 50 yards for a landing within the second quarter. Deion Burks had seven catches for 107 yards and a rating for the Sooners (10-3).
“It was a really good game that had some really great moments for the Sooners,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables mentioned. “And obviously, some really ill-timed moments as well, coaching, playing, the things that they’ve helped us be successful all year long. Tonight, when we needed it the most, we just didn’t have what it takes.”
Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner for the nation’s finest kicker, tied an FBS single-season report for many made subject targets of fifty or extra yards together with his eighth. He drilled a 51-yarder right into a stiff wind to provide the Sooners a 10-0 lead late within the first quarter, his twenty fourth consecutive made subject aim.
The Sooners outgained the Crimson Tide 118 yards to 12 within the opening interval, and the domination continued into the second quarter. Mateer’s 6-yard landing cross to Isaiah Sategna pushed Oklahoma’s result in 17-0.
Alabama, which went three-and-out on its first three possessions, lastly acquired its offense going halfway by the second quarter when Simpson hit Brooks for a 10-yard rating to trim Oklahoma’s result in 17-7. Later within the quarter, Brown’s interception return tied the rating at 17.
Brooks caught a 30-yard landing cross from Simpson early within the third quarter to provide Alabama its first lead. The Crimson Tide took a 27-17 benefit on a 40-yard subject aim by Conor Talty, ending a run of 27 straight factors for Alabama.
“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind at all,” Simpson mentioned. “I mean, the guys that we have, the players, the coaches. Like, 17 nothing, I mean, it’s nothing to us. Give us the ball, we’ll go down, do what we do.”
Burks caught a 37-yard landing cross from Mateer two performs into the fourth quarter to chop Alabama’s result in 27-24.
With Alabama up 34-24, Sandell missed from 36 yards with slightly below three minutes remaining to finish his streak. He missed once more from 51 yards out with a bit of over a minute to play.
Not particular
Sandell’s missed subject targets weren’t the one particular groups struggles the Sooners had.
All-SEC punter Grayson Miller dropped a snap within the second quarter, and his delayed punt was blocked by Tim Keenan III, establishing the Crimson Tide deep in Oklahoma territory. Talty made a subject aim to chop Oklahoma’s result in 17-10.
Many Males
Oklahoma acquired a short lived enhance from 50 Cent.
The rapper carried out his 2003 hit “Many Men (Wish Death)” between the third and fourth quarters. The Sooners have used it as a hype track in latest weeks. Two performs later, Mateer related with Burks for a landing.
The takeaway
Alabama: The Crimson Tide performed mistake-free ball and stayed targeted after struggling early. They scored the following 27 factors after falling behind 17-0.
Oklahoma: Mateer has been mistake susceptible this season. He performed a comparatively clear sport, however the second-quarter interception was a backbreaker and turned the momentum.
