How Veteran Leadership Won the Day for Oklahoma’s Defense in Bedlam

On Senior Day, Oklahoma’s defensive veterans paced the unit’s finest sport of the season.

OU withstood 102 offensive snaps from the Oklahoma State Cowboys, holding its No. 22-ranked rival to only three scores to assist safe the 28-13 Bedlam victory in Norman.

Switch cornerback C.J. Coldon set the tone on OSU’s second offensive drive of the night time.

Cowboy quarterback Spencer Sanders seemed to be on a special wavelength from receiver Jaden Bray, as Bray in the reduction of brief towards his quarterback whereas Sanders threw a fade towards the sideline.

Coldon stayed with the soccer, monitoring it down and hauling in Oklahoma’s first of 4 interceptions close to midfield.

The choose was solely the start for Coldon, because the Wyoming switch completed the sport with seven complete tackles and three move breakups.

Sanders’ night time was bookended with interceptions thrown to Oklahoma defenders who had been honored within the dwelling finale.

Linebacker DaShaun White lastly sealed the sport for the Sooners with a late interception of his personal, capping off an evening the place he completed with eight tackles and a sack.

“That was the reward of all items, to be sincere with you,” White stated after the sport. “I used to be simply in submit. He overthrew the man and it was fairly simple to catch that one. It was a particular second, to be sincere. I did need to make a giant form of play on this sport. It felt good.”

The night time carried additional that means for White contemplating the difficulties the 2022 season has introduced for all the program.

“I’ve type of been emotional little bit for a number of weeks now,” White stated. “It is actually beginning to set in that we stroll in right here, it is going to be Monday and the board is gonna say 5 days left or 5 days and practices left this season. It simply type of continues to settle in how surreal it’s that that is coming to an finish. Such a giant, thrilling chapter of my life is coming to an in depth.”

One in every of White’s fellow linebackers, David Ugwoegbu, captained Oklahoma on Saturday night time whereas additionally main the workforce in tackles.

The within linebacker paced the protection with 10 tackles, together with 0.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry to assist proceed and apply the stress on Sanders.

“I feel what means probably the most is the truth that it was our final night time within the Palace,” Ugwoegbu stated. “… But it surely simply meant quite a bit as a result of it was the final one within the Palace and the final one for the seniors. So it is good to ship them out with a win.”

OU’s move rush didn’t simply come from the second stage both, because the line of defense performed possible their finest sport of the season as nicely.

Jordan Kelley usually discovered himself within the Oklahoma State backfield because the Tulsa native completed his final Bedlam with six tackles, two sacks and a couple of.5 tackles for loss.

Remarkably, Justin Broiles was cleared to take the sphere after a scary hyperextended knee in Morgantown, and the veteran security took benefit of his final look on Owen Discipline.

Broiles registered 5 tackles, additionally including a deal with for loss within the win.

Not everybody who went by means of with the Senior Day festivities is assured to be leaving this system after this yr, however a number of of these defenders stood out as nicely.

Cornerback Woodi Washington didn’t match his pair of interceptions off of Sanders from final yr, however he nonetheless had a wonderful night time all the identical.

Washington was answerable for one defended move whereas additionally ending tied with White for third on the workforce with eight tackles.

Defensive lineman Jalen Redmond was additionally acknowledged earlier than the sport, and he was capable of lay hits on Sanders a number of instances all through the night time.

Redmond totaled two quarterback hurries and a sack, pushing the pocket on Sanders to assist maintain the Oklahoma State sign caller uncomfortable all night time lengthy.

The Bedlam win meant quite a bit to go coach Brent Venables, as he was comfortable to get to see the senior class stroll off the sphere in Norman one final time with their heads held excessive.

“Having that (Bedlam) trophy means quite a bit to those gamers, the seniors going out as winners their final time in The Palace,” he stated. “It means quite a bit to these guys. They’ve invested a ton of their careers. I advised them early within the will this shall be a day that you just’ll always remember. No matter what your information are and issues of that nature, having an opportunity to redeem ourselves from a yr in the past, profitable this sport, the problem of what it takes to win.

“… A very cool night time for me. To be part of this as the top coach and watch these seniors stroll off the sphere holding the trophy and simply having some pleasure. Obtained an extended methods to go however this was one other step in the appropriate route.”

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