Oklahoma's highly touted defense lived up to the hype in their 26-7 win over South Carolina in Columbia, Saturday. The old saying "defense travels" and OU brought with it a unit that came in to Saturday, #1 nationally in total defense, 2nd in scoring defense and in the top 10 in passing and rushing yards allowed.
The Sooners struck 1st scoring on the game's opening drive. OU marched 75 yards on 10 plays and scored on a Tory Blaylock TD run to make it 7-0. SC then put together their longest drive of the game going 72 yards on 10 plays.
The drive stalled deep in OU territory though, as LaNorris Sellers was stopped on a 4th goal run at the Oklahoma 3 yard line.
The 1st quarter ended with OU up 7-0. They went up 14-0 in the 2nd Quarter with a Xavier Robinson TD run. That capped the longest offensive drive of the game for either team, as the Sooners went 92 yards on 13 plays. SC got on the board late in the 2nd to make it 14-7 at the half.
The Sooner defense then clamped down and shut the Gamecocks out the rest of the way. OU added a 3rd Quarter FG to go up 17-7. South Carolina tried a trick play with Punter Mason Love throwing a pass. That was read by the OU defense and the pass was picked off. The Sooners capitalized on the short field and scored on a John Mateer TD pass to make it 24-7 after the 3rd.
Oklahoma added a Safety in the 4th quarter to make the final 26-7. South Carolina's offense continued to sputter. They were held to 224 total yards and just 54 yards rushing. The Gamecocks were also minus two in the turnover margin.
South Carolina is now 3-4 on the season and 1-4 in SEC play. They'll be back in action Saturday hosting highly ranked Alabama for a 3:30 kickoff.