MANHATTAN, Kan. - Game-time temperature was 25 degrees Saturday, but it felt more like 15 with the wind. It was the kind of day when a Midwestern coach worries about his California transplants. Well, Bob Stoops neednt have worried about Brennan Clay, his starting running back from San Diego. . . . . . . . . . . Its football weather all across America, Clay tweeted to his followers Friday, about the time OUs plane was being de-iced for the flight to Manhattan. Here was a guy who rushed for a career-high 157 yards at Iowa State last year. They have as many warm fall days in Ames as they do in Anchorage. Clay doesnt sweat Mother Nature. And so, no, it shouldnt be too big a surprise that he carried 31 times for a career-high 200 yards in No. 22 Oklahomas 41-31 victory at Kansas State on Saturday afternoon. Brennay Clay was sensational, Stoops gushed in postgame. He just had a great day running the football. Clay rushed for 115 yards in the second quarter alone, highlighted by a 64-yard home run on third-and-1, when he ran through a crease at the line of scrimmage and didnt stop until he had scored to put OU ahead 21-14. Clay ran through creases most of the day, and through lanes as wide as a speedway on other occasions. The O-line did a great job, Clay said. I wasnt getting touched for 4 or 5 yards. That helped out tremendously. That was the plan coming in. The Sooners figured theyd have to run the ball in Saturdays chill, and with quarterback Trevor Knight making his first start since the West Virginia game Sept. 7. With Damien Williams suspended, they figured theyd have to run it with Clay. That was fine with Clay, seeing as how he had been limited to single-digit carries in five of OUs past six games. Its hard as a running back ... getting six or seven carries a game, Clay said. But thats what happens when you have such a great backfield. Between myself, Damien and Roy (Finch), we all do a great job with the ball in our hands. I had to carry the load a little more today. I found that rhythm, and we kept running. All the way until Clays 8-yard run with three minutes remaining put him at 200, allowing him to become OUs first back to reach that figure since DeMarco Murray in 2010. The last time Clay had hit 200? Boy, high school days, he said with a smile. That was by halftime. It was easier at Scripps Ranch High School. Sunnier, too. Its not this cold in San Diego, Clay said. Not that he minds. Whenever your names called upon, he said, youve got to be able to take control of the game.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 01:44:16 +0000
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