Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 3, 2008 23:09:24 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/428449.html
W.Va. defeats Oklahoma 48-28 in Fiesta Bowl
By BLAIR KERKHOFF
The Kansas City Star
GLENDALE, Ariz. | He’s there, and then he’s not.
West Virginia quarterback Pat White flashed to Big 12 champion Oklahoma the disappearing act that made him two-time Big East player of the year in the Mountaineers’ 48-28 Fiesta Bowl triumph on Wednesday.
White was chosen the Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP, and the award could have gone to a cast of Mountaineers, who amassed 525 total yards.
“When all 11 execute, we have the players to make it happen,” White said.
But White is the catalyst. He rushed for 150 yards, often in stop-and-go fashion, and passed for 176 by competing 10 of 19 passes and two touchdowns.
“You put the ball in his hands, and good things are going to happen,” West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said.
The second scoring pass was a dagger driven into Oklahoma’s heart.
The Sooners had closed to 34-21 early in the fourth quarter when West Virginia took over at its 21. More than 13 minutes remained, plenty of time for Oklahoma to mount a comeback.
Instead White found wide receiver Tito Gonzales on a deep post that turned into a 79-yard touchdown strike.
After that, everything West Virginia touched turned golden. On the Mountaineers’ next possession, running back Noel Devine went 65 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 108 rushing yards.
“Those guys know how to make people miss,” Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton said.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said the Sooners broke down fundamentally.
“There were a lot of missed tackles, guys being out of position,” Stoops said..
“We were outplayed and outcoached. They were more physical, more disciplined in all parts of the game.”
W.Va. defeats Oklahoma 48-28 in Fiesta Bowl
By BLAIR KERKHOFF
The Kansas City Star
GLENDALE, Ariz. | He’s there, and then he’s not.
West Virginia quarterback Pat White flashed to Big 12 champion Oklahoma the disappearing act that made him two-time Big East player of the year in the Mountaineers’ 48-28 Fiesta Bowl triumph on Wednesday.
White was chosen the Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP, and the award could have gone to a cast of Mountaineers, who amassed 525 total yards.
“When all 11 execute, we have the players to make it happen,” White said.
But White is the catalyst. He rushed for 150 yards, often in stop-and-go fashion, and passed for 176 by competing 10 of 19 passes and two touchdowns.
“You put the ball in his hands, and good things are going to happen,” West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said.
The second scoring pass was a dagger driven into Oklahoma’s heart.
The Sooners had closed to 34-21 early in the fourth quarter when West Virginia took over at its 21. More than 13 minutes remained, plenty of time for Oklahoma to mount a comeback.
Instead White found wide receiver Tito Gonzales on a deep post that turned into a 79-yard touchdown strike.
After that, everything West Virginia touched turned golden. On the Mountaineers’ next possession, running back Noel Devine went 65 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 108 rushing yards.
“Those guys know how to make people miss,” Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton said.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said the Sooners broke down fundamentally.
“There were a lot of missed tackles, guys being out of position,” Stoops said..
“We were outplayed and outcoached. They were more physical, more disciplined in all parts of the game.”