Recap: Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 31, 2011
Freshman quarterback Blake Bell rushed for three touchdowns and extended a clinching scoring drive as No. 19 Oklahoma held off Iowa 31-14 Friday at the Insight Bowl.
The Sooners (10-3, 6-3 Big 12) built a 21-0 lead en route to winning their third straight bowl game under coach Bob Stoops, but it wasn’t easy.
Trailing by three touchdowns entering the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes (7-6, 4-4) got a pair of touchdown passes from James Vandenberg to cut the Oklahoma lead to seven with seven minutes to play. But Bell, the Sooners’ short-yardage running quarterback, converted a crucial third down on the ensuing drive, helping set up Michael Hunnicutt’s 35-yard field that put Oklahoma up 10 with 2:28 to play.
Bell tacked on a late 21-yard touchdown run, his 13th score in the Oklahoma's last six games.
The win puts a positive ending on a disappointing season for the Sooners, who began the year ranked No. 1. A stunning home loss to Texas Tech in October was followed by season-ending injuries to leading receiver Ryan Broyles and leading rusher Dominique Whaley. The offense never looked the same, and Oklahoma lost two of its last three to fall out of BCS contention.
Oklahoma starting quarterback Landry Jones threw a touchdown pass to Trent Ratterree in the middle of the third quarter to put the Sooners up 21-0. Jones, a junior who has yet to declare his NFL intentions, finished 16 of 25 for 161 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The Hawkeyes (7-6, 4-4) played without suspended leading rusher Marcus Coker and had their three-year bowl winning streak snapped.
Dec 31, 2011
Freshman quarterback Blake Bell rushed for three touchdowns and extended a clinching scoring drive as No. 19 Oklahoma held off Iowa 31-14 Friday at the Insight Bowl.
The Sooners (10-3, 6-3 Big 12) built a 21-0 lead en route to winning their third straight bowl game under coach Bob Stoops, but it wasn’t easy.
Trailing by three touchdowns entering the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes (7-6, 4-4) got a pair of touchdown passes from James Vandenberg to cut the Oklahoma lead to seven with seven minutes to play. But Bell, the Sooners’ short-yardage running quarterback, converted a crucial third down on the ensuing drive, helping set up Michael Hunnicutt’s 35-yard field that put Oklahoma up 10 with 2:28 to play.
Bell tacked on a late 21-yard touchdown run, his 13th score in the Oklahoma's last six games.
The win puts a positive ending on a disappointing season for the Sooners, who began the year ranked No. 1. A stunning home loss to Texas Tech in October was followed by season-ending injuries to leading receiver Ryan Broyles and leading rusher Dominique Whaley. The offense never looked the same, and Oklahoma lost two of its last three to fall out of BCS contention.
Oklahoma starting quarterback Landry Jones threw a touchdown pass to Trent Ratterree in the middle of the third quarter to put the Sooners up 21-0. Jones, a junior who has yet to declare his NFL intentions, finished 16 of 25 for 161 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The Hawkeyes (7-6, 4-4) played without suspended leading rusher Marcus Coker and had their three-year bowl winning streak snapped.
