Missouri approached its first series of Saturday’s 38-28 loss to No. 1 Oklahoma as if it was its last.
Sophomore quarterback James Franklin took the first snap and hit junior receiver T.J. Moe for a quick seven yards. Almost instantly, Franklin was back up to the line and in a flash, sophomore running back Henry Josey had a Tigers first down.
Before the Oklahoma defenders could tell who the ball carrier was, they had to turn around to catch Moe hauling in a 32-yard grab. Josey run. Josey run. Franklin run. Franklin run. Touchdown.
Later in the quarter, it was Oklahoma’s turn to run and gun. OU junior quarterback Landry Jones completed hurried passes all over the field to running backs Roy Finch and Dom Whaley, senior wideout Ryan Broyles and senior tight end James Hanna, one right after another. Six plays, 80 yards and a spectacular Broyles grab later, the Sooners were on the board.
On Saturday night in Norman, Okla., Big 12 football was in fine display.
“We knew they were going to out-tempo us, that’s what they’re known for,” Missouri sophomore cornerback E.J. Gaines said about the game’s fast pace. “It was really just about making plays and getting back to the line of scrimmage.”
Entering the contest, many expected an electric battle out of two offenses predicated by their high tempos. But Saturday night, Oklahoma and Missouri took their philosophies to an even faster level.
In wearing out the opposing defenses throughout the night, the two teams combined for nine touchdowns on 1,124 yards of total offense. Jones threw for 448 yards. Franklin accounted for 394. Broyles, Moe and Josey each totaled better than 100 yards individually.
Many times, the defenses found themselves unable to adjust to the execution of the opposing offense.
“We didn’t do as well as we could (have),” Missouri safety and senior captain Kenji Jackson said. “We really wanted to beat the tempo and match the tempo. We were doing a good job on a couple series but then we couldn’t get lined up, and when you can’t get lined up you get beat.”
Oklahoma’s defenders felt a similar heat in the face of a Missouri offense that ran play after play with essentially no rest.
“As a defense, we are going to look back at it and come back and play a lot better,” Oklahoma safety Jayon Harris said.
Prior to the game, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel described Oklahoma as the ideal version of the hurry-up, pass-oriented offense Missouri attempts to run.
“The team that’s probably the best in the country at it is the team we’re playing,” he said. “Oklahoma is as good as there is in the country as far as getting up and fast-paced.”
Operating an offense that works in rapid motion demands large focus in practice. Pinkel said that those that can pull off the feat have themselves a dangerous weapon to use on opposing defenses.
“I think what you try to do is if you keep getting first downs, you can tire people out,” he said. “That’s the philosophy behind it. A lot of people are trying to do that for those reasons.”
Both teams applied the philosophy Saturday night in Norman. Both offenses were successful. Both were potent. Both were fast.
Oklahoma was just a little bit faster.