Quick recap: KU unable to slow down OU in 55-40 loss

photo by: Associated Press

Kansas running back Pooka Williams Jr., center, is tackled by Oklahoma safety Robert Barnes, left, and linebacker Curtis Bolton, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Kansas made enough plays to keep things interesting against No. 6 Oklahoma.

In the end, though, the Sooners’ high-octane offense proved to be too much for the Jayhawks to overcome. OU scored on all but two of its drives to claim a 55-40 win over KU (3-8, 1-7 Big 12) Saturday night at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1) has now won 14 consecutive meetings with Kansas.

In the loss, freshman running back Pooka Williams ran for a career-high 252 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Williams also completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Booker early in the fourth quarter.

Here’s a quick look back at some of the action:

• The game turned when: With 9:03 left in the first half, Oklahoma took the lead for good.

After the Jayhawks claimed a 10-7 lead, the Sooners answered with a quick score. Oklahoma needed less than three minutes to march 65 yards on seven plays. OU quarterback Kyler Murray hit a wide-open Carson Meier for a 20-yard touchdown connection. It gave the Sooners a 14-10 lead, in which they never trailed after that.

Entering Saturday, 51 of Oklahoma’s 63 offensive touchdown drives (81 percent) took less than three minutes of game clock.

• Offensive highlight: Early in the game, Williams demonstrated his talents on the national stage.

Williams had consecutive long runs during KU’s 93-yard drive, which took just seven plays and 3:17. Williams accumulated 62 yards on just two runs during the team’s long drive, including a 39-yard rush on second and short.

Following a timeout, Williams hit paydirt with a 23-yard touchdown run to give Kansas a 7-0 advantage.

• Defensive highlight: Mike Lee set the tone with a huge stop early in the contest.

Oklahoma appeared poised to score on its first offensive drive of the game, marching into Kansas’ territory. After missing a tackle, Lee ripped the ball out of Kennedy Brooks’ hands and Lee ended up with the loose ball.

As a result, the Sooners’ drive was halted on the opposition’s 10-yard line. The Jayhawks proceeded to take the first lead of the game on the ensuing drive.

•Up next: Kansas plays host to Texas at 11 a.m. Friday.

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

2:50 — Pooka Williams 23 run. Gabriel Rui kick. Seven-play drive for 93 yards, in 3:17. (KU 7, OU 0.)

1:19 — Kyler Murray 7 run. Austin Seibert kick. Four-play drive for 59 yards, in 1:31. (KU 7, OU 7.)

SECOND QUARTER

12:02 — Rui 45 field goal. Eleven-play drive for 47 yards, in 4:17. (KU 10, OU 7.)

9:03 — Carson Meier 20 pass from Murray. Seibert kick. Seven-play drive for 65 yards, in 2:50. (OU 14, KU 10.)

0:18 — Kennedy Brooks 7 run. Seibert kick. Nine-play drive for 60 yards, in 4:02. (OU 21, KU 10.)

THIRD QUARTER

10:52 — Khalil Herbert 3 run. Rui kick. Seven-play drive for 45 yards, in 3:10. (OU 21, KU 17.)

5:32 — Murray 11 run. Seibert kick. Thirteen-play drive for 77 yards, in 5:13. (OU 28, KU 17.)

0:50 — Brooks 13 run. Seibert kick. Seven-play drive for 51 yards, in 3:10. (OU 35, KU 17.)

FOURTH QUARTER

14:05 — Jeremiah Booker 9 pass from Williams. Rui kick. Four-play drive for 62 yards, in 1:45. (OU 35, KU 24.)

13:44 — Murray 75 run. Seibert kick blocked. Two-play drive for 75 yards, in 0:21. (OU 41, KU 24.)

12:05 — Curtis Bolton 9 punt block return. Seibert kick. (OU 48, KU 24.)

9:39 — Williams 42 run. Herbert pass from Bender. (OU 48, KU 32.) Five-play drive for 75 yards, in 2:27. (OU 48, KU 32.)

5:25 — Grant Calcaterra 11 pass from Murray. Seibert kick. Ten-play drive for 75 yards, in 4:13. (OU 55, KU 32.)

2:31 — Khalil Herbert 25 run. Conversion good. (OU 55, KU 40) Seven-play drive for 75 yards, in 2:54

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