Sports
B1 Monday | September 15, 2014 | tulsaworld.com
The USA basketball team proves to be a dark knight and wins the World Cup. B6
Sooners blocking memories of 2012
TEXAS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: MIDLAND 5, TULSA 0
Shut out
••OU’s defense gave up 778 yards on the last trip to Morganstown. BY ERIC BAILEY
World Sports Writer
Tulsa third baseman Jayson Langfels tags Rockhounds’ Jeremy Barfield out at third base in the final game of the Texas League Championship series Sunday at Security Bank Ballpark. Midland beat Tulsa 5-0. JAMES DURBIN/Reporter-Telegram
Drillers fall in decisive game of TLCS BY LEN HAYWARD
Midland Reporter-Telegram
MIDLAND, Texas — The Tulsa Drillers put runners in scoring position in six of nine innings on Sunday in the deciding Game 5 of the Texas League Championship against the Midland RockHounds.
But the Drillers came up empty each time as the RockHounds pitching staff kept finding ways out of jams in a 5-0 Midland victory at Security Bank Ballpark. RockHounds shortstop Dusty Coleman hit a two-run homer in the second inning, and the runs held up as the Drillers were shut out for the first
time in the Texas League postseason. Midland won its third outright Texas League Championship as it won titles in 2005 and 2009, and also shared a title in 1975. “We strung some hits together, but we just didn’t come up big when we SEE TULSA B4
TU has problems, with no time to fix them
T
ULSA’S INABILITY TO put up any kind of defensive resistance would appear to be the most discouraging trend during the first three weeks of college football in the state. Oklahoma appears to be as good as advertised during a 3-0 start against overmatched opponents. And, Oklahoma State, despite Up next some serious vs. Texas State quarterback issues because TBD Sept. 27 of injury, has TV: TBD been better than expected with a big upside For more ahead. Read an analysis By contrast, of TU’s game on Tulsa’s start Saturday. B8 has been a disappointment because the Golden Hurricane has shown signs it is better than predicted on offense but a defensive collapse has been stunning.
John Klein john.klein @tulsaworld.com 918-581-8368 Twitter: @JohnKleinTW
SEE KLEIN B8
BY TERESA M. WALKER Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Dallas Cowboys avoided an 0-2 start by bouncing back in a big way thanks to a dominating performance from for-
mer OU star DeMarco Murray and their beleaguered defense. Up next Murray ran at St. Louis for 167 yards and a touchNoon Sunday down, former TV: Fox OSU star Dan Bailey kicked four field goals, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Tennessee Titans 26-10 Sunday.
BEST EVER This week’s candidates for contest include OSU linebackers and OU tight ends. B3, 5
••The Cowboys have a long tradition of having a strong running game. BY BILL HAISTEN
World Sports Writer
and Jason Garrett was promoted to head coach. They didn’t come close to staying winless Sunday, jumping ahead 16-0 in the first half to kick off a two-game road swing strong. “Starting 0-2 is a very, very big hole you don’t want to be in,” Tony Romo said. The Dallas defense had two sacks and two interceptions that led to 10 points.
This is what Oklahoma State was on Oct. 25, 2008: In advance of the 2008 OSUTexas contest in Austin, the Longhorns were ranked No. 1 nationally and have given up only 48 rushing yards per game. Up next In a showvs. Texas Tech down watched 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 by what then was the biggest TV: ESPN-25 crowd ever for a football game in the state of Texas, the Cowboys rushed for 217 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per attempt. Texas escaped with a 28-24 victory. OSU coach Mike Gundy’s
SEE NFL B6
SEE OSU B3
Tulsa’s Dane Evans is forced into the end zone by Florida Atlantic’s Robinson Eugene and is charged with a safety after throwing the ball away Saturday. JOEL AUERBACH/Associated Press
Murray, Cowboys avoid 0-2 start, beat Titans ••The former OU star runs for 167 yards as Dallas bounces back.
SEE OU B5
Sluggish run game means offense has identity crisis
Senior Sports Columnist
“This is a trend that has to be turned,” Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship said on Sunday. TU’s 50-21 loss at Florida Atlantic is a bad sign as the Golden Hurricane looks ahead to a schedule with a bunch of games that now appear to be quite challenging. “We’re on our heals right now,” Blankenship said. After an encouraging victory over Tulane to open the year, TU has gone in the wrong direction the past two weeks. “This makes it tough,” Blankenship said. “We’ve got to go back to work.” Florida Atlantic had scored seven
NORMAN — Chuka Ndulue still remembers that November 2012 night. Oklahoma’s defense was scorched for a school-record 778 yards by a potent West Virginia offense, but escaped Morgantown with a last-second 50-49 victory. “That was very unpleasant,” said Ndulue, whose team plays at West Virginia on Saturday night. “We don’t want that to repeat itself this year. Everyone is going to be on their P’s and Q’s this year. “It’s going to be a differUp next ent feel. Everyat West Virginia one remem6:30 p.m. bers how many Saturday yards they put up on us. They TV: TBD put up (778) on us. That’s not a good defense. We want to go there and not let that happen.” The Mountaineers (2-1) no longer have Geno Smith, Tavon Austin or Stedman Bailey on the roster. But they do have an offense which punched Maryland for 108 plays and 694 yards in a 40-37 victory Saturday. Cornerback Zack Sanchez said playing Tennessee’s wide receivers will ready his team for the Moutaineers’ talented group. “It prepares us a lot, especially with the receivers that (Tennessee) had,” Sanchez said after OU’s 34-10 triumph over the Vols. “They are big and athletic guys. West V has one in (Kevin) White. Seeing the guy we saw tonight (Marquez North) helps us prepare for next week. “We know West V had 700 yards of offense tonight and ran 100-something plays. We definitely remember the last time we went into Morgantown. That’s
“DeMarco ran really well,” Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. “He ran hard and he ran downhill. When you can do that, drive the football again, again and again and control the football and control the game it gives you a great chance to win.” The loss spoiled Tennessee firstyear coach Ken Whisenhunt’s home debut. The Cowboys haven’t started 0-2 since 2010 when Wade Phillips was fired midway through the season