Rested Sooners Continue Homestand Against Owls

Sept. 20, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma continues its season-high four-game homestand Saturday when it looks to maintain its dominance over Rice.

The No. 17 Sooners (2-0), who had a bye last weekend, are 6-0 all-time against the Owls. Rice has scored just 40 points in the series.

That trend is likely to continue Saturday. Oklahoma has outscored opponents 100-21 this season, while Rice (1-2) is averaging just 17.7 points in its first three contests.

The Sooners are ranked in the top 10 in the country in points per game (50.0), total offense (471.0 yards) and passing yards per game (306.0).

Quarterback Josh Heupel has powered Oklahoma's devastating attack, completing 42 of 68 passes for 575 yards with five touchdowns and just two interceptions.

The 6-foot-2 senior is second in school history in four passing categories, and is tied with Cale Gundy for first place with 35 touchdown passes.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, however, still thinks his team has to get better with a tough Big 12 schedule looming.

"We've got a lot to improve on," Stoops said. "What we need to do, what's been good and bad and really emphasize improvement. We need to make some improvement this week in many areas, really."

Rice continues its tough early season schedule, as it faces its second ranked opponent in the last three weeks. The Owls lost to then-No. 3 Michigan 38-7 on Sept. 9.

Rice fell 23-16 to Tulsa last weekend.

Despite the consecutive defeats, Rice coach Ken Hatfield likes what he has seen so far from his team.

"In the Michigan game, we gave them two field-position touchdowns right away," Hatfield said. "That was really disappointing. But we will draw on that.

"Our kids know they way we played in the last three quarters at Michigan, so it should boost their confidence playing Oklahoma."

The game marks the first meeting between the teams since Oklahoma won 63-21 at Rice on Sept. 29, 1979.