First-Team Defense Throws Shutout in OU Spring Game

April 20, 2002

Norman, Okla. - At the end of a spring during which an improving Oklahoma offense got plenty of recognition, the Sooner defense left its calling card as one of the nation's best. The first team OU defense, which was assigned to the White squad for the annual Red/White Spring Game, was not scored upon as the White prevailed, 28-0, before an estimated crowd of 20,000, Saturday, at Memorial Stadium. Quarterbacks Nate Hybl and Brent Rawls played for both squads, but directed scoring drives only against the Red defense.

"It's pretty tough being the (quarterback) going against our (No. 1 defense)," said OU head coach Bob Stoops. "We are going to have an awfully good defense. I don't think there is any question about that."

Junior College transfer linebacker Lance Mitchell posted the top tackle number with 12. He had one of the five sacks. Strong safety Eric Bassey was credited with two sacks while Kory Klein and Juan Prishker each had one. Cornerbacks Antonio Perkins and Andre Woolfolk each had one interception.

The Red team offense converted just five of 17 third-down attempts.

The White team, with Rawls at quarterback, scored on its first two possessions. Brandon Jones caught a touchdown pass of nine yards before John Connor hauled in a 17-yarder. Hybl then switched to the White team had hit Will Peoples on a 42-yard strike before Rawls fired another 24-yarder to Jones.

Peoples finished with four grabs for 82 yards. Jones had seven for 77.

Hybl completed 22-of-37 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Rawls was 17-of-27 for 210 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The numbers varied greatly depending on which team each was representing at the time. While going against the top defense, Hybl was 12-of-24 for 84 yards with one interception and Rawls was 5-of-10 for 38 yards with one interception.

Redshirt freshman Kejuan Jones was the game's top rusher with 10 attempts for 91 yards for the White team.

"I felt that through the whole spring our offense made improvement," said Stoops. "I like the track they are on.

"I think that if Kejuan Jones pushes himself to improve, he can be a guy that goes in there and makes a difference. He needs to work on his dependability and reliability, but he has an opportunity to be a strong factor."

The spring game was the last of OU's 15 spring practices. The first-year players report Aug. 4 to begin preparations for the 2002 season.

2002 Oklahoma Football Spring Game April 20, 2002 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Attendance: 20,000 (estimated)

White Team 28, Red Team 0

Passing: Hybl22-37, 203 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rawls17-27, 210 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: K. Jones 10-91 Works 6-43 Estus 6-17 Griffin 5-17 Hickson 9-15 Hybl 8-11 Odom 2-7 Rawls 8-(-21)

Receiving: B. Jones 7-77 (2 TD) Ford5-31 Peoples4-82 (1 TD) Hickson4-48 Savage3-31 Smith3-19 Connor2-22 (1 TD) Griffin2-13 Donley2-12 K. Jones 1-49 Fagan1-6 Chester1-5 Staley1-1 Estus1-(-2)

Tackles: White Team: Mitchell 12 (1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 TFL) Lehman 9 (2 PBU, 1 TFL) Ingram8 Hilaire6 Shelby6 Bassey6 (2 sacks) Thompson5 Hager5 (1 PBU) Stephens5 Klinck4 Klein4 (1 sack, 1 TFL) Poteat4 Dennison4 Allen4 Hammer4 Perkins3 (2 PBU, 1 INT, 13-yard return) Woolfolk3 (1 INT) McGruder3 (2 TFL) Prisker3 (1 sack) Pryor3 Jackson2 Williams2 Sublet2 Wilson1 Allen1 Jackson1 Richardson1 Hurst1 Chidi1 Clayborne1 Sublet1

Scoring Plays: B. Jones 9-yard reception from Rawls (Ferguson kick), 1Q, 9:17 Connor 17-yard reception from Rawls (Ferguson kick), 1Q, 3:15 Peoples 42 -yard reception from Hybl (Ferguson kick), 2Q, 13:01 B. Jones 24-yard reception from Rawls (Ferguson kick), 3Q, 2:53

Miscellaneous Stats: White Team: Third Down Conversions: 6-13 Fourth Down Conversion: 2-3 Punting: 2-39.5 avg. Penalties: 4-35 Fumbles-Lost: 1-1 First Downs: 10 Kick Returns: 0

Red Team: Third Down Conversions: 5-17 Fourth Down Conversions: 1-3 Punting: 7-49.1 avg. Penalties: 5-32 Fumbles-Lost: 0-0 First Downs: 7 Kick Returns: 3-22.6 avg.

Red and White Scrimmage April 20, 2002 Post Game Quotes

* Head Coach Bob Stoops

On the spring game: "I think we had a good, solid spring season. I feel great about the way we have developed this spring. It is tough to watch the scrimmages because the guys are ready to go, and when the season rolls around, only 11 can play at one time. I think we have more guys that are ready to play and we have a deeper team than in year's past."

On the offense: "I like the development of our running game. We've only had 14 practices to implement everything, but I believe by the end of August we will be ready to go."

On the quarterbacks: "It's pretty tough being the guy going against our (No. 1) defense. Both Nate Hybl and Brent Rawls have had a good spring. Jason White is making great progress. He is probably 100 percent right now if we wanted to take the chance of putting him in there."

On offensive players: "I think if Kejuan Jones pushes himself to improve he can be a guy that goes in there and makes a difference. He needs to work on his dependability and reliability, but he has an opportunity to be a strong factorI felt that through the whole spring season they (the offense) has made improvement and will continue to do so. I like the track they are on. The summer will be very important for additional improvement and getting stronger."

On the defense: "We are going to be awfully good this year. When everyone is back and healthy we'll be strong. I'm excited about our defensive line. With Jimmy Wilkerson (on the end) and Jonathan Jackson (on the inside) we'll be strong. I think that Kory Klein may be one of the toughest guys on the team and we'll have Dan Cody back as well. This group of guys will only strengthen our team. I think Teddy Lehman will have no problem moving into Rocky Calmus' position. He has the speed and quickness for it. I think that Andre Woolfolk is one of the best cornerbacks I have ever seen. "

On Blake Ferguson: "I thought Blake kicked the ball well. When you kick and punt you use two different motions, but he didn't seem to mind doing both."

On Roy Williams signing with the Dallas Cowboys: "We're all excited for Roy. He is going to be just down the road in Dallas and the Cowboys organization has always been good to us. He'll do well there and he's a tremendous player. There will be a lot of people in this area watching him."

* Quarterback Brent Rawls

On connection with Brandon Jones: "We always seem to connect during practice and scrimmages. He is a great athlete and has nice size and speed to make a good target."

On his play today: "I was pleased with my performance and I feel I have improved over the spring. However, there is always room for improvement and I plan to get better this summer."

On his position on the depth chart: "I just play and take it day by day. I just leave that up to the coaches and focus on doing what I can do."

* Linebacker Teddy Lehman

On the defense: "We have the talent to be just as good, if not better than last year's defense. We have the capability of being quicker, stronger and faster. The main goal is just to get even stronger this summer so we can become a great defense."

On replacing Rocky Calmus: "There is not really time to think about replacing him, we just have to go out and execute. I have to get used to things I haven't seen before, and I do what the coaches tell me."

* Running Back Kejuan Jones

On spring practices: "I feel that I have really improved over these spring practices and scrimmages. I especially feel that my pass blocking has picked up and improved."

On summer workouts: "I really want to concentrate on hitting the weight room everyday, and really picking up on my strength."

* Defensive Back Eric Bassey

On his improvement: "The older guys have been like coaches to me and helped me out a lot. I have just focused on learning my position. Weightlifting over the summer will help me become more physical and improve."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

First-Team Defense Throws Shutout in OU Spring Game

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