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NORMAN - It was a 5-yard run in a 52-0 mismatch that practically everybody saw coming. So how does something so ordinary become a potential turning point? When freshman Roy Finch is the ball-carrier. "You can see why we want him on the field," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said after Saturday night's shutout of Iowa State.
It was the cut Finch made to lose Cyclones linebacker A.J. Klein before gaining those 5 yards in his first college carry. It was the 13- and 17-yard runs Finch made immediately after, where his hyper-twitching legs nearly ran out from the rest of his body. It was the reaction of teammates after run No. 3 - the most simultaneous jumping up-and-down seen on OU's sideline since the 2008 Texas Tech game. It was what Finch said afterward: "Every time I touch the ball I want to score. That's my main focus. I want to try to go 80 or 90 yards with it." He went 92 yards with it Saturday night, but it took 16 carries. The 17-yard scamper was his longest. Still, it was obvious to everyone watching, the Sooners had opened a new dimension to their offense, just in time for their showdown with fellow unbeaten Missouri this weekend. "Roy's first time, we thought he could give us a little juice, some playmaking ability," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. DeMarco Murray has become OU's plow horse, one of the most dependable backs in college football. But he hasn't ripped off a run of more than 30 yards since the season opener. In fact, no Sooner had a double-figure run against Florida State. Landry Jones' 18-yard scramble was OU's longest pickup against Air Force. Mossis Madu's 12-yard run was the Sooners' longest at Cincinnati. Now, back from his fractured ankle, comes Finch. Teammates compare him to Reggie Bush. Wilson likens him to Quentin Griffin, only with a higher gear. It's a question of how the Sooners use their new toy. "With Roy and Brennan (Clay, OU's other touted freshman runner) coming back, we can expand their role and maybe do different things," Wilson said. "But if you're not careful, you can get a little out of rhythm, a little out of sync." Finch, for his part, doesn't want to tamper with what's carried the Sooners to their 6-0 record. "DeMarco and Mossis are the guys," he said. "Me and Brennan, we'll just complement guys. Whenever they need it, just come in and try to make plays, get first downs and move the ball, too." Finch will bide his time, if necessary, to strengthen a left ankle injured the final week of preseason camp. He'll rebuild endurance he lost during recovery time. "I can be a lot better," he said. "My ankle is healthy, but it's still kind of weak." Recovery from the hairline fracture was so frustrating - Finch said it was his first broken bone of any kind - that he considered redshirting until getting the call Saturday night. "It did cross my mind," he said. "When I got hurt, I was really thinking about just rehabbing and see how it goes. Maybe I could come back midseason. But it wasn't ready by Texas. "I was like, 'Man, if it's not ready by Iowa State ...' I was thinking about redshirting. I came back that week (OU's bye week following the Texas game) to practice, and it felt fine. Coach was like, 'We want to play you.' "It was a turning point." Up next At Missouri 7 p.m. Saturday TV: KTUL-8 Radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430 Guerin Emig 581-8355 guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com SUBHEAD: With 92 yards Saturday, he adds a dimension to offense.
