Quarterback John Walsh and the Cougar offense clicked on all cylinders and the defense dominated throughout as BYU cruised past Oklahoma, 31-6, in the 6th Annual Copper Bowl on a 65-degree night at Arizona Stadium.
Walsh completed 31 of 45 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns -Â two each to Bryce Doman and Mike Johnston -Â to help the Cougars finish the season 10-3 and earn a no. 10 in the final CNN/USA Today poll. BYU amassed 556 total yards while scoring in every quarter and building a 24-0 halftime lead.
BYU's defense held the Sooners to 235 total yards (72 rushing, 163 passing), most in the fourth quarter, and didn't allow Oklahoma to cross midfield until late in the third quarter.
The Sooners scored their only touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter on a two-yard run by Eric Moore.
The Cougars had their way on offense against an Oklahoma team that had allowed only 13 points to national champion Nebraska earlier in the season. Walsh threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Doman in the first quarter and a 25-yard scoring strike to Johnston in the second quarter, sandwiched around a 22-yard field by David Lauder, to give BYU a 17-0 halftime lead.
Walsh added a four-yard touchdown pass to Johnston in the third quarter and a 28-yard touchdown strike to Doman in the final quarter in his final game at BYU.
Doman and Johnston finished with 71 and 49 yards receiving, respectively, and Hema Heimuli had four receptions for 74 yards. Nine different players caught passes for the Cougars in the game.
BYU running back Jamal Willis caught seven passes for 103 yards and added 41 yards rushing to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors. Oklahoma linebacker Broderick Simpson had 13 tackles, including two for loss, en route to Defensive Player of the Game.
