Year-by-Year: 1956
November 24, 1956 10:00 AM
No. 1 Oklahoma Keeps Streaking
Oklahoma 20
Maryland 6
Oklahoma's 30-game winning streak remained intact as it swept by a strong Maryland squad, 20-6, in a rematch of the '54 Orange Bowl.
Oklahoma's streak had been kept alive since it beat Maryland, 7-0, in that contest. The Terrapins came into this game riding their own 15-game streak.
A slow first half produced only a Maryland touchdown, but the explosive speed of Bud Wilkinson's number one-ranked team slowly wore down the Easterners.
The Sooners took command in the third quarter. Quarterback Tommy McDonald's 32-yard punt return before Oklahoma's first offensive series put the ball at the Maryland 46. A seven-play drive ensued in which the Sooners raced from one play to the next in a speedup offense that confused the Terrapins. During one span, Oklahoma ran three plays in 38 actual seconds. McDonald scored the touchdown on a 4-yard run. On the next series, Oklahoma utilized the hurry-up offense once again. The 16-play drive ended with a 1-yard sneak by Jay O'Neal and a 14-6 lead.
The Terrapins threatened soon after, but a Jerry Tubbs interception stopped them at the Sooner 26. Maryland came right back and had a first down at the Oklahoma 30, but Carl Dodd intercepted a Lynn Beightol pass and raced 82 yards for the touchdown.
GAME STATISTICS
Oklahoma Maryland
First Downs 16 9
Rushing Attempts 67 48
Rushing Yards 2 23 210
Passes Attempted 9 9
Passes Completed 3 2
Had Intercepted 1 3
Passing Yards 31 35
Total Offense 254 245
Punting/Avg. 8/37.1 7/43.5
Fumbles/Lost 2/1 3/2
Penalties/Yards 2/15 6/37
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Oklahoma 0 0 14 6 20
Maryland 0 6 0 0 6
SCORING SUMMARY
MD: Vereb 15 run (kick failed); OU: McDonald 4 run (Pricer kick); OU: O’Neal 1 run (Pricer kick); OU: Dodd 82 interception return (kick failed)
Oklahoma Head Coach Bud Wilkenson
Maryland Head Coach Jim Tatum