No Father's Son

[redsox907]

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Oklahoma Rides Terrance Butcher's Dominant 4th-Quarter To Second-Consecutive SEC Championship

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Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: December 14th, 2030

For the second time this season, the Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Georgia Bulldogs. But unlike the 45-17 statement win in Week 9, this SEC Championship Game rematch was a nail-biter that came down to the final play as Oklahoma survived 28-17 to capture their second consecutive SEC Championship.

Oklahoma opened the game with a methodical 9-play touchdown drive capped by a Markelle Nickey 9-yard strike to Darren Lyles, but Leon's aggressive fourth-down philosophy came back to haunt the Sooners as they failed two fourth-down conversions—including a 4th-and-goal from the 5 that turned into a 95-yard touchdown drive by the Bulldogs. Oklahoma would fail to strike back after a Markelle Nickey interception at midfield set up a Georgia field goal to take a slim 10-7 lead into the half.

Devin Coleman forced and recovered a fumble for a 35-yard touchdown to give Oklahoma a brief 14-10 lead, but the momentum swung when Lucky coughed it up on the very next possession.

All 17 Georgia points came directly off Oklahoma turnovers: the failed fourth down led to George Ekejiuba's 13-yard touchdown, Nickey's pick set up Josh Augustine's 40-yard field goal, and Maurice Lucky's third-quarter fumble resulted in Malik Smoker's 12-yard score that gave Georgia a 17-14 lead.

Facing a 17-14 fourth-quarter deficit, Terrance Butcher put the Oklahoma Sooners on his back. He would finish the final frame with 12 carries for 81 yards and gave Georgia the lead for good with a 2-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter.

Georgia's final two possessions ended on failed fourth-down conversions—first a 4th-and-1 stuffed for a 2-yard loss by Alan Breckner that turned into Dillon Slye's 5-yard touchdown grab, then a 4th-and-2 where John Omenihu was stopped for no gain by Leon Britt to seal Oklahoma's second straight SEC title.


•••


Question One - James McDavid (OU Daily): "Coach, your team just won its second consecutive SEC Championship, but it certainly didn't come easy tonight. What was the difference between tonight's 28-17 win and the 45-17 domination back in Week 9?"

Armando Leon: "They made adjustments, James. That's what good coaches do. Kirby had two weeks to prepare for us and they took away a lot of what we did well in that first game. Credit to them, they game-planned perfectly and put us in some tough spots. But championship teams find a way to win when things aren't going their way, and that's exactly what we did tonight. Butch's fourth-quarter effort was the kind of statement you need to make when the game's on the line."

Question Two - Meg Semental (SEC Network): "Coach, all 17 of Georgia's points came directly off turnovers—failed fourth downs and a Markelle Nickey interception. Do you regret those aggressive fourth-down calls early in the game, and how much does it concern you that turnovers have been such an issue in these tight games?"

Armando Leon: "Listen, Meg, I own those decisions. We didn't convert, and it bit us. But I'm not going to sit here and say I regret being aggressive. That's who we are. What I will say is that we've got to be smarter about when we take those shots. As for the turnovers, yeah, they've been an issue. Nick's interception was a bad decision, Maurice's fumble was uncharacteristic. But here's the thing—we still won. We survived our mistakes, and that's a sign of a mature football team. We'll address the turnovers this week, but tonight we're celebrating a championship."

Question Three - Aaron Samford (The Red & Black): "Coach Leon, Terrance Butcher finished with 203 yards on 25 carries and that fourth-quarter dominance where he carried it 12 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. What did you see from him tonight that allowed him to take over when your team needed it most?"

Armando Leon: "Butch is a warrior. When the game was on the line and we needed someone to step up, he grabbed that challenge by the throat. That drive in the fourth quarter, he was running angry. You could see it in his eyes—he wasn't going to be denied. That's leadership. That's what you need from your veteran guys in championship games. He set the tone physically and the offensive line fed off it. That's championship football right there."


•••


I'll be honest, folks—I didn't think it would be this close. We dominated Georgia a little over a month ago, and I thought we'd do it again. But championship rematches are a different animal, and Kirby Smart proved why he's one of the best in the business.

The good news? We won. The bad news? We're giving teams life with these turnovers and failed fourth downs. Leon can talk about being aggressive all he wants, but when you go 0/2 on fourth down in a championship game and gift the other team 17 points, you're playing with fire.

But Terrance Butcher's fourth-quarter was everything you want from a championship performance. Twelve carries, 81 yards, and the go-ahead score. That's how you close out a title game.

We're SEC Champions for the second straight year, folks. Now let's go win another National Championship.

#BoomerSooner

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Georgia	0	10	7	0	17
Oklahoma	7	0	7	14	28

Q	Team	Time	Play	Georgia	Oklahoma
1st	Oklahoma	5:44	Darren Lyles, 9 Yd Pass From Markelle Nickey	0	7
2nd	Georgia	6:27	George Ekejiuba, 13 Yd Pass From George Okoye	7	7
2nd	Georgia	1:02	Josh Augustine, 40 Yd FG	10	7
3rd	Oklahoma	9:15	Devin Coleman, Returned Fumble 35 Yds	10	14
3rd	Georgia	5:07	Malik Smoker, 12 Yd Pass From George Okoye	17	14
4th	Oklahoma	9:26	Terrance Butcher, 2 Yd Run	17	21
4th	Oklahoma	2:55	Dillon Slye, 5 Yd Pass From Markelle Nickey	17	28

Georgia                                                          Oklahoma

Passing               | Stats                                    Passing            | Stats
----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
George Okoye          | 26/34, 296 Yds, 2 TD                     Markelle Nickey    | 24/32, 184 Yds, 2 TD, INT

Rushing               | Stats                                    Rushing            | Stats
----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
John Omenihu          | 9 Att, 7 Yds                             Terrance Butcher   | 25 Att, 203 Yds, TD
George Okoye          | 5 Att, -22 Yds                           Dillon Slye        | 10 Att, 33 Yds

Receiving             | Stats                                    Receiving          | Stats
----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
Malik Smoker          | 8 Rec, 75 Yds, TD                        Dillon Slye        | 6 Rec, 29 Yds, TD
George Ekejiuba       | 7 Rec, 83 Yds, TD                        Darren Lyles       | 3 Rec, 48 Yds
Avery Bigsby          | 4 Rec, 42 Yds                            Dillon Booker      | 2 Rec, 45 Yds

Defensive             | Stats                                    Defensive          | Stats
----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
LB Matt Lemon         | 11 Tkl, 2 TFL, FF, FR                    FS Devin Coleman   | 8 Tkl, TFL, FF, FR
SS Maurice Okafor     | 11 Tkl, TFL, NT                          MLB Alan Breckner  | 8 Tkl, 2 TFL
FS Rashawn Beebe      | 9 Tkl, TFL                               DE Damian Gumbs    | 2 Tkl, 2 TFL, 1.5 Sacks

Conference Championship Results
ACC 29 #4 Clemson (11-2) @ #2 Miami (12-1) 35
American 14 #24 North Texas (9-4) @ #12 Tulane (12-1) 45
Big 12 31 #11 TCU (11-2) @ #4 Texas Tech (13-0) 35
Big Ten 28 #15 Michigan State (11-2) @ #8 Ohio State (11-2) 31
C-USA 28 Kennesaw State (8-5) @ Sam Houston (10-3) 21
MAC 30 UMass (9-4) @ #20 Toledo (12-1) 35
Mountain West 7 Hawaii (9-4) @ #18 Wyoming (11-2) 31
Pac-12 45 Texas State (8-5) @ Boise State (10-3) 7
Sun Belt 20 Troy (8-5) @ Appalachia State (9-4) 28


Additional Media

► Show Spoiler

[djp73]

[Captain Canada]

All them yards and only got in the end zone once?

[Caesar]

We know a panicked approach when we see it with them 200 rushing yards

[redsox907]

they made me work for that one

All them yards and only got in the end zone once?

they focused on Butch at the goal line and we sailed over their heads

Butch ain't never been a huge chunk guy, he just grinds out his 5-7, knocks a few dudes down, and keeps churning

We know a panicked approach when we see it with them 200 rushing yards

since when is taking what the defense gives you a *checks notes* panicked approach

sounds look good game planning when they've got 3 90+ rated corners

[redsox907]

Chapter Forty-Six: St. Regis

The SEC Championship Game was a closely contested contest, so much so that I had little time once the game actually kicked off to think about my destination post-game. Moments after the clock struck zero on our 28-17 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs, the reality came rushing back. The night was not won yet.

I barely remember celebrating on the field with the boys, or the post-game press conference where I praised the warrior-like effort of Terrance Butcher. I simply went through the motions, slowly bringing myself to the inevitable confrontation with the source of the letters.

The alarm of a car three rows over suddenly started blaring, jostling me out of my inner thoughts. A quick check of my phone showed I’d been sitting in the St. Regis parking lot for nearly 45 minutes, Jessica’s final text sitting just under the bold 10:45 P.M. header.

“Congratulations, Flyboy. Can’t wait to celebrate when you get home,” Jessica’s message read, with a heart emoji for good measure.

The lie still sat sour on my tongue. “Roger wants to get dinner with the lawyers and discuss Monday’s interview with the investigator. This way I don’t have to do it on Sunday.”

I’m not sure what made it feel worse: the ease with which the lie came, or Jessica’s quiet trust that I was telling the truth.

I pulled the letters out of the front of my travel bag, re-reading each one slowly.

“You’re not walking into the hotel to confront some Bond-level villain. You know who is waiting in that hotel room,” I reassured myself, though I was no longer certain it was the man from Houston. That man had looked weathered and beaten, the type of rough that seeped into your bones from spending your life in too many shadows.

How could that man, who looked too out of place in Houston, somehow afford a room at one of the most prestigious hotels in Atlanta?

Earlier, as I finished gathering my things after the post-game festivities, a sudden thought hit me out of the dark.

‘What if there was no one at the hotel, and it was all just ruse to rattle me?’

The thought was reassuring, if unfounded, and I quickly dialed the hotel as I paced across the Orange Deck to my car.

“Good evening,” I greeted the receptionist, who picked up promptly on the first ring, “My father, Arturo Orozco was supposed to book a room under his name and I just wanted to make sure he didn’t forget.”

Simply calling Arturo my father felt wrong, provoking an involuntary shake of the head at the thought as I put my bag in the passenger seat.

“Hm, it doesn’t appear we have any reservations for a Mr. Orozco, sir,” my heart leapt in my chest. Maybe I was right, this was just another ruse by the person writing the letters, an attempt to get me jumping at shadows.

“Wait-hold on. I have one for Arturo Leon-Orozco. Is that the one you’re looking for?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I sighed through clenched teeth.

“Are you Armando then? Your father left you a keycard at the desk and there’s a note here for you. Would you like me to read it, or wait until you’re at the reception to see it?”

“I’m leaving Mercedes-Benz Stadium now, so I’ll see it in a short while,” I huffed, my voice lowering an octave as a group of reporters strolled past, OU Daily’s James McDavid in tow.

‘The last thing I need is the media getting hold of Armando Leon skulking to a hotel late at night,’ I thought to myself with a humorless laugh, ‘That’d really give that prick Jonathan Smith a kick.’

I sighed, returning back to the moment again. It was time.

The same young lady from the phone was still at the check-in counter when I approached.

“Oh, took you a bit longer than normal to drive from the stadium,” she said with acknowledgement at the name, “was traffic still bad after the Championship Game?” She clearly recognized the name as she went to collect the card and note, but thankfully she didn’t put two-and-two together that I was the one who won said game hours before.

“Something like that,” I said dismissively, hoping to get out of the lobby without someone recognizing me. I wasn’t even concerned about Jonathan Smith anymore. The sudden realization about explaining to Jessica what I was doing at St. Regis approaching midnight seemed like a conversation that would be detrimental to my health.

She reappeared quickly with a small keycard and a note in her hand, “I hope you and your father enjoy your stay at the St. Regis Atlanta, sir, and if there are any other accommodations you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

I muttered a quick thank you as I urgently moved towards the elevator, only pausing to quickly glance at the room number before entering the elevator.

Room 1066.

The elevator was as distinguished as the rest of the hotel. Polished wood fixtures—that had that permanent ‘freshly waxed’ look—flanked the mirrored walls that enclosed the car, forcing me to face myself as I went deeper into the mystery.

The handrails themselves started blinking at the arrival on the 10th floor, another small luxury that left me briefly startled. A short walk down another soft, plush carpet that muffled the sound of my approach left me standing in front of room 1066, and whatever awaited behind the door.

I stood outside the door a minute, unaware I’d started to hold my breath, listening for any noise beyond the mahogany wood door that would shed some light on what awaited.

After a moment of nothing but silence from beyond the door, I finally took a deep breath, and steeled myself for whatever came next.

‘I just stared down the Georgia Bulldogs without blinking, I can handle this,” I quietly assured myself.

The keycard beeped quietly the moment the keycard tapped its surface and the light click announced my arrival to whomever waited.

In one smooth motion, I pushed the door open and stepped over the threshold and into the room, another luxuriously designed room in the same vein as the rest of the luxury hotel. The room was cool and quiet, the kind of curated silence that luxury hotels manufacture.

I had a brief moment to think about how Jessica would appreciate the design, making a mental note to take her to the hotel one day, if fate allowed, before my eyes settled on the only occupant of the room.

A woman sat at the desk opposite the room, with only her back to the door as I crossed the threshold. The only thing I could see at first was her shoulder length blonde hair that was starting to gray at the roots, showing through sporadically enough, betraying the dye she had undoubtedly started using to delay the process.

At the sound of the door clicking open, the person at the desk quickly turned, giving me a full view of who had been terrorizing me since Maryland.

The woman was tall—even seated her height was evident—with sharp features that age had begun to soften, but not enough to take the beauty out of her face despite looking close to sixty. She was wearing a simple black sweater top paired with a knee-length skirt, showing off her long legs that were still toned, showcasing that regardless of her age—this woman still took great care to maintain her appearance.

‘Definitely a looker back in the day. Hell, if Jessica looks this good at 60 I’ll be happy,” the impulsive thought came quickly and unprompted, bringing a new sting of guilt with it.

“Hello, Armando,” she greeted warmly, then when recognition didn’t dawn on my face, followed with a matter-of-fact:

“What, you don’t recognize me?”

[djp73]

Must be Leslie

[James]

All Ws.

[Soapy]

ACC 29 #4 Clemson (11-2) @ #2 Miami (12-1) 35

[redsox907]

Must be Leslie

All Ws.

ACC 29 #4 Clemson (11-2) @ #2 Miami (12-1) 35

we spanked y'all in the Natty last year, we got the belt ready if you want round 2