OU football notebook: Aaron Ripkowski's ejection, Blake Bell's injury hurt Sooners in short-yardage situations

Fullback Aaron Ripkowski doesn’t exactly light up the stat sheet, but the senior is a critical piece to Oklahoma’s offense.

So when Ripkowski — who sees time at fullback, h-back and tight end — was ejected for targeting on the Sooners’ second drive of the game, it threw things off in Kansas State’s 31-30 win over Oklahoma.

Ripkowski’s ejection came after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Kansas State defensive endRyan Mueller as Ripkowski was protecting Trevor Knight on a play where Knight gained three yards.

The ejection especially hurt the Sooners late in the fourth quarter, when OU had a first and goal at the Kansas State 4 and couldn’t score.

Not only was Ripkowski out, but tight end Blake Bell missed the end of that series with an injury as well.

That left the Sooners with different personnel on a critical series of plays.

“That was hard to overcome,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. “Normally down on the goal line like that, we’re in our big sets. That really hurts. We’re not used to being down inside the one with the edges open. The two guys that have been in there consistently this year are Blake and Rip.

“Again, that’s not an excuse, but it’s the truth. It threw us off when we got down to those tight, tough situations.”

Ripkowski’s ejection was the Sooners’ second for targeting this season, joining linebackerJordan Evans, who was ejected in the season-opening win against Louisiana Tech.

MINOR INJURIES PILE UP

Bell’s injury late in the game was the last in a series of seemingly minor injuries throughout the game that kept key players off the field for stretches.

Bell said after the game that he was fine after being evaluated for a concussion.

“When I went to cut that guy, he kind of kneed me in the head,” Bell said. “Just messed me up a little bit there, but I’ll be fine. The docs will take a look, but I’ll be good to go.”

Wide receiver Sterling Shepard and quarterback Trevor Knight also missed time with injuries before returning.

Knight injured his non-throwing shoulder early in the game on the same play where Ripkowski was ejected. He went to the locker room for treatment but returned on the Sooners’ next series.