Published: September 07, 2008 12:41 am            

Box gets first action at OU

NORMAN — Austin Box got to realize a lifetime dream just before 6 p.m. Saturday.

That’s when the Enid redshirt freshman got to see his first action at weakside linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners in a 52-26 rout of Cincinnati. Box came in with 4:05 remaining in the game.

He was credited with two solo tackles, the first stopping the Bearcats’ Scott Johnson and the second knocking wide receiver Charlie Howard out of bounds.

It might have been a mixed day of emotions for Box, as fellow redshirt freshman Travis Lewis got his second start.

Box returned to practice Monday after sitting out three weeks after knee surgery. Lewis said the decision was made at game time who would start.

“Austin was not as sharp as you would have liked (in practice), but it was about what you would expect,’’ said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

Box, Venables said, was rusty after three weeks of being out. He said a veteran player like Auston English usually can come back from an injury quicker because of experience.

“Austin (Box) has never played in a game, so when he’s out for three weeks, he’s not going to be as sharp,’’ Venables said. “He’s not that far off. I was very comfortable playing him based on his performance during the week.’’

Lewis was credited with seven solo and five assisted  tackles. He had two quarterback sacks for 14 yards in losses and 21/2 tackles for 16 yards in losses.

“Travis went out and played solid,’’ Venables said. “Not spectacular, but solid. He will continue to improve. I like how he runs, how he thinks on the field.

“He’s not lost. He can understand immediately when he’s doing things incorrectly, whether technique or being in the wrong alignment.’’

Lewis said he has a good relationship with Box and Mike Balogun, another competitor for the weakside linebacker spot.

“We help each other out,’’ he said.

The competition between Box and Lewis was stiff in practice.

“Competition makes you better,’’ Lewis said. “I was in there halfway through the week and he was in there halfway through the week. We really didn’t know until today who was getting the start.’’

Lewis was the first freshman to record double-digit tackles in a game since Wayne Chambers pulled off the feat in 2003.

Lewis had been overshadowed in the spring and summer by Box, who was listed as the starter until he was injured in preseason practice.

Balogun had been the talk of the coaches early in practice. Some speculated that might have been to motivate Lewis, who had some off-the-field issues.

“I had a lot of hurdles,’’ he said. “I definitely didn’t make the right decisions a couple of times. But being in this position at this time is a blessing. I’ve been trying to do the right thing.

“I knew I had to straighten up and turn up my level of play to keep up with those guys.’’

The Sooners, Lewis said, weren’t as settled in “as we wanted to be in the first half. In the second half, we really got into the game and made up our minds that we weren’t going to let them have any more first downs or yards.’’

Lewis helped stop a Statue of Liberty play in the second quarter. That was the same play Boise State used to beat the Sooners on a two-point conversion in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

“We stuffed it this time,’’ Venables said.