Oklahoma Wins At TCU
FORT WORTH, Texas – Gloom and doom surrounded Oklahoma after its uncharacteristic 1-2 start.
The mood has changed for the better after the Sooners opened their Big 12 schedule by upending No. 21 TCU 52-46 on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
“Everybody was saying our season’s over, but to start the conference 1-0 against one of the better teams is great, especially on the road,” Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “It’s going to be a confidence booster for us.”
Mayfield accounted for four touchdowns and the Sooners took the first steps toward resurrecting their season by also beating a ranked team for the first time in three tries.
Oklahoma (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) rebounded from an early 14-point deficit with a 28-point barrage in the second quarter. The Sooners were up as many of 25 points (49-24) in the second half before the Horned Frogs (3-2, 1-1) rallied within a field goal in the fourth.
It wasn’t enough for TCU to avoid its second loss at home this season.
Mayfield (23 of 30 for 274 yards) threw for two scores and ran for two and shook off a big hit late in the first half that forced him to limp off the field with help.
“I thought he was exceptional,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. “He threw some
great strikes, some great deep balls for touchdowns.”
Oklahoma’s running back tandem of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon combined to run for 203 yards and three touchdowns. The Sooners piled up 262 yards on the ground.
Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook caught seven passes for 158 yards, with touchdowns covering 67 and 40 yards. The first was a perfectly executed flea-flicker that started with a pitch from Mixon.
“Run and pass, we had great balance,” Stoops said.
The victory gives the Sooners some much-needed momentum after double-digit losses to Top 10 teams Houston and Ohio State. Oklahoma came into the season as the Big 12 favorites and were expected to challenge for a repeat spot in the College Football Playoff.
The national title aspirations are history, but a conference championship is very much in play. The Sooners have another must-win next week against rival No. 22 Texas (2-2, 0-1) in the annual Cotton Bowl matchup in Dallas.
“Hopefully, next week we can take another step,” Stoops said.
The Horned Frogs were off and throwing early behind three touchdowns passes from Kenny Hill in the first quarter. TCU was up 21-7 after the first 15 minutes.
Oklahoma responded with 28-0 blitz to take a lead it never surrendered. Mayfield and Perine scored on runs of 9 and 8 yards, respectively, to tie it at 21.
Mayfield then hooked with Westbrook on the two long touchdowns. The Sooners had the ball again leading 35-21 but lost it when Mayfield was sandwiched between defensive linemen Josh Carraway and Joseph Broadnax.
TCU went into the locker room down 35-24 on Brandon Hatfield’s 23-yard field goal to close out the first half.
Hill was 9 of 13 for 164 yards in the first quarter along with an interception. The Texas A&M transfer was just 10 of 23 for 71 yards in the second and third quarters combined, as the Horned Frogs were outscored 42-3.
“Offensively, after 21 points, we didn’t play for two quarters,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said.
Hill had scoring passes to Jaelan Austin, Cole Hunt and Kyle Kicks in the first quarter. TCU didn’t find the end zone again until Hill and Taj Williams hooked up on a 64-yarder early in the fourth quarter.
The two connected with 5:36 left on a 74-yard bomb. Oklahoma’s lead was down to 49-46 when Hill found Emanuel Porter for a two-point conversion.
Hill finished 26 of 44 for 449 yards, five touchdowns and one pick. Williams had five receptions for 210 yards.
The Horned Frogs have allowed at least 41 points in three games, including a nonconference home loss to Arkansas last month. The defensive lapses will likely result in TCU falling out of the Top 25 for the second time this season.
“At some point, you’ve got to tackle,” Patterson said. “Somewhere we have to make a play. And got to have a better (defensive) call, one way or the other.”
The Horned Frogs leave Texas for the first time next week for a Big 12 game at Kansas. TCU still has designs on a league title.
“I don’t know if we have the people to challenge for a conference championship,” Patterson said. “Bottom line is we’re sure going to try to.”
