Norman, Okla. ? Landry Jones threw for 425 yards and five touchdowns, Tony Jefferson fueled a second-quarter scoring surge with three interceptions and second-ranked Oklahoma geared up for its rivalry game against Texas next week by beating Ball State, 62-6, on Saturday night.
Jones had touchdown passes of 64 yards to Ryan Broyles and 56 yards to Jaz Reynolds a minute apart in the third quarter during the second high-volume scoring stretch for the Sooners (4-0).
Ball State (3-2) didn’t stand much of a chance after recovering an onside kick to open the game, then going three-and-out, particularly after Jefferson stopped three straight Cardinals drives with picks midway through the second quarter.
It was the second straight week the Sooners had an unimpressive start before taking control with 28 straight points in the second quarter.
Coach Bob Stoops had responded to last week’s 38-28 victory against Missouri by increasing the intensity in practice and allowing more contact at the start of the week.
Led by Jefferson, the Sooners provided a resounding response, with little time left for tweaks before the Red River Rivalry in Dallas next Saturday.
Keith Wenning had gone 176 straight passes without an interception but then threw three to Jefferson in a span of four attempts, and Oklahoma capitalized to score 28 points in 51/2 minutes to turn a four-point game into a blowout.
On Ball State’s first play after Dominique Whaley’s 25-yard TD run, Sooners defensive end Frank Alexander tipped Wenning’s pass high into the air, and Jefferson leaped to grab the ball. That set up Kenny Stills’ 7-yard touchdown catch from Jones two plays later.
Jefferson ended Ball State’s next drive by tipping Wenning’s overthrown pass with his right hand and then corralling it along the Cardinals sideline.
Roy Finch picked up 47 yards on a swing pass, and Whaley then punched it in with a 1-yard score on his fourth straight carry.
And Jefferson wasn’t done yet.
He tracked down another batted ball — this time by R.J. Washington — for his third interception in a span of six offensive snaps by the Cardinals. Broyles scored two plays later on a 27-yard touchdown catch from Jones, capping the Sooners’ sudden scoring spurt and make it 38-6.