West Virginia Mountaineers vs Oklahoma Sooners Match Player Stats On Oct 03, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 3, 2015

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma's defense struggled plenty in the second half Saturday against No. 23 West Virginia.

But in the end, the No. 15 Sooners came through with two big turnovers in the fourth quarter to come away with a 44-24 win at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

After nearly letting a big lead slip away, the Sooners finally put the game away early in the fourth quarter when linebacker Eric Striker stripped West Virginia quarterback Skyler Howard of the ball and Jordan Evans picked it up and took it 41 yards for the touchdown.

Then, cornerback Jordan Thomas intercepted a pass on the next drive to further put the game away.

Oklahoma looked like it had the game well in control after building a 24-7 lead at halftime.

But West Virginia's offense, which had struggled through the early part of the game, put together a strong start to the third quarter.

The Mountaineers went on a 15-play, 77-yard drive after holding Oklahoma without a first down on the first drive of the half.

West Virginia then pulled to within a touchdown after Dede Westbrook's fumble on the next possession gave the Mountaineers the ball inside the Sooners 40.

But after gaining 34 yards on the first play, the Mountaineers went backward and had to settle for a 23-yard field goal.

Then, it was the Sooners who were forced to settle after forcing a West Virginia turnover inside the Mountaineers' 10.

Austin Seibert's 25-yard field goal put the Sooners up 27-17.

But after West Virginia quarterback Skyler Howard broke off a 50-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2 to put the Mountaineers within a field goal, Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma answered quickly.

Mayfield hit Durron Neal for a 71-yard touchdown pass.

After throwing for 12 touchdowns in eight games -- seven starts -- for Texas Tech in 2013, Mayfield has thrown for 13 touchdowns in four games for the Sooners. He threw his third interception of the season early in the fourth quarter.

Mayfield finished 14 of 25 for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Westbrook finished with five catches for 107 yards.

The Mountaineers had cruised through their first three games, winning by a combined 130-23 and not allowing a first-half score.

But the Sooners broke through quickly on their second drive, as Mayfield led a four-play, 74-yard touchdown drive.

Oklahoma got on the board on Mark Andrews' 17-yard touchdown reception over the middle.

The drive started with back-to-back completions to Michiah Quick for a combined 57 yards.

The receptions were the first two of the season for Quick.

West Virginia answered early in the second quarter with an 86-yard touchdown drive that was aided by 45 yards in penalties by the Sooners.

NOTES: Oklahoma CB Jordan Thomas returned to the starting lineup after sitting out the previous game due to suspension. He had an interception in the first quarter and another in the fourth. ... The teams combined for 13 penalties for 136 yards before halftime and finished the game with 23 penalties 245 yards. ... Sooners RB Samaje Perine eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark for his career late in the first half. ... Former Oklahoma LB Brian Bosworth was honored after the end of the first quarter for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. At halftime, OU honored the 1985 national title team, which starred Bosworth. ... Oklahoma plays Texas in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Oct. 10, while the Mountaineers host Oklahoma State.