Oklahoma Sooners vs TCU Horned Frogs Match Player Stats On Oct 01, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 1, 2016

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Baker Mayfield accounted for four touchdowns and Oklahoma upended No. 21 TCU 52-46 on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The Sooners took the first steps toward resurrecting their season by winning their Big 12 opener and beating a ranked team for the first time in three tries this season.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The Horned Frogs leave Texas for the first time next week for a Big 12 game at Kansas.

NOTES: Oklahoma leads the series 11-5, including 4-1 since TCU joined the Big 12. ... TCU LB Paul Whitmill was ejected in the third quarter for a targeting on an Oklahoma punt return. ... The Sooners haven't lost consecutive regular-season games since 1999. ... OU is 56-30 against AP Top 25 teams and 15-3 in Big 12 openers under Bob Stoops. ... TCU's Gary Patterson and Stoops are the winningest coaches at their respective schools.