EA Simulation: OU at Cincinnati
Each week, for fun the OU blog will simulate the Sooners’ opponent on NCAA 2011. If you’re not interested in fun, move along.
So much for QB Landry Jones not bringing his best away from Norman.
Jones threw for 379 yards and 4 TDs, leading Oklahoma past Cincinnati 28-27 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Jones completed 22 of 29 passes and didn’t the turn the ball over once while outdueling Bearcats QB Zach Collaros, who was 19 of 30 for 312 yards and 3 TDs, but was also picked off twice.
With Jones leading the way, the Sooners jumped to a 14-0 first quarter lead. First, Jones connected with Ryan Broyles for a 27-yard TD, then Dejuan Miller for a 17-yard score.
UC, however, wouldn’t go away.
The Sooners extended their lead to 28-10 in the third quarter when Jones hooked up with Broyles for another TD, this time a 45-yard bomb.
But Collaros led UC on three consecutive scoring drives and the Bearcats closed the deficit to 28-27 with 1:32 to play.
The Bearcats tried an onside kick, but Sooner running back Mossis Madu made the recovery to end the game, setting up next week’s showdown with undefeated Texas.
-JT
EA simulation: OU vs. Air Force
Each week, for fun the OU blog will simulate the Sooners’ opponent on NCAA 2011. If you’re not interested in fun, move along.
NORMAN — Two minutes in Oklahoma’s game against Air Force, it looked like the Sooners might be in trouble against the Academy’s option attack.
Turned out, those were the only two minutes.
After giving up a quick touchdown, OU dominated the rest of the way, coasting to a 52-7 win over the Falcons at Owen Field to move to 3-0.
DeMarco Murray rushed for 140 yards, and Landry Jones threw for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Sooners suffered a scary moment when Jones injured his ankle early in the third quarter. For precautionary reasons, Jones sat out the rest of the game with OU in command. But coach Bob Stoops said afterward the injury was a sprain and that Jones should be ready to go next weekend at Cincinnati.
Backup Drew Allen, however, showed that the Sooners have a capable No. 2 QB, should Jones’ injury linger. After going in for Jones, Allen played admirably, throwing for 3 TDs on 6 of 10 passing.
Air Force marched down the field on its opening drive and found the end zone when quarterback Tim Jefferson found fullback Jared Tew for a 22-yard TD.
But after that, the OU defense completely shut down Air Force’s option offense. The Academy finished with only 54 rushing yards, and Jefferson was picked off 4 times. One of those was returned 29 yards for a TD by safety Jonathan Nelson, which OU placed ahead for the first time, 14-7.
-JT
EA Simulation: OU vs. Florida State
Each week, for fun the OU blog will simulate the Sooners’ opponent on NCAA 2011. If you’re not interested in fun, move along.
NORMAN — So much for that slow start. Both for the No. 10-ranked Sooners. And for QB Landry Jones
Oklahoma rebounded in a big way after a lackluster opener to trounce No. 17 Florida State 45-22 at Owen Field and extend the nation’s longest home-winning streak to 32 games.
Jones silenced his critics with perhaps the finest game in his career, throwing for 421 yards and five touchdown passes and outdueling Seminoles QB Christian Ponder.
As good as Jones was, tight end Trent Ratterree was the player of the game, reeling in five passes for 215 yards and four TDs. Ratterree had just 11 catches for 152 yards as OU’s starting tight end all of last year.
After falling behind 3-0, the Sooners got going late in the first quarter, as Jones hooked up with Ratterree for a 61-yard scoring bomb.
The Seminoles had no answer for that combination all day.
After Jones found favorite target Ryan Broyles for a 24-yard TD, he connected again with Ratterree, this time for a 45-yard TD.
Ratterree had two more TD catches, but the game was still in doubt until Jermie Calhoun punched in a 2-yard scoring run to put the Sooners ahead, 45-22, early in the fourth quarter.
The performance of Jones and Ratterree overshadowed the fact OU may have finally found its answer at placekicker. Patrick O’Hara boomed a 50-yard FG in the third quarter and was also 6 of 6 on extra-point attempts.
-JT
EA Simulation: OU vs. Utah State
Each week, for fun the OU blog will simulate the Sooners’ opponent on NCAA 2011. If you’re not interested in fun, move along.
NORMAN — Running backs DeMarco Murray and Jermie Calhoun each ran for a pair of TDs, and QB Landry Jones started the season crisp, as the Sooners dispatched Utah State 66-17 at Owen Field in the opener for both teams.
OU, however, didn’t start this game crisp. The Aggies, 31-point underdogs, actually led 14-7 after the first quarter thanks to a pair of scoring bombs from QB Diondre Borel.
But the Sooners responded to outscore Utah State 31-3 in the second quarter and retake command. DeMarco Murray scored both of his TDs in the second, and linebacker Tom Wort capped the scoring barrage with a score off an 11-yard fumble return just before halftime.
Jones finished the night 24 of 33 passing for 246 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced by backup Drew Allen in the third quarter.
But it was Calhoun who came in relief to run for a career-high 147 yards to carry the Sooner offense in the second half.
Perhaps the best sign of the day, though, came from kicker Patrick O’Hara, who made all nine extra-point attempts and split the uprights on his only field goal attempt, from 29 yards out.
Travis Lewis led the Sooners defensively with 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble, as the defense tuned up for next week’s bout with nationally ranked Florida State.
-JT
