The #15 Oklahoma Sooners (7-1, 4-1) used 21 consecutive points in the second and third quarters to propel themselves to a 38-30 win over the #10 Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-1, 4-1).  The Red Raiders were hurt by their three turnovers and 1/3 on 4th Down conversions in the loss. Sooners quarterback Blake Bell went 14/22 passing for 249 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.  He also had 44 rushing yards while leading the Sooners to the eight point win.

The game started with Texas Tech receiving the opening kickoff, but the Red Raiders went 3-and-out and had to punt.

The Sooners took over at their own 44 and had their drive stall at the Tech 35 yard line.  A 52 yard field goal attempt was blocked and the Red Raiders took over on their own 44 yard line with 11:04 left in the first quarter.

Ashley Wirz, 1340TheFan.com
Ashley Wirz, 1340TheFan.com
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Then the teams exchanged turnovers and punts with the game remaining scoreless until the 3:38 mark of the first quarter. Texas Tech took a 7-0 lead at that point after Kenny Williams, on a halfback pass, connected with Eric Ward on a 3 yard touchdown pass.

The teams exchanged punts again and Oklahoma got the ball back on their own 3 yard line with 13:31 left in the second quarter.  Blake Bell then found his groove as he started moving the Sooners down the field. Jalen Saunders caught three separate third down conversions on the drive.  The receptions were for 20, 7 and 18 yards, respectively.

After 13 plays, it looked like the Red Raiders were going to hold the Sooners to another field goal attempt.  However, Bob Stoops decided to roll the dice on a 4th & 2 at the Tech 24.  Bell rushed the ball through the right side of the line and got a 10 yard gain before fumbling the ball. The ball was recovered by another Sooner and by rule the ball was placed at the spot of the fumble since it was 4th Down.  Two plays later Bell connected with Saunders on a 15 yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7.

Texas Tech's second turnover came on their next possession with Jace Amaro fumbling the ball inside the OU 30.  The Sooners recovered the ball at their own 24. The next play, the Sooners took the lead with a 76 yard touchdown pass from Bell to Saunders. The 14-7 OU lead was how the teams went to the locker room at halftime.

Oklahoma added a Damien Williams 3 yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter to extend their lead to 21-7.

Texas Tech then went on a 17-0 run to take a 24-21 lead at the 3:08 mark of the third quarter.  The first score was a 23 yard touchdown pass from Davis Webb to Eric Ward.  The second was a 34 yard field goal from Ryan Bustin.  After Bustin's field goal, Kliff Kingsbury gambled with an onside kick that the Red Raiders recovered at their own 46 yard line.  The go ahead score was a 17 yard touchdown pass from Webb to Jakeem Grant.

The Sooners responded to losing the lead with a 5 play, 75 yard scoring drive.  Lacoltan Bester busted open a 35 yard rushing touchdown right before the end of the third quarter and the Sooners took their 28-24 lead into the fourth quarter.

Texas Tech's third turnover of the game came on the ensuing drive.  David Webb was intercepted by Gabe Lynn on a 3rd & 10 at the Tech 46 yard line.

The Sooners took over at their own 42 yard line and kept the ball on the ground.  Roy Finch rushed the ball on the Sooners first four plays.  His runs of 2, 9, 18 & 11 yards moved the ball to the Tech 18 yard line.  Three plays later Damien Williams punched the ball into the end zone on a three yard run.  That score extended the lead to 35-24.

Texas Tech responded with another score, a Kenny Williams 1 yard rushing touchdown. But the 11 play drive took almost four minutes off the clock and the fourth quarter was halfway over when Oklahoma got the ball back.

The Sooners kept to their rushing attack again, keeping the clock moving on the ensuing drive.  The Red Raiders had a chance to stop the Sooners outside of field goal range on a 3rd & 8 at the Tech 45.  However, the Sooners went to the air as Bell completed a 13 yard pass to Sterling Shepard.  The conversion essentially ended the game as Oklahoma ran the clock down to 1:17 left before kicking a field goal.

The loss snapped the Red Raiders seven game winning streak. Next Saturday, they're back home at Jones A&T Stadium for a 6p kickoff against Oklahoma State.

Today’s game was delayed 76 minutes due to thunderstorms in Norman.  Kickoff was delayed from 2:30p to 3:46p.  The nationwide telecast was moved from FOX to FOX News Channel at 6:30p Central, when FOX began coverage of Game 3 of the World Series.

 

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