Oklahoma Buries Texas Under Sacks and Scores

But in an instant, Fleming became the schoolyard bully taking a weakling’s lunch money, tearing the ball free and racing 56 yards for a touchdown.

The speed and ease of Fleming’s play symbolized the Longhorns’ futility against a Sooners defense that set an Oklahoma record Saturday by scoring three touchdowns and tied another with eight sacks. If third-ranked Oklahoma had felt wronged after being dropped from the consensus No. 1 spot in the polls, Texas certainly endured that wrath in a 55-17 humiliation before a crowd of 96,009 at Cotton Bowl Stadium.

“I think other people have been rewarded, and rightfully so, for other big games that they play,” said Sooners Coach Bob Stoops, without mentioning No. 1 Louisiana State or No. 2 Alabama. “I’m sure we’ll be rewarded for this game. I’m good with that.”

Quarterback Landry Jones, a leading Heisman Trophy contender, completed 31 of 50 passes for 367 yards. Those numbers were actually understated. He totaled 305 passing yards and threw all three of his touchdown passes in the first half as the Sooners bolted to a 34-10 halftime lead.

The Sooners’ defense besieged the Texas quarterback combination of Case McCoy and David Ash, forcing five turnovers that led to 31 points. Cornerback Demontre Hurst picked off Ash and scored on a 55-yard return for a 27-3 lead late in the second quarter. On the Longhorns’ first possession of the second half, defensive end David King scooped up a McCoy fumble and ran 19 yards for a 41-10 lead.

Fleming, who led the Sooners with 13 tackles, added the final insult with his strip of Davis and fumble return that made the score 55-10 early in the fourth quarter.

“To me, there’s nothing more fun than a defensive touchdown,” said Stoops, who was a defensive coordinator before becoming Oklahoma’s head coach. “This game is up there with some of the more special ones we’ve had.”

When McCoy reached the tunnel at the north end of the Cotton Bowl after the game, he pulled off his helmet and slammed it down. An earpiece flew off as the helmet came right back into his hands. It was the only bounce that went the Longhorns’ way.

“We’ve played well, way better than this,” said McCoy, who was 9 of 16 for 116 yards. “It’s turnovers, and you can’t turn the ball over five times in a game like this, especially with Oklahoma playing like they did. They’re a great team. They deserve every bit of ranking they have.”

As far as Red River Rivalry games go, this one could serve as a yardstick for the disparity in the programs right now. Led by defensive ends Frank Alexander (3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss) and Ronnell Lewis (two sacks), the Sooners smashed any long-shot national title hopes that Texas Coach Mack Brown might have for his 4-1 team, which had been ranked No. 11.

“They were just out there flying to the ball, playing faster than us,” said Texas tailback Fozzy Whittaker, whose 100-yard kickoff return followed Hurst’s touchdown and briefly sparked hopes of a rally. “You have to stand back and give them credit for doing what they do best.”

Referring to the polls, he said, “It’s kind of hard to see why they slipped down, the way they played us.”

Kenny Stills caught two touchdown passes and Dom Whaley scored on a 64-yard run as Oklahoma totaled 453 yards while holding Texas to 223.

Brown was terse in his postgame comments, crediting Jones with a performance worthy of winning the Heisman Trophy and reminding everyone that the Sooners were still ranked No. 1 in the ESPN USA Today coaches poll. The Sooners have also won five of the last seven Big 12 titles.

“This is one of the greatest games in college football and our players were so excited, a lot of our new coaches were so excited, and we didn’t live up to our side of it,” Brown said.

Other than a fading Texas A&M; team and a trip to Kansas State, not much stands in the Sooners’ path until their so-called Bedlam Game on Dec. 12 against Oklahoma State in Stillwater. The sixth-ranked Cowboys face Texas in Austin next week, and their offense might be more dangerous than Oklahoma’s.

“We don’t have any time to sit back and feel sorry for ourselves,” Brown said.

After their dominating performance here, nobody needs to feel sympathy for the Sooners, either.