Oct 20, 2001

Final Stats?|? Quotes

By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Baylor and Oklahoma were tied at 7-7 midway through the first quarter, and the Bears put up good offensive numbers in the second half. Still, it wasn't enough as OU quarterback Jason White threw for 343 yards in his first start and led the Sooners to a 33-17 victory over Baylor on Saturday.

Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) extended its winning streak to 20 games, but the Baylor defense shut down the highly-touted OU offense after Oklahoma built a 27-7 halftime lead. Oklahoma allowed eight sacks, one more than it had given up in the first six games.

Baylor (2-4, 0-4) lost its 25th straight conference game, dating to 1998.

The Bears chose to crowd the line of scrimmage to negate Oklahoma's running game, and it worked. But White, named the starter this week after strong performances in relief of Nate Hybl the past two games, finished 32-of-44 with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Freshman Mark Clayton had eight catches for 108 yards. Trent Smith caught seven passes for 70 yards, and Curtis Fagan had five catches including a 16-yarder for the Sooners' first touchdown.

Baylor was outgained 310-83 in the first half, but tied the Sooners at 7-7 early in the first quarter, thanks to a 93-yard kickoff return by Randy Davis.

Oklahoma took the lead for good on a 1-yard sneak by White late in the first quarter. The 10-play drive included a 45-yard completion to Clayton on a third-and-10 play, and a roughing-the-passer penalty that gave the Sooners first-and-goal inside the 5.

Oklahoma scored on all three of its second-quarter possessions, thanks in part to good field position. A 37-yard punt return by Fagan set the Sooners up at the Baylor 33, and three plays later Renaldo Works scored on a 17-yard run.

Oklahoma ended the half with a field goal that capped a bizarre, 17-play drive that started at the Baylor 40. White was sacked three times, for 27 yards, and Oklahoma was penalized three times, including an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty against coach Bob Stoops. Stoops got upset when a Baylor player tackled White after a play had been blown dead.

Oklahoma eventually faced second and 37, but Baylor was whistled for a personal foul that gave the Sooners a first down at the Bears 30. Ten plays later, Tim Duncan kicked a 19-yard field goal.

The Bears were able to sustain drives in the second half and used a fourth-quarter touchdown and field goal to get within 27-17. Oklahoma then drove 80 yards for a clinching touchdown with 6:29 left, with Works scoring on a 4-yard run.