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Big third quarter lifts Oklahoma past Texas A&M

Nov 6, 2011 - 12:29 AM Norman, OK (Sports Network) - Landry Jones threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns to lead the seventh-ranked Oklahoma Sooners to a 41-25 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies.

Roy Finch ran for 99 yards and a score and Blake Bell added a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Sooners (8-1, 5-1 Big 12), who scored 28 straight third- quarter points to secure their second straight win.

Oklahoma, already without leading rusher Dominique Whaley, lost senior wide receiver Ryan Broyles to season-ending ACL injury.

Ryan Tannehill completed 32-of-63 passes for 379 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for the Aggies (5-4, 3-3), who have lost two in a row.

Ryan Swope caught eight passes for 149 yards and a score.

The Sooners used opportune offense and solid defense to take control of a back-and-forth contest early in the third quarter.

They took over at the A&M 31 following a 14-yard punt by Ryan Epperson and Jaz Reynolds made a one-handed touchdown grab on the following play for a 20-10 lead.

Tannehill was intercepted by Ronnell Lewis on the Aggies' next drive and again Oklahoma capitalized, as Finch crossed the goal line from three yards out to make it a 27-10 game.

Finch carried the ball four times during the brief, 28-yard drive.

"We certainly gave them short field on turnovers and gave them short field on a punt," said Aggies coach Mike Sherman. "So our defense was not given the full field to defend, and giving Oklahoma credit, they took advantage of those opportunities and they scored."

Continuing to apply pressure, Bell capped a 69-yard drive with a short touchdown plunge on the Sooners' next possession and Jones followed a Tannehill interception -- by Jamell Fleming -- with a 39-yard touchdown strike to Kenny Stills.

The Aggies cut into the considerable deficit in the fourth quarter with Ben Malena's 16-yard touchdown run and Cyrus Gray's eight-yard touchdown reception.

After Gray's score, Tannehill hit Malcome Kennedy for a successful two-point conversion, making it 41-25, but the Sooners recovered the ensuing onsides kick to end the threat with a little over two minutes remaining.

It wasn't all positive for Oklahoma, however, as Broyles -- the NCAA's all- time receptions leader -- left the game during the third quarter with a torn ACL.

Whaley was lost for the season last Saturday with a fractured ankle.

The Aggies grabbed a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter on Randy Bullock's 43-yard field goal.

The Sooners quickly responded, though, as Jones hit Broyles for a 57-yard strike on the next play from scrimmage. Later in the drive, Bell crossed the goal line from two yards out for a 7-3 lead.

Texas A&M turned the ball over on its next two possessions, as Tannehill was intercepted by Javon Harris and Christine Michael fumbled at his own 20.

The Sooners converted the latter into Michael Hunnicutt's 29-yard field goal.

Later in the quarter, Hunnicutt followed a Bullock miss with a 39-yarder for a 13-3 Sooners' advantage.

The Aggies responded, however, as Swope worked his way behind the secondary and Tannehill found him for a 79-yard touchdown with 1:39 remaining in the half.

Game Notes

The Sooners have won seven straight over the Aggies in Norman. They lead the all-time series 19-11...Broyles made the 317th catch of his career in a win over Kansas on October 15 to move into first place on the NCAA's all-time receptions list.