OU Football: Sooners Run to 28-17 Halftime Lead Over Texas Tech

Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon ran for two touchdowns apiece and the OU football running game took center stage as the 17th-ranked Sooners took a 28-17 halftime lead over Texas Tech.

In a game matching two Air Raid-style offenses, Oklahoma took advantage of a porous Texas Tech rush defense and turned Perine and Mixon loose for 216 yards on the ground as the Sooners at one point in the opening 30 minutes held an 18-point lead at 21-3.

Oklahoma turnovers on back-to-back possessions – a fumble by Sooner receiver Jarvis Baxter deep within Texas Tech territory and an interception of a Baker Mayfield pass on another OU drive – ultimately resulted in 14 unanswered points, drawing the Red Raiders within four points, 21-17, with 7:05 still remaining before halftime.

Oct 24, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs through a tackle attempt by Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Dakota Allen (40) during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Sooners marched 75 yards in eight plays, six of them on runs by Perine and Mixon, with Perine taking it the final 10 yards for an OU touchdown and a 28-17 lead.

Oklahoma had an opportunity to add more points onto its lead when Sooner linebacker Frank Shannon, making his first start since the OU win over Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl, intercepted a pass deflected by defensive end Charles Tapper that set up the Sooners at the Texas Tech 20-yard line. When a pass from Mayfield was dropped in the end zone by Sooner wide receiver Dahu Green, OU attempted a field goal by another true freshman, Austin Seibert, but the kick went wide left for Seibert’s first miss of the season after making 10 straight.

The Sooners outgained the Red Raiders in the first half 346 yards to 232, with the run game accounting for two-thirds of the Oklahoma offensive production in the first half. The two teams combined for just 250 yards through the air over the first 30 minutes in a game that was expected to be an aerial showdown from two of the better passing offenses in the Big 12.

Playing against his former team for the first time since transferring to Oklahoma from Texas Tech after his freshman season in 2013, Baker Mayfield appeared a little anxious in the opening minutes, but seemed to settle down thereafter as the Sooner dominated a first half that was marred by six turnovers (three by each team).

OU All-Big 12 cornerback Zack Sanchez was injured on the opening play of the game with what appeared to be a leg injury. He later reappeared on the Sooner sidelines, but was on crutches and wearing a protective boot.