Oklahoma Wins Fiesta Bowl with Rout of UConn

The Sooners' defense clamped down and held the Huskies without an offensive touchdown in the contest.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:07 pm

By: News On 6

Oklahoma Wins Fiesta Bowl with Rout of UConn

Originally Published: Jan 1, 2011 9:20 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

GLENDALE, Arizona -- The Oklahoma Sooners built an early lead and struggled to put Connecticut away late Saturday, but topped the Huskies 48-20 to win the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.

The win snapped OU’s five-game BCS Bowl losing streak – including back-to-back Fiesta Bowls.

The Sooners started the second half with a 10-point lead, but couldn’t gain a first down on their first possession of the second half. However on Oklahoma’s next possession, sophomore quarterback Landry Jones connected with Cameron Kenney for a 59-yard touchdown to take a 27-10 lead.

OU tried to put the Huskies away with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown, but Robbie Frey returned the ensuing kick 95 yards for a score to keep the deficit at 17 points.

Four minutes later, Dave Teggart knocked in a 38-yard field goal to pull within 34-20.

But that would be the end of the Huskies' threat.

Seven minutes into the fourth quarter, Jones hit Ryan Broyles for a five-yard touchdown, capping off 10-play, 88-yard drive to take a three-score lead. Five minutes later, a Tony Jefferson 22-yard pick-six closed the door completely.

Jones finished the game with a school bowl-record 433 yards and three touchdowns, while Broyles amassed 170 yards and a score – his 17th career 100-yard game. DeMarco Murray, in final game in Crimson, came away with 93 yards and a score on 25 carries.

The Oklahoma offense got going early, and held a two-score lead early on to set the pace.

After holding the Huskies on fourth down attempt on their first drive, the Sooners’ first attempt was executed like clockwork.

Jones was a perfect six-of-six for 67 yards on the drive – including a drive-capping eight-yard touchdown pass to James Hannah to take a 7-0 lead just five minutes into the game.

Connecticut put together a 15-play, nearly six-and-a-half minute drive, but once again came up short on fourth down. The Sooners capitalized by going 81 yards on the ensuing drive and Murray punched it in from three yards out to take a 14-0 lead.

Jones’ first mistake of the game came in the opening minutes of the second quarter. On a third down attempt, Jones’ pass was off the mark and was intercepted by UConn’s Dwayne Gratz, who returned it 46 yards for a score to cut the gap to 14-7.

OU strung together two long drives in the second quarter, but both times unable to capitalize and ended in Stevens field goals to push the advantage to 13 points.

The Huskies would add a field goal of their own with 26 seconds left in the half to head in the locker room down 10.