Mayfield checks emotions, leads Oklahoma to victory

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) carries past West Virginia safety Dravon Askew-Henry (6) and defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose (91) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017.
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) carries past West Virginia safety Dravon Askew-Henry (6) and defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose (91) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017.

TOP 25

NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 59, WEST VIRGINIA 31

NORMAN, Okla. -- Baker Mayfield threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns after being punished for directing a lewd gesture toward the Kansas bench last week, and Oklahoma routed West Virginia 59-31 on Saturday to maintain its momentum heading into the Big 12 Championship game.

Mayfield was stripped of his captaincy and starting job for the game, his final home game as a Sooner. He received the loudest cheers when the seniors were announced, then more loud cheers when he entered the game on Oklahoma's second possession.

"I was proud of him," Oklahoma Coach Lincoln Riley said. "I thought he held it in check. He was emotional before. Lot of thought for him to play the way he did considering all the things going on the past week."

He completed 14 of 17 passes in a nearly flawless performance that likely kept him at the front of the Heisman Trophy race.

"(Number) Six is the best player in college football," West Virginia Coach Dana Holgorsen said. "He has a lot of really good people around him."

Rodney Anderson ran for 118 yards and four touchdowns for the Sooners (11-1, 8-1 Big 12). They will play TCU for the Big 12 title Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Oklahoma gained 646 yards, and its 59 points were the most the Sooners have scored against the Mountaineers.

West Virginia's Chris Chugunov passed for 137 yards in his first start. He stepped in for Will Grier, who injured a finger the previous week against Texas. Kennedy McKoy ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns for the Mountaineers (7-5, 5-4).

It was a chippy contest in the first half, and it reached its peak when Oklahoma right guard Dru Samia was ejected after an altercation in the second quarter. It didn't stop the Sooners -- just two plays later, Anderson scored his third touchdown of the game from 17 yards out to give the Sooners a 28-10 lead. Mayfield ran over to the sideline, jumping up and down, waving his arms up and exhorting the crowd.

Kyler Murray, a transfer from Texas A&M, started in Mayfield's place and took off for a 66-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Anderson scored on the next play to put the Sooners up 7-0.

Mayfield took over and completed 11 of 12 passes for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half. The Sooners scored touchdowns on all five possessions Mayfield played in before halftime, and on all six drives he completed in the game. He sat for good with about three minutes left in the third quarter and the Sooners up 52-24.

"Great team win," Riley said. "Just tremendous. We we're very emotional coming into this game for many reasons. I thought we did a really good job of managing it."

In other Top 25 games Saturday, Alex Hornibrook threw three touchdown passes without an interception for No. 5 Wisconsin, and the Badgers easily remained unbeaten by overwhelming rival Minnesota 31-0 for their 14th consecutive victory over the Gophers. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 149 yards on 20 carries, including a 53-yard scoring sprint on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave the Badgers (12-0, 9-0) their largest winning margin in a Big Ten game this season. Rodney Smith rushed 16 times for 82 yards for the Gophers (5-7, 2-7). ... No. 10 Penn State scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions, including a pair of touchdown passes from Trace McSorley to tight end Mike Gesicki, and coasted to a 66-3 rout of Maryland. The Nittany Lions (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) scored at least two touchdowns in every quarter. They got a pair of 1-yard TD runs by Saquon Barkley, both in the third quarter, as they piled up a 52-0 lead before the Terrapins (4-8, 2-7) kicked a field goal in the third. ... Brian Lewerke threw for a touchdown and ran for another and No. 16 Michigan State held the ball for more than 47 minutes in defeating Rutgers 40-7. Redshirt freshman Matt Coghlin kicked a career-best four field goals and Gerald Holmes ran 2 yards for a touchdown as Michigan State (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) flipped its overall record from a year ago. Freshman Johnathan Lewis stepped in late in the first quarter and threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Raheem Blackshear that pulled the Scarlet Knights (4-8, 3-6) within 16-7 at halftime despite having the ball less than six minutes. ... Mason Rudolph passed for 438 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for 2 scores in his final home game to lead No. 19 Oklahoma State to a 58-17 victory over Kansas. James Washington, Dillon Stoner and Marcel Ateman each went over 100 yards receiving for Oklahoma State (9-3, 6-3 Big 12). Peyton Bender was 17 of 32 passing for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns for Kansas (1-11, 0-9), which lost its 45th consecutive road game. ... Riley Ferguson threw for three touchdowns and Darrell Henderson scored twice and rushed for 122 yards as No. 20 Memphis dominated East Carolina 70-13 in a tuneup for the American Athletic Conference championship game. The victory provided the Tigers (10-1, 7-1) their first undefeated home season at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium since it opened in 1965. The Tiger offense was operating with little resistance from the Pirates (3-9, 2-6), who have one of the worst defenses in the nation. ... Justin Jackson ran for 144 yards and a touchdown and No. 22 Northwestern won its seventh consecutive, beating Illinois 42-17. The bowl-bound Wildcats (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) held Illinois scoreless after giving up a first-quarter touchdown, and put 42 consecutive points on the board. The Illini (2-10, 0-10) lost their 10th consecutive and finished winless in the Big Ten for the first time since 2012. ... Marcus McMaryion threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns and Fresno State beat No. 23 Boise State 28-17 in a preview of the Mountain West title game. West champion Fresno State (9-3, 7-1) and Mountain winner Boise State (9-3, 7-1) had already wrapped up the division titles. They will meet Saturday in the MWC championship game at a site to be determined.

Sports on 11/26/2017

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