By Brent Shirley

As Oklahoma Quarterback Landry Jones watched his defensive teammates rip apart the Texas offensive line, he couldn’t help but give thanks for his own blockers.

While Texas QBs David Ash and Case McCoy spent a large portion of Saturday’s Red River Rivalry looking up at the sky, Jones has hardly hit the ground all season.

The No. 3 Sooners (5-0, 2-0) dominated Saturday’s Red River Rivalry, beating No. 11 Texas (4-1, 1-1) 55-17. And the dominance all started up front for Oklahoma, on both sides of the ball.

“It’s tough having days like that, (when you are getting chased around),” said Jones, who was sacked by Texas just once for a 4-yard loss. “Our defense did a great job, and our offensive line did a great job giving me time so I could look at the defense and throw it around. (My offensive line) did a great job of keeping their eyes up, seeing the blitzes and protecting all night.”

Jones, who had been sacked only once all season entering the game, had good reason to sympathize with the Texas quarterback duo.

The Sooners defense sacked the Longhorns eight times for a loss of 84 yards and forced five fumbles, recovering three.

“We were on fire this game,” Oklahoma Defensive Lineman Frank Alexander said. “I wanted to go out there and prove something.”

The Sooners proved far too strong for Texas.

Alexander, a senior playing in his final Red River Rivalry, recorded four sacks for a loss of 30 yards.

He forced one fumble and recovered another for the Sooners, who scored 21 points with their defense.

Led by Alexander, who had four tackles for loss, and Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma surrendered just 36 net rushing yards for 0.9 yards a carry to a Texas squad that entered averaging 206 yards a game.

“Defensively we adjusted with them and tackled well,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “Did a good job of being strong and taking away the run game. Got pressure. Got turnovers.”

Lewis had two sacks and another tackle for loss. Jaydan Bird, Tony Jefferson and Casey Walker had one sack apiece.

“We were a lot more physical, got to the quarterback and executed our defense,” Lewis said. “We got after them in the first quarter. We felt we were more physical and wanted it more.”

Heisman look

Texas coach Mack Brown has faced some good Oklahoma QBs in his 14 years leading the Longhorns into the Cotton Bowl.

He watched Heisman winners Jason White and Sam Bradford dismantle the Texas defense. But after Saturday’s loss, Brown considers Landry Jones one of the best he has faced.

“He was as good as anybody in the country today,” Brown said. “He did a tremendous job.”

Jones, who threw for 305 yards and three TDs in the first half, didn’t need to pass as often in the second half. He finished with 367 yards, completing 31 of 50 passes.

“It’s nice to have someone like (Brown) praise you and give you credit,” Jones said. “It’s honoring.”

Jones spread the ball around, hitting All-American Ryan Broyles nine times for 122 yards and one TD.

Kenny Stills caught five passes for 51 yards and two TDs, and Jaz Reynolds caught six passes for 92 yards.

Oklahoma defeated Texas by the fifth largest margin in the history of the rivalry.

A 65-13 Sooners win in 2003 was still more dominant in terms of the final, but Saturday’s win set many other records.

The Sooners defense had 113 yards in tackles for loss and 84 yards in sacks, both school records.

Texas finished the game with a net 259 yards of offense, just three more yards than Oklahoma’s total in sacks, tackles-for-loss and fumble/interception returns.