COLLEGE BOWL NEWS: Clemson Destroys Oklahoma in Russell Athletic Bowl, 40-6
FLORIDA SPORTS WIRE
ORLANDO, Fla. - After scoring a touchdown on its first offensive play, the floodgates opened in No. 18 Clemson's 40-6 win over Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
In relief of the injured star freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson, senior Cole Stoudt threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-36 passing with no interceptions to help the Tigers (10-3) complete their fourth season in a row with at least 10 wins.
The Clemson defense dominated, forcing five turnovers and limiting the Oklahoma offense to 275 total yards.
Artavis Scott caught eight passes for 114 yards, including his 65-yard touchdown on Clemson's first play. Mike Williams added nine catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Samaje Perine totaled 134 yards on 23 carries, much of which came late in the game, for the Sooners (8-5). His fumble in the second quarter halted Oklahoma's first drive in Clemson territory.
Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight completed 17-of-37 passes for 103 yards and three interceptions with no touchdowns.
After a Sooners three-and-out, Clemson's offense took the field and scored immediately on Stoudt's screen pass to Scott, who got a block from Charone Peake and then made two defenders miss on his way to a 65-yard touchdown.
Oklahoma's defense bailed out Knight after one interception by blocking Clemson's field goal, but the Tigers did not need their offense the next time. Knight's second interception in as many drives was returned by Ben Boulware for a 47-yard touchdown that put Clemson up 17-0.
Down 20-0 in the second quarter, the Sooners appeared to have gotten back into the game when Charles Tapper tipped a pass in the air and then returned an interception for a touchdown, but an offsides penalty negated the score.
Just three plays later, Mike Williams caught a screen pass, made a man miss and ran for a 26-yard touchdown.
Oklahoma did not reach Clemson territory until its eighth possession, and it did not last long. Perine fumbled to give the ball back to the Tigers, who led 27-0 at the half.
While the Sooners went three-and-out on three consecutive drives to open the second half, the Clemson offense added two more touchdowns. Stoudt ran one in from the 2-yard line and threw another scoring pass to Germone Hopper in the closing minutes of the quarter.
As Oklahoma moved the ball into Clemson territory for the second time on its next drive, Keith Ford fumbled to return the ball to the Tigers.
The Sooners got on the board in the fourth quarter on Alex Ross' 11-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, and Knight was picked off again on the next Sooners possession.
Game Notes: The all-time series between these teams is tied at two... Clemson improved to 19-18 in bowl games while Oklahoma fell to 28-19-1 ,,, Watson had surgery to repair a torn knee ligament earlier in December ... Williams' 112 yards put him over 1,000 for the season ... The Tigers have won 38 in a row when leading after three quarters.
