Petty leads No. 5 Baylor over Oklahoma

WACO, Texas – Bryce Petty threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, Shock Linwood ran for 182 yards and fifth-ranked Baylor stayed undefeated by passing its first big test with a 41-12 victory over No. 12 Oklahoma on Thursday night.

Baylor (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) scored twice in the final minute before halftime and stretched its school-record winning streak to 12 games since a loss at Oklahoma last November. The Bears are 8-0 for the first time.

“We’re just talented, man. We’re committed. I think that’s all you can say about it,” Petty said. “It’s a very special team.”

Even though Baylor came in leading the nation in scoring (64 points per game) and total offense (718 yards per game) – and was outscoring opponents by an average margin of 48 points – many questioned how good the Bears were after getting into November without playing a ranked opponent. They have now, and they responded with an impressive victory against a team that used to routinely overwhelm them.

Oklahoma (7-2, 4-2) has a 21-2 lead in the series, but both losses have come in its last two trips to Floyd Casey Stadium for prime-time games.

Running backs Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin got banged up in the game, so Linwood ran 23 times. The Bears also were missing top receiver Tevin Reese, who was without a catch before dislocating his right wrist. He spent the second half on the sideline with his arm in a sling, and coach Art Briles said afterward he hopes Reese could be back for a bowl game.

Baylor trailed 5-3 after a strange sequence that started at the end of the first quarter when the Bears were penalized 38 yards on one play, and had a player’s ejection overturned before he made a touchdown-saving play.

After Petty scored on a 1-yard keeper with a minute to go in the first half, Oklahoma gave the ball right back when Blake Bell threw an interception at the Sooners 38.

Petty then made a double-pump throw to Antwan Goodley, who made a spectacular grab with both arms fully extended. He held on for a 24-yard play that put the Bears up 24-5 at halftime.

Goodley finished with six catches for 80 yards.

Petty completed 13 of 26 passes for a season-low 204 yards. He ran 16 times for 45 yards.

Bell finished 15-of-35 passing for 150 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Oklahoma had 237 total yards.

The Bears are 5-0 at home against Top 25 teams since the start of the 2011 season. That includes a 45-38 win over the Sooners two years ago in a game that likely clinched the Heisman Trophy for Robert Griffin III, and 52-24 last November over Kansas State, which arrived in Waco as the No. 1 team in the BCS standings.