NORMAN, Okla. – With an 11-point lead at the 8:17 mark in the second quarter, No. 2 Oklahoma showed why it is a national title contender by adding 21 points over the next five minutes in Ball State's 62-6 loss on Saturday.
In that time span, the Sooners intercepted quarterback Keith Wenning three times on three consecutive drives, leading to three touchdowns. At one point, Wenning had consecutive pass attempts intercepted and three out of four pass attempts.
"They batted some balls up in the air," coach Pete Lembo said. "That's something that they did a number of times going into the game."
Each of Wenning's interceptions ended up in the hands of Oklahoma linebacker Tony Jefferson. He would have had a fourth one too had he not dropped Wenning's pass.
Oklahoma started at Ball State's 10-yard line after Wenning's first interception and two plays later quarterback Landry Jones found wide receiver Kenny Stills in the back of the end zone. Just over a minute later Jefferson had his second interception, an impressive one-handed leaping catch in front of the Ball State bench, which led to a touchdown by running back Dom Whaley.
Wenning said his second interception resulted in not putting enough strength on the ball to throw it away.
"He made a heck of a play, so give him credit," Wenning said.
After his third interception, Jones found his favorite target in wide receiver Ryan Broyles over the middle for a 27-yard touchdown pass to put the Sooners up 38-6 at halftime.
"They're a big fast team and we knew we were going to have to hold up the line," Wenning said. "Our offensive line did everything it could to give me time. They battled a couple balls and that's how those interceptions happened."
Wenning said the experience of throwing the three interceptions could have allowed him to become mentally stronger for the future. He said last season he wasn't as mentally tough to forget about a previous series and this game helped him.
Coming off his best performance of his career last week against Army, Wenning said he still feels confident after this Saturday's game.
"You have to have a short memory," he said. "Obviously this game hurts but you got to forget about it and move on. You just got to get better."
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