Perine sets FBS rush record in OU rout
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Norman, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine broke the week-old FBS single-game rushing record to lead the No. 23 Sooners in a 44-7 rout of Kansas on Saturday.
Perine rushed for 427 yards, surpassing the record set last week by Wisconsin junior Melvin Gordon, whose 408 yards against Nebraska in just three quarters broke LaDainian Tomlinson's 15-year-old FBS mark.
It took Perine a little longer, but not much.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
He set the new mark on his last run, a 42-yarder 2 1/2 minutes into the fourth quarter after shaking off a few would-be tacklers near the line.
"Just sensational," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. "The guy is just so exceptional in everything he does."
Stoops said he considered taking Perine out of the game before he set the record.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"It just got to that point where we were thinking about resting him and then someone said he only needs 38 more yards," Stoops said. "That's too close not to do it and there is still way too much time left in the game."
The game was played in the rain after a 90-minute delay because of lightning and most of Perine's big runs came with little contact.
He carried the ball 34 times and scored five touchdowns on rushes of 66, 49, 34, 33 and 27 yards.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Perine gave much of the credit to the offensive line, which opened holes and sealed corners for him all game.
"I'm not really feeling special in any type of way," he said. "I just look at it as doing what I have to do under certain conditions to just help my team win."
Perine gained 222 of his yards in the first half on just 18 carries. Cody Thomas, starting for the second straight game in place of injured quarterback Trevor Knight, completed just three of his 13 passes for 39 yards but didn't need to do much for the Sooners (8-3, 5-3 Big 12).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Safety Cassius Sendish scored on a 63-yard fumble return for the Jayhawks (3-8, 1-7), who have lost 26 consecutive Big 12 road games. Michael Cummings passed for 84 yards and was just 8-of-22 with an interception.
Perine broke the Big 12 rushing record of 378 yards set by Iowa State's Troy Davis vs. Missouri on Sept. 28, 1996. He broke Greg Pruitt's Oklahoma record of 294 yards against Kansas State on Oct. 23, 1971.
He now has 1,428 rushing yards this season. Adrian Peterson's single-season Sooners record is 1,925 set in 2004.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
After the lightning delay, Perine flashed around the left side of the line and went untouched on a 49-yard run just 3 1/2 minutes into the game for his first touchdown.
"They obviously had a good game plan," said Kansas interim coach Clint Bowen. "Their offensive line played very physically, came off the ball hard and got movement on us. He is a tough guy to bring down."
Michael Hunnicutt's 39-yard field goal pushed the Sooners' lead to 10-0 later in the first quarter and Perine blew past two tacklers near the line on a 33- yard run that made it 17-0 with 6:05 remaining in the first half.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Perine was untouched again on a 34-yard run on Oklahoma's next possession, going over 200 yards for the half and giving the Sooners a 24-point lead.
He raced 66 yards down the left side of the field to make it 31-0 just 1:04 into the second half.
Keith Ford's fumble was picked up by Sendish and returned 63 yards for Kansas' only points just 22 seconds later.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
After Hunnicutt kicked a 37-yard field goal for Oklahoma, Perine scored for a fifth time on a 27-yard run with 6:04 remaining in the third quarter to give the Sooners a 41-7 lead.
Hunnicutt added a 36-yard field goal with eight minutes remaining.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Tomlinson gained 406 yards for TCU against UTEP on Nov. 20, 1999 ... The Sooners are 10-0 vs. Kansas under Stoops and 72-27-6 in the all-time series. They are on a bye next week and will end the regular season against Oklahoma State on Dec. 6 ... Kansas ends the regular season at Kansas State next Saturday.