- Cole Stoudt (18) and his Clemson teammates had much to cheer about it in their win over Oklahoma. (Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports)
ORLANDO, Fla. — No. 17 Clemson scored early and often in a dominating 40-6 victory over Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Monday at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
Quarterback Cole Stoudt completed 26 of 36 passes for 319 yards and touchdown strikes to wide receivers Artavis Scott, Mike Williams and Germone Hopper as the Tigers (10-3) scored the game’s first 40 points — including 27 in the opening half.
Stoudt also scored on a 2-yard keeper in the third quarter in front of an announced crowd of 40,071.
Oklahoma (8-5) broke the shutout with 6:59 left in the game when running back Alex Ross scored on an 11-yard dash.
After collecting just 90 net yards in the opening half, the Sooners improved to 275 yards total offense for the game. Freshman running back Samaje Perine rushed 23 times for a game-high 134 yards, while quarterback Trevor Knight finished 17-for-37 for 103 yards. Knight threw three interceptions.
Oklahoma managed just 17 first downs — most in the second half — while committing five turnovers.
Scott had eight catches for 114 yards, and Williams had nine for 112. Tigers kicker Ammon Lakip hit two of three field-goal tries and added four extra points.
Clemson scored on four of seven first-half possessions and added an interception return for another en route to a 27-0 halftime lead.
Stoudt and Scott combined for a 65-yard touchdown on the Tigers’ first play, and Clemson made in 10-0 on its second possession when Lakip got a second chance and a converted a 34-yard field goal. Oklahoma was flagged for being offside on his first, failed kick.
Clemson increased the margin to 17-0 when middle linebacker Ben Boulware picked off a Knight pass and dashed 47 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter.
Lakip’s career-long 49-yard field goal one minute into the second quarter pushed the lead to 20-0. The kick tied a Clemson bowl game record for distance.
Oklahoma briefly fans had something to cheer when defensive end Charles Tapper tipped and caught a Stoudt pass and returned it for an apparent touchdown with 8:30 showing. However, an offside call negated the play.
Clemson extended the lead to 27-0 when Williams caught a sideline pass, twirled 360 degrees and bolted 26 yards to the end zone. Williams flew out of bounds at the goal line but reached right to keep the ball in play.
NOTES: The Sooners, making their 16th consecutive bowl trip, were among seven Big 12 teams to earn postseason berths. … Although he played in regular-season finale, Clemson freshman QB Deshaun Watson was out Monday when a knee injury finally caught up with him. He was among several freshmen to emerge for the Tigers and threw 14 touchdown passes, including six against North Carolina. … The ACC has 11 teams in bowls, the most of any conference in history, with No. 3 Florida State in the inaugural College Football Playoff. … Monday’s game was just the first of two bowl games at the renovated Orlando arena. No. 25 Minnesota (8-4) meets No. 16 Missouri (10-3) on Thursday in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. The 78-year-old Citrus Bowl building underwent a near-complete reconstruction following last year’s New Year’s Day bowl at a cost of around $200 million.
