Many of the nation’s top passing games this season have had connections to West Virginia.
Add Saturday’s performance by Oklahoma’s Landry Jones to that list.
Playing in Morgantown, the Sooner senior handcuffed the Mountaineers from start to finish. His first touchdown pass, less than four minutes into the game, gave the visitors a lead that they didn’t lose until the fourth quarter. His last touchdown pass, with just 24 seconds remaining, culminated a frantic final drive after West Virginia had taken a five-point lead with under three minutes left. In the 50-49 victory, Jones completed 38 of 51 passes for 554 yards and six touchdowns — with one interception. That’s an average of 10.9 yards per pass attempt and 14. 6 yards per completion.
For his performance, Jones has been named the NRA/Lindy’s Gunslinger of the Week.
Record-setting passing has been commonplace with West Virginia games this season. The top single-game passing yardage this season was put up by the Mountaineers’ Geno Smith, who was named Gunslinger of the Week after the game against Baylor in late September. Texas Tech’s Seth Doege earned the recognition for his game against West Virginia two weeks later.
Throughout the 2012 season, the top passing performance in college football each week will be honored with this recognition from the National Rifle Association and Lindy’s Sports. At the end of the season, the NRA/Lindy’s National Gunslinger of the Year will be named.