NMSooner'80
1/3/2010, 04:13 PM
(Alamogordo is the next major town northeast of El Paso on U.S. 54, and is only about 100 miles from where Landry grew up)
http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_14108378?source=most_viewed
N.M. star QB shines at Sun Bowl
Artesia native led Sooners to win
Alamogordo Daily News
By Derek Stell, Sports Writer
Posted: 01/02/2010 12:00:00 AM MST
Artesia product and Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones wasn't voted the game MVP. That honor went to teammate Ryan Broyles, who had 13 catches, 156 yards and three touchdowns. However, Jones did lead the Sooners to 31-27 victory over the Stanford Cardinal at the 76th annual Sun Bowl on Thursday.
The two-time New Mexico Class 4A state champion has come a long way from a redshirt freshman backup to passing for 418 yards in the win.
Jones was backing up reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford when the season started in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.
A hit from BYU's Coleby Clawson put Jones in the game. Jones went 6-for-12 for 51 yards and the Sooners lost 14-13 to the Cougars.
The former No. 3 high school quarterback in the country didn't get the start he wanted. Yet, even though his team didn't make it to the BCS, Jones has to be happy with how he finished the season.
"I can see a big progression in the way I see things out there," Jones said as he sat between Broyles and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy at the Sun Bowl's postgame press conference. "At first it was kind of hard to see some coverage's, but now that I've been able to play a couple games, the game has slowed down more."
The most impressive part of Jones' day was him leading his team back from a 24-17 deficit at halftime.
"We came out the second half and we said how it was a seven to zero game now," Jones said. "We came out there and executed like we could."
Jones completed four of his first five passes as Oklahoma drove down the field, including a 19-yarder to Mossis Madu that got the Sooners to the Stanford 35-yard line. He then completed a pass to DeMarco Murray, and the running back broke for 28 yards. Jones finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown to Broyles.
The Sooners and Jones were frustrated on their next two drives, but the preseason backup took his team over the top on their fourth possession of the third quarter.
After a 42-yard return from Broyles on a Cardinal punt, Oklahoma set up shop at the Stanford 42-yard line. Jones completed a 36-yard pass to Trent Ratterree and Demarco Murray did the rest.
Jones had to rely on the Sooner defense to stop the Cardinal, but he gave them just enough to get the win.
The only player who has ever had more passing yards in the Sun Bowl is currently in the NFL. In 2001, then-Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton passed for 419 yards, going 38-for-74 with four interceptions and two touchdowns. Compare that with Jones' 30-for-51, 418 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and the young Sooner looks pretty good.
Jones deflected a lot of the accolades away from himself.
"The coaches put together a great game plan," the wide-eyed Jones said. "We came down here and it was a total business trip. I just felt the game plan and the way we prepared was really good this week."
Jones was still upset that he threw an interception to Stanford's Bo McNally on the Cardinal 31 that the free safety returned 55 yards.
"I forced the ball down the field a little bit when I should have used my check down," Jones said. "That could have been the game right there."
McCoy didn't hesitate in front of all the media, saying "I forgive you, Landry."
Jones threw for 3,198 yards on the season, an average of 246-yards per game, had 26 touchdowns and completed 58.1 percent of his passes at one of the most storied institutions in college football. That's not bad for a kid from a New Mexico town of 11,000 people.
http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_14108378?source=most_viewed
N.M. star QB shines at Sun Bowl
Artesia native led Sooners to win
Alamogordo Daily News
By Derek Stell, Sports Writer
Posted: 01/02/2010 12:00:00 AM MST
Artesia product and Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones wasn't voted the game MVP. That honor went to teammate Ryan Broyles, who had 13 catches, 156 yards and three touchdowns. However, Jones did lead the Sooners to 31-27 victory over the Stanford Cardinal at the 76th annual Sun Bowl on Thursday.
The two-time New Mexico Class 4A state champion has come a long way from a redshirt freshman backup to passing for 418 yards in the win.
Jones was backing up reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford when the season started in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.
A hit from BYU's Coleby Clawson put Jones in the game. Jones went 6-for-12 for 51 yards and the Sooners lost 14-13 to the Cougars.
The former No. 3 high school quarterback in the country didn't get the start he wanted. Yet, even though his team didn't make it to the BCS, Jones has to be happy with how he finished the season.
"I can see a big progression in the way I see things out there," Jones said as he sat between Broyles and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy at the Sun Bowl's postgame press conference. "At first it was kind of hard to see some coverage's, but now that I've been able to play a couple games, the game has slowed down more."
The most impressive part of Jones' day was him leading his team back from a 24-17 deficit at halftime.
"We came out the second half and we said how it was a seven to zero game now," Jones said. "We came out there and executed like we could."
Jones completed four of his first five passes as Oklahoma drove down the field, including a 19-yarder to Mossis Madu that got the Sooners to the Stanford 35-yard line. He then completed a pass to DeMarco Murray, and the running back broke for 28 yards. Jones finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown to Broyles.
The Sooners and Jones were frustrated on their next two drives, but the preseason backup took his team over the top on their fourth possession of the third quarter.
After a 42-yard return from Broyles on a Cardinal punt, Oklahoma set up shop at the Stanford 42-yard line. Jones completed a 36-yard pass to Trent Ratterree and Demarco Murray did the rest.
Jones had to rely on the Sooner defense to stop the Cardinal, but he gave them just enough to get the win.
The only player who has ever had more passing yards in the Sun Bowl is currently in the NFL. In 2001, then-Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton passed for 419 yards, going 38-for-74 with four interceptions and two touchdowns. Compare that with Jones' 30-for-51, 418 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and the young Sooner looks pretty good.
Jones deflected a lot of the accolades away from himself.
"The coaches put together a great game plan," the wide-eyed Jones said. "We came down here and it was a total business trip. I just felt the game plan and the way we prepared was really good this week."
Jones was still upset that he threw an interception to Stanford's Bo McNally on the Cardinal 31 that the free safety returned 55 yards.
"I forced the ball down the field a little bit when I should have used my check down," Jones said. "That could have been the game right there."
McCoy didn't hesitate in front of all the media, saying "I forgive you, Landry."
Jones threw for 3,198 yards on the season, an average of 246-yards per game, had 26 touchdowns and completed 58.1 percent of his passes at one of the most storied institutions in college football. That's not bad for a kid from a New Mexico town of 11,000 people.