By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer

NORMAN — Oklahoma linebacker Ryan Reynolds found a turning point in the Sooners’ surprisingly easy 51-13 victory over Miami (Fla.) Saturday.

The Hurricanes, down 7-0, got an early break when OU long snapper Derek Shaw snapped the ball over the head of punter Michael Cohen, giving Miami a first down at the Sooners’ 8-yard line.

Miami, though, managed only two yards on three plays and had to settle for a field goal. That would be the story of the day for the Hurricanes, who managed only 52 yards rushing and 87 yards passing.

“That set the tone,” said Reynolds of the goal-line stand. “It’s definitely about toughness when you’re trying to stop somebody in the red zone.”

The Hurricanes did not make a first down after cutting the Sooners’ lead to 21-13 with 10:37 left in the third quarter.

The key, Reynolds said, was preparation during the week.

“A lot of it is just being ready,” he said, “knowing them better than they knew themselves. We were ready for what they were going to do before they did it.”

The Sooners’ defense had 14 tackles for 44 yards in losses. Miami’s biggest play was for 15 yards.

“It’s more than just the defensive line stopping the play at the line of scrimmage,” said OU coach Bob Stoops. “You don’t stop the run without the linebackers filling the holes. The linemen did an outstanding job getting off their blocks, but the linebackers and secondary filled the holes they (Hurricanes) tried to create.”

The Hurricanes’ lone touchdown came on an 18-play, 52-yard drive that was extended by two OU pass interference penalties in the end zone.

Miami still needed six plays to score from the 2-yard line before scoring on a 6-yard pass from Kyle Wright to Ryan Hill.

D.J. Wolfe, who had lost his starting cornerback job the year before, led the OU defense in tackles from his safety position. He had six solo and two assisted stops.

Reynolds, who missed last season with a knee injury, was credited with three solo and three assisted tackles. Kingfisher’s Curtis Lofton had five solo tackles in his second start at middle linebacker.

Stoops said experience is one reason why the defense is ahead of where it was last season.

“The guys are carrying out their responsibilities,” he said. “You can see the experience factor in the secondary. Our linebackers are really good. I think we’ll be better than you think.”

Reynolds eluded to practice as why OU’s defenders seldom missed a tackle Saturday. He said he took the same approach to Miami he did to lightly-regarded North Texas the week before.

Reynolds said he might have felt even more comfortable against Miami because the Hurricanes ran a similar offense to OU’s.

Reynolds and Lofton are roommates with defensive end Auston English, who had a sack.

“It’s cool having all three of us in there,” Reynolds said. “Everybody can talk about the same things.”

Cornerback Reggie Smith, who returned a fumble 61 yards for a score, said the Sooners just played their game.

“We just played the hardest we can play,” he said.