Quarterback Landry Jones, a red shirt freshman, runs the ball during Saturday's game against Kansas State. The Sooners pulled out a 42-30 victory over the Wildcats. Merrill Jones/The Daily

Halloween was full of tricks and treats for the Sooners in their 42-30 victory over the visiting Kansas State Wildcats. The difficult win was OU’s fifth of the season, extending its record to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12.

The Sooners jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead by relying on an efficient offense and a strong defensive line.

Freshman quarterback Landry Jones completed five of 12 passes on OU’s first three possessions en route to three touchdown passes from 15, 23 and two yards, respectively. None of the three touchdown drives were time consuming, with the longest drive lasting 4:34.

Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Broyles caught two of Jones’ touchdown passes, and sophomore wide receiver Dejuan Miller caught the other.

The defensive line swarmed around Kansas State senior quarterback Grant Gregory, and sacked him twice during the first two drives.

The Wildcats’ offense could not be silenced for too long, and it woke up and gained some urgency while trailing 21-0 by putting together multiple successful drives against a Sooner defense that has been difficult to score on all season.

The game’s momentum shifted at the start of the second quarter. Kansas State’s offense woke up and found holes in the Sooners’ defense in both the running and passing games.

Kansas State used long pass plays and tough rushes to put its first points on the scoreboard via a two-yard touchdown run by junior running back Keithen Valentine. The pending extra point kick was blocked, which gave OU a short-lived 21-6 lead.

The Sooners responded quickly with a touchdown of their own on the following possession.

Jones led OU’s offense 66 yards to pay dirt. The drive was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by junior running back DeMarco Murray.

The Wildcats added a field goal late in the second quarter, and both teams went into the locker room at the half with a 28-9 OU lead.

The start of third quarter did not go according to the Sooners’ plan. Kansas State drove the ball for 6:21, and narrowed the gap with a 14-yard rush by Valentine.

The touchdown was Valentine’s second of the game. The Wildcats were successful on a two-point conversion to make it an 11-point deficit.

The Sooners’ offense had problems putting together a workable offense, near the end of the third quarter. Kansas State’s defense held the OU to multiple three-and-outs, and gave its offense a chance to crawl back into the game.

It took the Wildcats just six plays to pull to within five points of the Sooners as junior running back Daniel Thomas ran two yards for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Auston English blocked the extra point, which was the team’s second blocked extra point of the game.

Broyles saved the Sooners’ offense from becoming stagnant on a big third-down conversion. On a third-and-24 pass, Broyles sidestepped multiple defenders and raced past the first-down marker.

Broyles ended the game catching eight passes for 91 yards with two touchdowns, both of which coming in the first half. Even though Broyles was held scoreless in the second half, he made many game-saving plays.

Jones connected with Murray six plays later for a six-yard touchdown pass to give the Sooners a 35-23 lead.

Senior wide receiver Brandon Banks took advantage of poor special teams coverage on the following kickoff and sprinted 98 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown was the first touchdown OU’s special teams had allowed this season.

Kansas State’s resilience did not phase OU’s offense, as it responded once again with a touchdown drive of its own. Murray punched in the ball from three yards out and expanded the Sooners’ lead to 42-30.

The touchdown was Murray’s third touchdown of the game. He ran two in and caught one touchdown.

The Sooners’ defense came up with a big fourth-down stop with a little over four minutes left in the game, and the offense drained as much of the clock off to secure the 42-30 victory.

Jones ended the game completing 26 of 37 passes for 294 yards with four touchdowns.

Miller led OU’s receiving corps with nine catches for 94 yards with a touchdown.

The Sooners return to action on Nov. 7 in Lincoln, Neb., to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.