COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Hessler Puts Arm on Colorado Mark : Big Eight: Backup makes first start, throws record five touchdown passes in beating Oklahoma.

John Hessler made Colorado history in his first career start Saturday night, throwing a school-record five touchdown passes in a 38-17 victory over No. 10 Oklahoma.

Hessler, who came off the bench last week to lead No. 4 Colorado, 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Eight, past Texas A&M;, had to lead the Buffaloes back from first-half deficits of 10-0 and 17-7. The sophomore did it in style, completing 24 of 34 passes for 348 yards.

Oklahoma (3-1, 0-1) had no luck moving the ball in the second half, and now has gone seven years without beating the Buffaloes.

Hessler’s five touchdowns broke the team record of four held by Darian Hagan and Kordell Stewart. It also tied a Big Eight record.

Colorado took control of the game with two third-quarter touchdowns, a 71-yard pass from Hessler to Rae Carruth and a nice screen pass from Hessler that Lendon Henry turned into a 28-yard score.

That left the Buffaloes with a 28-17 lead after three quarters. The Colorado defense held Oklahoma to 28 yards during the period, and then the Buffaloes snuffed out any Oklahoma hopes midway through the fourth.

Oklahoma tried for a first down on fourth and two at the Colorado 28, but a bad snap resulted in a nine-yard loss. Five plays later, Hessler rolled out and found Phil Savoy for a 42-yard touchdown.

His other touchdown passes came in the second quarter--a 19-yarder to Savoy and an 11-yarder to Carruth.

Oklahoma’s offense had struggled in the past two weeks, but established itself right away against Colorado by driving 63 yards on its first possession and getting a 21-yard field goal by Jeremy Alexander.

The Sooners used a blocked punt to score their first touchdown early in the second quarter.

Eric Moore fumbled while getting sacked by Darryl Price on the next possession, and Colorado took over at the Sooners’ 17. A holding penalty on second down left the Buffaloes facing second and 24 from the 31, but two plays later Hessler found Savoy on the 19-yard touchdown.

Oklahoma then drove 78 yards and scored on Moore’s 20-yard pass to JaJuan Penny on third and 11, making the score 17-7.

Moore had kept the drive alive with a 20-yard completion on third and 13 to tight end Stephen Alexander, who made a nice run after the catch.

Colorado got back within 17-14 on Hessler’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Carruth with 11 seconds left in the half.

“They have so many playmakers. During the course of the game, they began to make the big plays,” Sooner Coach Howard Schnellenberger said.