Gabriel in mid-season form
The only stop of anything decked out in crimson on Saturday was when a freight train sat idle on the tracks after it crashed into an improvidently parked car, blocking thousands of Sooner fans exiting campus following Oklahoma’s 73-0 thrashing of Arkansas State.
For the visiting Red Wolves, the Sooners resembled a BNSF locomotive barrelling down Owen Field, scoring 28 points in the first quarter and gaining 642 yards total offense before the opening game of the season came to an end on a scorching hot day in Norman.
There was no first-game rustiness for OU QB Dillon Gabriel, who completed 19 of 22 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns during his first-half only playing time. Gabriel also ran for another TD.
Mucho hyped backup and true freshman QB Jackson Arnold stepped in in the second half. He completed 11 of 11 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for another.
Oklahoma punted only once in the game (a 50-yarder by Josh Plaster).
Does the defense look better?
But the topic most Oklahoma fans may be discussing as they assess this performance may be the defense.
Oklahoma got its first shutout under the Brent Venables era.
“We have a better football IQ, we have more guys capable of playing winning football, we are more physical, we have strong leadership,” Venables said in his post-game press conference.
The Sooners held Arkansas State to only 48 yards rushing and 160 yards passing (and an under 50 percent passing completion). They limited the Wolves to 23:04 in time of possession.
Gavin Freeman excited fans early, returning a punt for 82 yards for a touchdown just two minutes into the game. It was the first punt return TD since Dede Westbrook ran one back in 2016.
“I remember catching and seeing a gaping hole. My guys were blocking their ass off. So, I just hit it. I hit the outside and they made another massive wall on the sideline and just hit it and took it to the end zone,” Freeman said.
Freeman repeated a fete from last year, again scoring on his first time to touch the ball for the season.
Freshman Jaquaize Pettaway led receivers with nine catches for 56 yards.
Of concern was the first quarter injury of Drake Stoops. Venables said after the game Stoops had sustained an AC (shoulder joint) strain. Those types of injuries can sideline a player two to six weeks.
Sophomore linebacker Dasan McCullough was also injured. The Indiana transfer reportedly sustained an ankle injury in the first quarter and was seen wearing a boot on his left foot on the sideline.
Walk on running back Tawee Walker started the game. He finished with 44 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt senior RB Marcus Major split duty with Walker during the first half, and had 31 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Next: Oklahoma vs. SMU at Owen Field at 5 pm on Saturday, September 9.
The Midas touch 🤩@TheGavinFreeman | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/3TdtbPxCKi
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 2, 2023
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