A tenacious Oklahoma defense lead by LB Danny Stutsman kept Cincinnati out of the end zone the entire game and the Sooners delivered a 20-6 defeat to the Bearcat’s as their introduction to Big 12 football.
Stutsman had 13 tackles — three for a loss — in a defensive effort that was much needed, considering the Sooners’ offense was periodically stymied by a stellar Bearcats run defense and managed a season low 20 points.
The Sooners held Cincinnati to 141 rushing yards. Cincinnati quarterback Emory Jones went 22-for-41 with 235 passing yards and two interceptions.
Although Marcus Major lead OU rushers with just 65 yards, none was more impressive than the 19-yard run third down run that kept alive a scoring drive ending in a 34 yard Zac Schmit field goal, giving the Sooners a 10-3 lead in the second quarter.
QB Dillon Gabriel’s one yard TD run capped a 75-yard driving in the third quarter and Schmit followed with another field goal in the fourth quarter to put the game under Sooners’ control. Gabriel went for 26-for-38 for 322 passing yards and two total — one rushing and one passing — touchdowns.
The game was the first real test of the Sooners defense. The Sooners made seven tackles for losses and intercepted the Bearcats twice.
DB Key Lawrence’s first half interception stopped the Bearcats from threatening.
“He’s matured a ton… He’s become a really good leader and a good teammate… He’s really made a ton of improvement,” Coach Brent Venables said of Lawrence.
Cincinnati had averaged 239 yards rushing coming into the game. The Sooners held them to 141.
The Sooners defense has now only allowed opponents to score in two of 16 quarters.
“Still gotta fix a lot of stuff… But I like this team,” Venables said.
Next game: Oklahoma vs. Iowa State at 6 pm Saturday in Norman.
Photo credit: Noah Conner in Cincinnati
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