In some ways it was a retro Sooner offense. A running quarterback. The option. Pitches. Sweeps. Power runs.
But it was the improvement on defense that gave Oklahoma control in their 34-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe to begin the 2013 season on Owen Field on Saturday night. It was the first shutout since 2011.
Redshirt freshman Trevor Knight had a shaky start, at one time 1 for 7 on his passes. But after halftime he returned to the field with more pizzazz and accuracy, finishing the game 11 of 28 for 86 yards, 103 yards rushing, and three touchdown passes.
“We struggled a little bit early but just got comfortable as the game went on and made some big plays. The guys up front did a hell of a job . and we got it going.” – Trevor Knight.
The 16th-ranked Sooners rushed for 305 yards as a team with running back Damien Williams adding 66 on 16 carries.
Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Kolton Browning, who was the 2012 Sun Belt Conference offensive player of the year, had the rough night. He completed 20 of 39 passes for 128 yards.
The Warhawks, who beat Arkansas and took Auburn and Baylor down to the wire last season, only had nine first downs.
The win was Bob Stoops’ 150th career win, putting him seven behind Barry Switzer on the Sooners’ career coaching wins list. Oklahoma
Knight became the first Oklahoma quarterback to rush for 100 or more yards in a game since Jason White had 117 yards rushing against Kansas on Oct. 13, 2001.
“The first game, you come out and you hope everything goes well,” Knight said. “We struggled a little bit early but just got comfortable as the game went on and made some big plays. The guys up front did a hell of a job . and we got it going.
“I felt good. From the beginning . I was dealing. I just missed a few things here and there. Nothing big. We know we can correct it this week. That’s the good thing about this game, is we know we can only go up from here.”
Last year, Louisiana-Monroe upset then-No. 8 Arkansas on the road to open the 2012 season, but the Warhawks didn’t get untracked offensively against a revamped Oklahoma defense. The Warhawks crossed midfield only twice and recorded only nine first downs and 166 yards of offense.
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