Drake Stoops scores first touchdown of season for Oklahoma before leaving with injury

It didn’t take Oklahoma long to find the end zone in its season opener against Arkansas State on Saturday. Senior Drake Stoops caught a touchdown less than two minutes in to give the Sooners a 7-0 lead.

Stoops scored from 10 yards out on a pass from quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Unfortunately, he left the game later in the first quarter with a left shoulder injury and was taken to the locker room.

The touchdown was set up by a 45-yard reception by Andrel Anthony. You can see both plays below:

Oklahoma strikes quickly! Dillon Gabriel hits Andrel Anthony deep for 45 yards, than Drake Stoops for the 10 yard TD! #Sooners pic.twitter.com/sO4tpBwOeB

— FOLLOW: @TSV__1 (@TSV__1) September 2, 2023

Drake Stoops was putting together an impressive performance prior to the injury. He caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown before heading to the locker room. Oklahoma jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead.

Stoops is coming off of an impressive 2022 season for the Sooners. He tied for second on the team with 39 catches last season. He finished with 393 yards and three touchdowns.

Drake Stoops is of course the son of legendary Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who is the all-time wins leader for the Sooners.

Drake Stoops signed with Oklahoma in the class of 2018. He appeared in two games his first season on campus.

In 2019, Stoops played in all 14 games as a punt returner and receiver. The following year he made seven starts, catching 15 passes for 219 yards.

Stoops appeared in 10 games and made two starts in 2021, before putting together his best season in 2022.

Gavin Freeman runs 82-yard punt return back for touchdown

After Drake Stoops got Oklahoma off to a fast start, it didn’t take the Sooners long to add to their lead.

On his first punt return of the season, Gavin Freeman showed just how electric he can be.

With Oklahoma leading 7-0, Freeman took a punt and ran it all the way back for an 82-yard touchdown to extend the Sooners’ lead just over two minutes into the game. It was quite a start to the year for OU — and, for Freeman.

It’s the second straight season Freeman took his first touch of the season for a touchdown. He also had a 46-yard rushing touchdown in last year’s game against UTEP. All told, he took seven carries for 71 yards in addition to three receptions for 46 yards.

Freeman was put on scholarship last week and quickly showed why he was deserving of one with an impressive touchdown.