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At the buzzer takeaways: Sooners return to form, rout WVU

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•11/11/23•

BPrzybylo

Syndication: The Oklahoman
(Sarah Phipps - The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network).

It might have taken a month, but the Sooners looked like the Sooners again from the first half of the season, finally.

After two narrow road losses, it was home sweet home for OU in a 59-20 victory against visiting West Virginia on Saturday evening.

No. 17 OU is now 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12. The Sooners are very much alive for a berth in the Big 12 championship after losses by Kansas and Oklahoma State on Saturday. It’s no lie as Brent Venables and company have a whole lot to play for.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was able to orchestrate five straight scoring drives to begin the game. The Sooners got multiple players involved and let the defense do the rest.

Gabriel accounted for eight touchdowns (five passing, three rushing) in another superb outing.

After some heartbreak and gut-punches, ah, it was nice to relax again for OU fans.

Your non-Gabriel at the buzzer takeaways of Game 10.

Drake. Stoops

What a performance, simply put. Stoops had a career high in receiving yards last week in the loss. He one-upped that outing

Stoops had 10 receptions for 164 yards and three touchdowns. All three touchdowns occurred in the second half.

Running attack has been found

For the second straight week, running back Gavin Sawchuk rushed for more than 100 yards. And he did it all by the end of the first half this time around.

Sawchuk is doing a great job of turning those short gains into much longer ones. It was something sorely missing from the Sooners’ rushing attack this season.

The Sooners have found something with Sawchuk and Tawee Walker as the one-two combination at running back, no question.

Stutsman back, but others out

As the injury report turns for OU. You get one star back in linebacker Danny Stutsman, but the Sooners were without some key guys vs. WVU.

Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton did not play because of a concussion. Dasan McCullough and Gentry Williams warmed up with the team, but neither saw the field.

OU lost another during the game with cornerback Makari Vickers going down in the second quarter. The last month is simply going to be a grind in that regard.

Jacob Sexton got the start at right tackle, replacing Guyton.

Another goalline stand

It’s almost as if the Sooners defense relishes the chance to show what they can do. For the second time this season, OU’s defense was up to the task at the 1 yard line.

Time and time again, WVU attempted to run hard inside. And each time, Da’Jon Terry was able to come up big.

Terry and Kip Lewis were taking turns making big-time plays, and Robert Spears-Jennings helped close the door on fourth down.

Up next

Final road game in the Big 12. The Sooners head to BYU next Saturday night. Time and TV is still to be determined.

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