OU-Maine quick-hit: Sooners have their 'get right' game
All week, talked about this OU game as the quintessential ‘get right’ game for the Sooners. Oklahoma would focus on Oklahoma, as head coach Brent Venables would say, and worry about execution.
An early hiccup aside, that’s exactly what it turned out to be. OU had a bunch of feel-good moments in its victory against visiting Maine on Saturday afternoon to get back over .500.
Here are some quick-hit takeaways from Norman.
The chunk play
Too many times, OU has been on the wrong end of the chunk play. The Sooners finally had their moment(s) against the Black Bears.
OU had its longest play from scrimmage on a 74-yard run by Jovantae Barnes in the first quarter. Only for that to be topped by a 90-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Arnold to JJ Hester.
The 90-yard pass is the longest ever for OU at Owen Field, and the longest touchdown pass since 1995. Arnold threw for 224 yards and accounted for three touchdowns.
This game was supposed to be about building confidence. Mission accomplished. Now we’ll see if it carries over. Feel-good moments across the board.
Have yourself a day, Jovantae
Coaches, teammates, everybody has been praising Barnes about his leadership. Deserve isn’t the right word, but you had a feeling Barnes was going to earn this type of game.
Barnes rushed for a career-high 203 yards with three touchdowns. Amazingly, he becomes the first OU rusher to have more than 100 yards in a game this season.
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He has been running hard all season. The holes were there this afternoon to make them something special.
It didn’t matter today…
…It didn’t matter today, but the start to games have been brutal. OU hasn’t scored on its initial drive since Tulane (Game 3). And the defense takes a while to wake up, evidence again by allowing a Maine touchdown drive to begin the game.
It didn’t matter today, but the offensive line injuries are something to monitor. OU is without Jacob Sexton, and then Jake Taylor and Michael Tarquin both weren’t available Saturday.
Obvious statement is obvious, but it’ll be tough for OU to be effective for the SEC stretch run if the line continues to be a game of musical chairs.
Up next
OK, back to the SEC and back to #ItJustMeansMore. OU (5-4 overall, 1-4 SEC) heads to Missouri to play the No. 25-ranked Tigers. Mizzou (6-2) had a bye weekend. All eyes will be on the health for Missouri quarterback Brady Cook. Did the week off do him enough good to be back in action vs. OU?
