Takeaways: Sooners roll to begin Year 2 under Brent Venables
It didn’t take long for the Sooners, not long at all. Just 2:22 into the first quarter, and the Sooners had already scored two touchdowns. It was that kind of day.
That’s one way to start the year of efficiency. OU started strong and never looked back en route to a 73-0 shutout victory against visiting Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon.
Some quick takeaways from the solid opening performance.
G-Freaky does it again
Is this going to become a yearly thing? The first time Gavin Freeman touches the ball, he ends up scoring a touchdown.
He did it as a true freshman, and he bested that effort vs. the Red Wolves. Freeman returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown on his initial touch of the season. He did a great job of navigating the sideline and showing his moves in the open space.
Freeman also added four catches for 19 yards and a touchdown.
A lot has been talked about with Freeman throughout the summer and preseason camp. Saturday was another example of why he’s been singled out so many times. And why he earned the scholarship last week.
Gabriel, Arnold off and rolling
There is not much more OU quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Jackson Arnold could have done. One scoring possession after another. Beautiful execution. Even when penalties pushed them back, they were able to find a way.
Gabriel played just the first half, completing 19 of 22 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Then Arnold came in for the second half and didn’t miss a beat. The true freshman completed his first 11 passes and engineered four touchdown drives in his only four chances.
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He threw for 114 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score.
They combined to throw for 422 yards and account for five touchdowns.
Building block game for defense
The numbers look nice for the defense, but head coach Brent Venables knows there is work still left to be done.
Arkansas State just wasn’t a team that could exploit errors. The Red Wolves dropped multiple passes. ASU missed two field goals.
And the pass rush continues to be a concern. It was a strong initial impression from guys like Gentry Williams and Kip Lewis, showing why they were talked about so much.
OU strained to the ball well and definitely got off the field. A lot to like, but enough to know it will have to be better going forward.
Kani Walker ripped out a fumble recovery, and Ethan Downs had a sack.
Extra point
OU came into the game pretty healthy, but the Sooners lost four crucial players to injury. Davis Beville, Drake Stoops, Dasan McCullough and Kendel Dolby all left the game and didn’t return.
Up next
OU (1-0) hosts SMU at 5 p.m. next Saturday.
