Both Missouri and Oklahoma offenses sputter
In a game best described as a defense-dominated punting contest, the Oklahoma Sooners got their fifth win over a ranked opponent, the Missouri Tigers 17-6, and took another step toward the college football playoffs.
The win, which followed last week’s road win over then 4th ranked Alabama, improved the Sooners’ record to 9-2, and left LSU the weekend next week as the last hurdle to a first round playoff spot.
The first quarter had fans thinking last week’s win in Tuscaloosa left a hangover for the Sooners. Missouri led 3-0 and Oklahoma had negative rushing yardage.
But the Oklahoma defense shut down vaunted Mizzou running back Ahmad Hardy, holding him to a mere 57 yards, just one week after Hardy ran for 300 yards and three touchdowns against Mississippi State. Hardy entered the game was the nation’s leading rushing, averaging 130 yards per game.
Hardy had eight carries for 45 yards in the first quarter but nine carries for 12 yards the rest of the game, including five carries for seven yards in the second half. Missouri was held to a season-low 70 yards on 35 carries.
Sooner QB John Mateer went 14 for 30 for 170 yards passing and ran for 60 yards. Most of his rushing yards came in the second half.
Isaiah Sategna led receivers with three catches for 109 yards. His 87 yard touchdown catch and run in the second quarter gave the Sooners a 7-3 lead. Mateer later connected with Javonnie Gibson for an 8-yard touchdown pass to give Oklahoma a 14-6 lead at halftime.
Oklahoma never relinquished that lead, thanks to a crushing defense that held the Tigers scoreless in the second half.
Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell made a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter to extend his school-record streak to 22 consecutive makes. It was his 15th successful attempt of at least 40 yards this season.
The Sooners were not able to capitalize on good field position at other times in the second half. On five drives the Sooners got stuck at mid-field, just outside Tate Sandell’s field goal kicking range.
“That was a grimy group. We did what we needed to do to win,” Coach Brent Venables said.
The Sooners had no turnovers in the game.
“Playing insanely tough, not turning the ball, doing the little things that it does take to win and being a great teammate, a great leader — that’s how I’ve seen him progress, and I expect nothing different from him,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said.
Oklahoma’s Grayson Miller punted a season high nine times, averaging 45 yards a boot. Missouri punted the ball seven times.
Xavier Robinson played most of the game at running back. He carried the ball 12 times for 42 yards.
Venables said Robinson played with a sprained knee. He said Robinson came to the medical staff on Monday and said, “put a brace on it.”
“That’s what kids from Carl Albert do,” Venables said, referencing Robinson’s high school alma mater. (Class 5A Carl Albert defeated McAlester 55-0 in the first round of the playoffs on Friday night).
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