After a week of nonstop chatter about OU’s running game, the Sooners found something against South Carolina in a 26-7 win Saturday.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — After a week of nonstop chatter about OU’s running game, the Sooners found something against South Carolina.
True freshman Tory Blaylock continued as OU’s feature back, rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in the Sooners’ 26-7 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. Blaylock rushed for more yards on the Sooners’ first drive than OU's running backs rushed for last week against Texas.
Xavier Robinson was the Sooners’ second running back used on Saturday. He rushed 11 times for 58 yards and one touchdown.
Jaydn Ott received zero carries. He was pulled from last week’s game after carrying the ball once, dropping a screen pass and missing blocks.
Following last week’s offensive ineptitudes in the loss to the Longhorns, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s group played with energy from the start, scoring on the first drive of the game.
OU outgained South Carolina 319 total yards to 224.
Here are four more takeaways from the Sooners’ (6-1, 2-1 SEC) win:
OU quarterback John Mateer bounce back game
Seventeen days post-surgery, John Mateer looked off against Texas.
In the Sooners’ most important rivalry game, their star transfer quarterback missed wide-open receivers and threw three interceptions. This past week, he vowed he’d be better.
Mateer bounced back in a big way Saturday in OU’s win, completing 18 of his 26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown.
Perhaps Mateer’s best play of the game came when he found a wide-open Isaiah Sategna III for a 20-yard touchdown pass. He also perfectly executed a pooch punt, downing it at South Carolina's own one-yard line, leading to a safety.
Mateer didn't participate in any good on good in practice last week. He was a full participant this past week and it appears to have made a difference.
Taylor Wein records interception, two tackles for loss
Taylor Wein has been quite the story for the Sooners this season.
Venables raved about him all offseason, but it was hard to imagine him playing meaningful snaps this season within a loaded edge rusher position group.
The young standout from Brentwood, Tennessee, was all over the field again for OU on Saturday, recording two tackles for loss and an interception.
Wein has been perhaps the most surprising player on one of the nation’s best defenses.
OU’s defense is what we thought it was
The Sooners’ defense wasn’t at fault for the Red River Rivalry loss, but it didn’t play its best game.
OU struggled tackling and finishing plays in the third quarter against the Longhorns. South Carolina mustered only 30 yards and no points Saturday in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks tried over and over to run the ball up the middle with no success. The Sooners' defensive line was too stout.
Head coach Brent Venables challenged his players during the week to clean up their mistakes. Venables’ defense held the Gamecocks to just 170 passing yards and 54 rushing yards.
The Sooners also finished with six sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
Here’s South Carolina’s offensive drive chart in its loss:
- Downs
- Punt
- Punt
- Touchown
- Half
- Punt
- Punt
- Interception
- Punt
- Downs
- Safety
- Interception
Isaiah Sategna III continues to be Sooners’ most explosive weapon
With Keontez Lewis ruled out on this week’s availability report, it was imperative for Sategna to elevate his play.
OU’s most dangerous weapon through the air didn’t disappoint. He caught seven passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
During his touchdown play, Sategna snuck by South Carolina defenders for a walk-in touchdown.
Next, the Sooners host Mississippi at 11 a.m. next Saturday at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
OU vs. Ole Miss
KICKOFF: 11 a.m. Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (ABC)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football smashes South Carolina as Tory Blaylock, defense shine
Category: General Sports
