OU football keeps playoff hopes alive with clutch win over Tennessee | 5 takeaways
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — OU‘s playoff hopes are still alive.
Quarterback John Mateer rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:44 remaining and the Sooners squeaked by Tennessee 33-27 on a chilly night at Neyland Stadium in what is perhaps the biggest win of the Brent Venables era.
OU’s quarterback completed 19 of his 29 passes for 159 yards and an interception.
After recording only 99 first-half yards, the Sooners bounced back in the second half with 255. Despite the lack of offensive production early, OU led 16-10 at halftime.
Running back Xavier Robinson rushed for a 4-yard score with 2:03 left in the third quarter for OU’s first offensive touchdown of the night.
Here are four more takeaways from the Sooners’ (7-2, 3-2 SEC) win:
R Mason Thomas’ record-breaking scoop and score
One of R Mason Thomas‘ arms was being held, the other was free.
When Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar was sacked by OU‘s Owen Heinecke and fumbled for the second time Saturday night, Thomas scooped it up with his free hand. What followed was even more impressive.
Thomas took off, stiff-armed a Tennessee player and took it 71 yards for a touchdown to tie the Volunteers 7-7 with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter. Thomas dragged his opponent for more than 20 yards.
The fumble recovery was the longest in school history.
Thomas was helped off the field by teammates and spent time in the injury tent and mimicking his defensive stance on the sideline.
According to the ABC broadcast, Thomas hurt his hamstring on the play. He never returned to action.
Tate Sandell, superstar
Tate Sandell was perfect.
The UTSA transfer, wearing his uniform pants above his knees, finished 4 for 4 with kicks of 55, 51, 40 and 55 yards. The Neyland Stadium record is 55 yards.
Sandell has drilled four 55-yard field goals this season. Sandell has now made 13 field goals from 40 or more yards this season, establishing a single-season school record. The previous record was nine, which he tied last week.
There have been 11 field goals of 55 yards or longer in OU history, four of them by Sandell.
The Sooners have a star at kicker. Lou Groza Award, meet Sandell.
OU forces three turnovers
Entering Saturday, OU had forced four turnovers all season.
The Sooners recorded three against the Volunteers, including Thomas’ scoop and score and interceptions by Peyton Bowen and Robert Spears-Jennings. It was Bowen’s first career interception and Spears-Jennings’ second.
Heck, OU should’ve had four after Courtland Guillory dropped a pick on Tennessee’s first drive of the game.
Pass defense struggles
Tennessee threw it all around the yard on Saturday night.
Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar, a UCLA transfer quarterback who led the FBS in career average yards of total offense per game (292.3) entering the contest, killed the Sooners through the air. He completed 29 of his 45 passes for 393 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Tennessee outgained OU 456-351.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com 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.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football keeps playoff hopes alive with clutch win over Tennessee
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