'Whatever it took': Oklahoma's John Mateer made enough plays to beat Tennessee

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The Oklahoma Sooners earned one of the most important wins of fourth-year head coach Brent Venables’ tenure last week. OU went into Knoxville and defeated the Tennessee Volunteers in Neyland Stadium, winning 33-27.

The game was one that Oklahoma absolutely had to have, after losses to Texas and Ole Miss this season. With the remaining schedule the Sooners still have to face, they needed a win on the road against the Vols if they wanted to have a real shot at being in the College Football Playoff conversation.

All three phases of the game stepped up to help Oklahoma earn the win. Tate Sandell and OU’s special teams were exceptional. Venables’ defense gave up too many yards and allowed some points, but they also forced three turnovers and made critical stops in the second half against one of the best offenses in the country.

Additionally, Oklahoma’s offense showed growth in the second half, after a putrid first half. While it wasn’t pretty in any way, the Sooners found a little rhythm in the second half and were able to move the ball and make the necessary plays to win.

Part of that better execution after halftime was on the shoulders of quarterback John Mateer. He was able to find his stride a bit coming out of the locker room, and he did just enough to help the Sooners walk out of East Tennessee with a W. His rushing ability and his ability to lead this offense took some of the pressure off of OU’s defense in the second half.

In addition, Mateer’s guts and toughness were on full display again in front of the whole country on Saturday night. After the game, he said that doing whatever it takes is important for his team, and he made a number of those types of plays to help keep OU’s hopes of a win alive.

“Whatever it takes to win is our motto in the quarterback room, and that’s the truth,” Mateer said. “We needed this game and we all knew it, and whatever it took is what I was gonna do.”

Mateer still has a ways to go before he looks like the player he was at Washington State last year, or the player he was before his thumb injury this year again. However, the Sooners have a quarterback who isn’t afraid to put it all on the line in the big moments, and Mateer certainly did that in Knoxville.

His effort was reminiscent of that of a young Baker Mayfield against the Vols, and after scoring a rushing touchdown late in the game, Mateer even shushed the Tennessee crowd like Mayfield did. Mateer’s second half was some of the best football he’s played since his hand injury. We know he’ll do whatever it takes to win, and Oklahoma will certainly need even more of that against Alabama in a couple of weeks.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: OU’s John Mateer’s guts and toughness on display against Tennessee

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