OU Football: Sooners Wallop Warhawks In Bounce-Back Win

<p>Baker Mayfield threw for three touchdowns and Joe Mixon rushed for 117 yards as the Sooners beat Louisiana Monroe 59-17 to improve to 1-1 on the season.&nbsp;</p>

Saturday, September 10th 2016, 4:14 pm

By: Brett Coppenbarger


While playing inside the newly renovated Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the No. 14 Sooners got back to their winning ways against Louisiana Monroe, beating the Warhawks 59-17. Oklahoma now improves to 1-1 on the season and 2-0 all-time against ULM.

The Sooners have now won 35 straight regular season games following a regular season loss and extend their home winning streak to seven games.

“I was pleased overall with our execution in the first half,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “Controlling some of the things that we can control, which is being smart with penalties, playing clean, playing smart, blocking the right people, being in the right positions on defense, taking care of the football. Some of the things we didn’t do so well before we were better.”

It was a highlight reel week for many OU players, with quarterback Baker Mayfield shining brightest. The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year bounced back from a rough start to the season against Houston by throwing for 244 yards in only two quarters of action against ULM and tallying three touchdowns.

Mayfield got things started on the first drive of the game with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews, then on the following possession connected with Dimitri Flowers for a wide open eight yard score to give the Sooners and early lead.

It was a great start for Mayfield, but his biggest play of the game came in the second quarter. Mayfield was able to find walk-on receiver Nick Basquine deep down the field for a 62-yard touchdown that put the Sooners up 35-0.

“He [Mayfield] was good," offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley said. "He responded like we all expected and made some of the small corrections we needed him to make. From game 1 he led us, he was patient, had a great mindset all week  and he took some steps forward." 

One week after the OU running backs combined for only 13 carries for 71 yards in a loss to the Cougars, the Sooners’ stable of backs were dominant against the Warhawks. Samaje Perine led the way with two touchdowns on 58 yards rushing, while Joe Mixon played like a man possessed when he was given the ball, and finished with 117 yards on the ground.

“He’s a great player, he’s playing really well for us,” Riley said. “He’s playing the best ball of his life right now, he’s really taken a lot of steps. He’s a completely different player than he was last year. 

“Last year he was a talented guy that was growing and figuring it out on the run, where he is now he’s really starting to settle in and play well for us.”

Mayfield spread the ball around nicely, with Dede Westbrook making contested catches in traffic while Andrews and Basquine each had at least 60 yards receiving. True freshman Mykel Jones had a team-high six catches for 48 yards in the second half while playing with the reserves, but it was good to see him have good chemistry with backup quarterback Austin Kendall. 

On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma’s defense was able to get off to a solid start, and didn’t allow the Warhawks to score until the third quarter with the game well out of hand. ULM quarterback Garrett Smith threw for two touchdowns, but the Sooners were able to contain him for most of the night and limited him to only five yards rushing. 

While two of the problems in the loss to Houston were missed tackles and a lack of pass breakups, OU was mostly able to get back to the fundamentals against ULM. Senior captain Jordan Evans led the Sooners with 10 tackles, while Kapri Doucet, Neville Gallimore and true freshman Caleb Kelley all had very good games as well. 

As expected, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops opted to start Parrish Cobb at one of the cornerback spots instead of senior Dakota Austin. Cobb, a true freshman, struggled at times, but the game experience should be beneficial throughout the rest of the season if he does indeed keep his starting role.

“Defensively the first half we were excellent for the most part,” Coach Stoops said. “Second half we had a couple of breakdowns with some young guys.“

This was a crucial bounce-back win for Oklahoma, but the Sooners will have a chance to make a statement on a big stage next Saturday.  The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes come to Norman for a battle of blue bloods, and the Sooners would likely jump in the rankings. 

It was a highlight reel week for many OU players, with quarterback Baker Mayfield shining brightest. The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year bounced back from a rough start to the season against Houston by throwing for 244 yards in only two quarters of action against ULM and tallying three touchdowns.

Mayfield got things started on the first drive of the game with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews, then on the following possession connected with Dimitri Flowers for a wide open eight yard score to give the Sooners and early lead.

It was a great start for Mayfield, but his biggest play of the game came in the second quarter. Mayfield was able to find walk-on receiver Nick Basquine deep down the field for a 62-yard touchdown that put the Sooners up 35-0.

. @baker_mayfield6 bragged on Nick Baquine all summer. Beautiful throw, catch & score w the Norman North walk-on. First #OU catch! @NEWS9

— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) September 11, 2016

“He [Mayfield] was good," offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley said. "He responded like we all expected and made some of the small corrections we needed him to make. From game 1 he led us, he was patient, had a great mindset all week  and he took some steps forward." 

One week after the OU running backs combined for only 13 carries for 71 yards in a loss to the Cougars, the Sooners’ stable of backs were dominant against the Warhawks. Samaje Perine led the way with two touchdowns on 58 yards rushing, while Joe Mixon played like a man possessed when he was given the ball, and finished with 117 yards on the ground.

“He’s a great player, he’s playing really well for us,” Riley said. “He’s playing the best ball of his life right now, he’s really taken a lot of steps. He’s a completely different player than he was last year. 

“Last year he was a talented guy that was growing and figuring it out on the run, where he is now he’s really starting to settle in and play well for us.”

Mayfield spread the ball around nicely, with Dede Westbrook making contested catches in traffic while Andrews and Basquine each had at least 60 yards receiving. True freshman Mykel Jones had a team-high six catches for 48 yards in the second half while playing with the reserves, but it was good to see him have good chemistry with backup quarterback Austin Kendall. 

Smart move to start Austin Kendall at QB in 2nd half. Goes against what Stoops has always done, but wise to get reps...just in case. @NEWS9

— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) September 11, 2016

On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma’s defense was able to get off to a solid start, and didn’t allow the Warhawks to score until the third quarter with the game well out of hand. ULM quarterback Garrett Smith threw for two touchdowns, but the Sooners were able to contain him for most of the night and limited him to only five yards rushing. 

While two of the problems in the loss to Houston were missed tackles and a lack of pass breakups, OU was mostly able to get back to the fundamentals against ULM. Senior captain Jordan Evans led the Sooners with 10 tackles, while Kapri Doucet, Neville Gallimore and true freshman Caleb Kelley all had very good games as well. 

As expected, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops opted to start Parrish Cobb at one of the cornerback spots instead of senior Dakota Austin. Cobb, a true freshman, struggled at times, but the game experience should be beneficial throughout the rest of the season if he does indeed keep his starting role.

“Defensively the first half we were excellent for the most part,” Coach Stoops said. “Second half we had a couple of breakdowns with some young guys.“

This was a crucial bounce-back win for Oklahoma, but the Sooners will have a chance to make a statement on a big stage next Saturday.  The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes come to Norman for a battle of blue bloods, and the Sooners would likely jump in the rankings. 

","published":"2016-09-10T21:14:17.000Z","updated":"2016-09-11T06:34:13.000Z","summary":"

Baker Mayfield threw for three touchdowns and Joe Mixon rushed for 117 yards as the Sooners beat Louisiana Monroe 59-17 to improve to 1-1 on the season. 

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