Halftime Huddle: OU leads Tennessee, 16-10
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — By the numbers, Tennessee should have a sizable lead over Oklahoma.
Yet, the Sooners hold a 16-10 lead going into halftime.
A trio of momentum-changing plays by the defense have kept the Sooners in this game. Add in three field goals from Tate Sandell — and a missed 37-yard field goal by Tennessee — and OU has done enough to stay in this one.
Here’s a look at the highlights and notes from the first half:
The Box Score
The Highlights
The play: R Mason Thomas picks up the fumble and returns it for a 71-yard touchdown.
The Volunteers were on the verge of taking an early 14-0 lead. But Owen Heinecke hit Joey Aguilar from the backside for a strip sack, and Thomas returned it for a touchdown. However, Thomas appeared to suffer an injury late in the play.
The play: Peyton Bowen intercepts Joey Aguilar and returns it to the OU 42-yard line.
The interception set up Sandell’s second field goal.
The play: Robert Spears-Jennings picks off Aguilar and returns it to the 30-yard line with 16 seconds left before halftime.
The field goal set up Sandell’s third field goal of the half.
The Number to Know
3
That’s the number of turnovers the OU defense forced in the first half.
They had forced four turnovers all season coming into the game.
Key Players, Offense
QB John Mateer: 7/12 passing, 44 yards, 36 rushing yards
WR Deion Burks: 2 receptions, 13 yards
Key Players, Defense
LB Owen Heinecke: 11 tackles, 1 sack, 1.5 TFL
LB Kip Lewis: 7 tackles, 1 TFL
Notes
— Running back Xavier Robinson made his first start at RB.
Tory Blaylock, who had started six consecutive games at running back, didn’t appear until late in the second quarter.
— It’s been a bit of a rough game for Mateer, who has looked shaky in the pocket. His biggest play of the game came on a 22-yard scramble.
— Ryan Fodje got the start at right tackle, while Eddy Pierre-Louis got the start at left guard.
— The Sooners defense has really struggled against Joey Aguilar and the Tennessee passing attack. Aguilar has averaged over 13 yards per completion, with three completions beyond 23 yards. However, the Sooners have done enough to hold Tennessee away from the end zone, and they’ve forced Aguilar into three turnovers.
— Thomas has not returned since suffering an apparent injury on the scoop and score. Adepoju Adebawore has been his primary replacement.
— Linebacker Kobie McKinzie is available to play after being a game-time decision, but it’s been Owen Heinecke taking the reps.
Heinecke has been fantastic in McKinzie’s place.
— OU kicker Tate Sandell made a 55-yard attempt midway through the second quarter to tie the game at 10-10. It was his third 55-yard make on the season, and it tied the longest made field goal at Neyland Stadium.
He added another 51-yard field goal later in the quarter to give the Sooners a lead. He then added yet 40-yard field goal as time expired.
Sandell has now made 17 consecutive field goals. Five of them have come from beyond 50 yards.
— The Sooners have again struggled with penalties. They’ve been whistled six times for 54 yards, compared to two penalties and 20 yards for Tennessee.
— The Volunteers had 255 yards in the first half and held possession for nearly 20 minutes. The Sooners had 99 yards and barely held possession for 10 minutes.
Yet, they lead.