Halftime Huddle: OU, LSU tied at 3-3
NORMAN — Oklahoma is one half away from snagging a spot in the College Football Playoff.
But the Sooners still have to take care of business, and they’re locked in a 3-3 tie with LSU going into halftime on Saturday.
The Sooners narrowly avoided disaster early in the game, when Harold Perkins Jr. intercepted John Mateer and returned it to OU’s five-yard line. But Peyton Bowen intercepted Michael Van Buren Jr. on the next play to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Tate Sandell connected on a 39-yard field goal late in the first quarter to give OU a three-point lead. The Tigers responded with a field goal early in the second quarter that tied it.
Here’s a look at the highlights and notes from the first half:
The Highlights
The play: Peyton Bowen intercepts Michael Van Buren Jr. on first-and-goal.
It was a huge play that kept the Tigers out of the end zone. It came one play after Harold Perkins Jr. intercepted John Mateer.
The play: A cat was on the field at one point in the first half.
With neither team doing much offensively, it was essentially the highlight of the first half.
The stat to know
66
That’s the number of total yards LSU has going into halftime. The OU defense’s season low for total yards is 104 (Temple).
Key Players, Offense
John Mateer — 14/22 passing, 99 yards
Isaiah Sategna — 6 receptions, 27 yards
Tory Blaylock — 5 carries, 31 yards
Key Players, Defense
LB Kendal Daniels — 4 tackles
Owen Heinecke — 3 tackles, 1 TFL
Peyton Bowen — 1 INT
Notes
— The Sooners went through their senior day ceremony before the game.
Wide receiver Keontez Lewis went through the ceremony but was not dressed out, despite not being listed on the availability report. He has not played in this game.
— Febechi Nwaiwu got the start at center with Jake Maikkula out.
— The running back room has largely remained the same. Xavier Robinson drew the start and has five carries for six yards. Tory Blaylock is the only other running back who has seen the field.
It’s become increasingly clear that any other running backs aren’t likely to see the field the rest of the way.
— It was another rough half for John Mateer. His lone pass of more than 10 yards came on a 27-yard connection to Javonnie Gibson. Mateer is averaging 7.1 yards per completion.
Mateer is on pace for his fourth consecutive game with fewer than 200 passing yards.
— Notable: The Sooners threw the ball 22 times compared to 15 rushes.
— Fortunately for the Sooners, the Tigers have had nothing on offense. Michael Van Buren Jr. completed 4/10 passes for seven yards. Four of LSU’s seven offensive possessions went three-and-out.
— OU safety Reggie Powers is eligible to play in the second half. He missed the first half due to a targeting penalty against Missouri.
— OU’s offense gets the ball to start the second half.