Clock expires takeaways: OU finds a way without Gabriel
OU has had its fair share of troubles on the road. The trip to BYU was not expected to be among them, but it was another battle.
Faced with way more adversity than anybody anticipated, the Sooners found a way to earn their ninth victory of the season with a 31-24 win in Provo.
The story of the game was the injury to quarterback Dillon Gabriel at the end of the first half. OU found other ways to get it into the end zone. A lot of players coming up big, especially on defense, in the second half to keep the Sooners’ hopes alive to play for a Big 12 championship.
Your at the buzzer (and from the couch) takeaways.
Gabriel out, Arnold called into action
Nobody thought anything about it at the time. Dillon Gabriel was tackled in the red zone toward the end of the first half. OU kicked a field goal.
When second half warmups began, Gabriel was nowhere to be found. OU reported an injury to Gabriel and that he wouldn’t return. The way Gabriel’s helmet popped off the ground, the natural assumption is concussion. But it was never officially ruled that.
Gabriel being out meant it was time for Jackson Arnold to come in. The Sooners were really hoping to redshirt Arnold, who had played four games going into the weekend.
But head coach Brent Venables had been consistent in saying it would be a situational thing. This situation dictated burning the redshirt and trying to get the win.
Gabriel had thrown for 191 yards and two touchdowns and looked to be in firm command of the OU offensive direction going into the second half.
Arnold didn’t put up huge numbers, but he delivered on the final five-minute drive to put the game away.
Bowman from goalline to goalline
You need a shot in the arm? Billy Bowman was there to deliver that for the Sooners. With the score tied 17-17, BYU was driving for a go-ahead score.
Instead, it was picked off by Bowman at the goalline, and he went the full 100 yards to give OU its first points of the second half.
No doubt it was a major play. The only problem was it didn’t rattle the Cougars. BYU drove right down the field on the ensuing possession and tied it at 24.
Takeaways prove to be the difference
Venables was quick to point out last week that BYU had the best turnover ratio in the conference for its home games. But the Sooners flipped that script.
OU didn’t turn the ball over once, even when Arnold came in. And the Sooners came up with three big-time takeaways.
Bowman scored seven all by himself, but that wasn’t going to be enough. A Danny Stutsman sack and forced fumble was recovered by Jacob Lacey midway through the fourth quarter.
OU only needed to go 25 yards for the go-ahead score, and it was a powerful 16-yard touchdown run by Gavin Sawchuk that got the job done.
Sawchuk rushed for more than 100 yards for the third straight game.
Up next
Short week for the Sooners. No. 14 OU (9-2, 6-2) closes out its regular season with TCU coming to Norman. The Sooners host the Frogs 11 a.m. Friday on FOX.
