Postgame Thoughts: Oklahoma 17, LSU 13
The Oklahoma Sooners survived an upset bid in a 17-13 win over the LSU Tigers on Saturday, all but securing their spot in the College Football Playoff.
OU overcame what could be described as an uneven performance by quarterback John Mateer in their 10th win of the regular season. Mateer completed 23-of-38 pass attempts for 318 with two touchdowns, but his three interceptions nearly buried the Sooners. A busted coverage in the LSU secondary left receiver Isaiah Sategna wide open to grab Mateer’s second touchdown pass of the game on a 58-yard bomb, sealing the win late in the fourth quarter.
A helping of notes and observations based on the live broadcast of the game.
*Ironically, although it felt like an inept performance by the OU offense, the Sooners gave possibly their best showing of the last month against LSU’s well-regarded defense. Their average gain of six yards per offensive play represented their highest mark since they lost to Ole Miss at the end of October. OU pumped out an average of 8.4 yards per pass attempt to bolster the squad’s offensive output.
None of OU’s passing plays were more important than Mateer’s game-winning heave to Sategna and a 45-yard catch-and-run reception for a TD by wide receiver Deion Burks in the third quarter.
*Despite the late heroics, Mateer gave a performance he’d just as soon forget. His first pick came as the result of a batted ball at the line of scrimmage, which seems like an occupational hazard. Additionally, Mateer’s hustle play to prevent LSU linebacker Harold Perkins from taking the oskie into the end zone proved pivotal – LSU QB Michael “President” van Buren gave the ball right back to the Sooners on the following play, an acrobatic interception by safety Peyton Bowen.
From the broadcast, Mateer’s second and third INTs looked awful. One came on a seam route intended for tight end Jaren Kanak in which OU’s QB appeared intent on throwing the ball through two LSU defenders. The other was the result of an under throw to Javonnie Gibson down the sideline. The only thing worse about the pass than the toss was the decision to throw the ball in the first place, as Tigers defensive back DJ Pickett was already blanketing Gibson before Mateer even took aim.
Overall, it felt throughout the game as though Mateer was playing the dual roles of arsonist and firefighter.
*Up-and-down day for the offensive line, too. The Tigers haven’t given the opposition much daylight to run the ball this season, and Saturday’s game was no exception. The absence of first-string center Jake Maikkula couldn’t have helped, although veteran gaurd Febechi Nwaiwu did his best in the role of understudy.
One big benefit of the extended break before the start of the CFP is the opportunity to get Maikkula and his compadres healthy.
*Speaking of which, freshman Tory Blaylock came into the game as OU’s lead running back. It often feels as though running backs coach DeMarco Murray organizes his rotations by drawing straws, but Blaylock clearly had more juice than counterpart Xavier Robinson today. Robinson got a smattering of rushing attempts over the course of the game. None turned into much, as he is undoubtedly hobbled at the moment.
*On the other side of the ball, singling out just a small number of players’ performances doesn’t do justice to the collective effort by the D. Peyton Bowen’s end-zone interception in the first quarter and his batted ball on the final pass of the game by the Tigers will make highlight reels. But it seems as though the strong safety does so many other things well that don’t show up in the stat sheet.
*All of the interior defensive linemen flashed in spurts, led by defensive tackle Gracen Halton playing at his most disruptive level this year.
*As has been the case for most of the year, OU won its 10th game of the season playing a brand of football no one is dying to watch. The low-margin approach will catch up with the Sooners soon enough in the postseason tournament, but that’s a conversation for another time. For now, let’s just appreciate what the Sooners have accomplished this year.