The Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) shut out the Arkansas State Red Wolves (0-1) 73-0, the largest margin of victory in an OU season opener in 106 years per OU Stats. Dillon Gabriel wasted no time putting the Sooners in the scoring position, finding Andrel Anthony for a 45-yard gain. Then, on the next play, Gabriel swung it out to Drake Stoops for a 10-yard touchdown. The Sooners forced a three and out to put the ball back into the offense's hands. However, Gavin Freeman had other plans, returning his first career punt return for an 82-yard touchdown. Freeman is the fourth Sooner to return a punt for a touchdown in his first career return, the first since Elvis Peacock in 1974. The return also marks the second consecutive season in which Freeman scored on his first touch of the season.
After another defensive stop, Oklahoma took over on downs, marching down the field for a 13-play, 73-yard drive, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run by Marcus Major. Following a missed field goal attempt by Arkansas State kicker Dominic Zvada, the Sooners took over on downs at their own 27-yard line. The Sooners extended their lead to 28 points as Dillon Gabriel found Gavin Freeman for a 7-yard score. In the Sooners' first drive of the second quarter, Dillon Gabriel connected with wide receiver Jayden Gibson for a gain of 33 yards. On the next play, Tawee Walker added six points to the scoreboard on a 1-yard touchdown run. Following another missed field goal by Dominic Zvada, Gabriel found Nic Anderson for back-to-back receptions, a 16-yarder and a 52-yarder. Gabriel found the endzone again to end the drive, this time a scramble for a 5-yard rushing touchdown. For the first time, the Sooners were held without a touchdown on their sixth drive of the game. Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmit extended the Sooners' lead to 45, making a 21-yard field goal. The Sooners' 45 points at the half is the third most ever in an Oklahoma season opener, per OU stats.
With five-star freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold at the helm to open the second half, the Sooners again found the endzone. Tawee Walker rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, his second of the day. Following a fourth down stop by the Sooners' defense, Jackson Arnold and the Oklahoma offense took over on downs at their own 38-yard line. Arnold completed four passes on the drive for 62 yards, including a 21-yard, highlight-reel touchdown pass to Jayden Gibson. The Sooners forced their first and only turnover of the game as defensive back Kani Walker forced and recovered a fumble to give the Sooners the ball back in Arkansas State territory. Jackson Arnold took full advantage of the short field, rushing for his first career rushing touchdown on a 7-yard rush. The Sooners' only points of the fourth quarter came on their first drive of the quarter. Freshman running back Kalib Hicks rushed for his first career touchdown on a 7-yard score, giving the Sooners a 73-point lead.
Stats
Dillon Gabriel completed 19 of his 22 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns and rushed twice for 15 yards and a score. Jackson Arnold completed all 11 of his passes for 114 yards and a touchdown; he also rushed five times for 39 yards and a score.
The Sooners passed for 422 yards on 33 attempts. Nic Anderson led the Sooners in receiving yards, catching two passes for 68 yards. Andrel Anthony caught three passes for 66 yards. Jaquaize Pettaway caught nine passes for 56 yards. Drake Stoops caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown before an AC sprain sidelined him in the first quarter. Jayden Gibson caught two passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. LV Bunkley-Shelton caught two passes for 32 yards. Tigh ends Blake Smith caught one pass for 28 yards, and Kade McIntyre caught one pass for 26 yards. Gavin Freeman caught four passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.
The Sooners rushed for 220 yards on 49 attempts as a team. Jovantae Barnes led the Sooners in rushing, with 49 yards on 13 carries; he also caught two passes for 17 yards. Tawee Walker rushed eight times for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Marcus Major rushed nine times for 31 yards and a score. Daylan Smothers rushed seven times for 16 yards. Kalib Hicks rushed three times for 14 yards and a touchdown. Jalil Farooq rushed once for ten yards, and Davis Beville rushed once for two yards.
Kobie McKinzie and Danny Stutsman led the Sooners in tackles with four each. McKinzie had one TFL and three solo tackles, and Stutsman had three solo tackles.
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