Mateer and OU Defense Lead Way Over Michigan

Oklahoma's football team got an impressive performance from quarterback John Mateer and and the Sooner defense to beat #15 Michigan 24-13 at Owen Field in Norman on Saturday night.

Mateer was 21 of 34 passing for 270 yards and a touchdown, plus ran it 19 times for 74 yards and two scores.

OU's defense held Michigan to just 288 total yards and freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood had just 142 yards passing on 9 of 24 completions.

Oklahoma got the ball to start the game and went 75 yards in 12 plays for a score.

John Mateer completed a deep pass over the middle to Jaren Kanak, who made a one-handed grab for a gain of 31 yards.

Mateer then found Deion Burks for a gain of 21 yards.

The drive was capped off by Burks scoring on a forward toss from Mateer on a reverse from 9 yards out, giving the Sooners a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game.

Burks had 7 catches for 101 yards.

The next three possessions ended in punts, then Michigan got the first turnover of the game, as T.J. Metcalf intercepted Mateer at the Wolverines' 38-yard line late in the first quarter.

OU forced Michigan to punt, then had to punt back to the Wolverines.

It appeared the Sooners had stopped Michigan on the ensuing possession, but OU was called for roughing the punter when Sammy Omosigho ran into Michigan punter Hudson Hollenbeck, keeping the Wolverines drive alive.

Bryce Underwood passed to Channing Goodwin for a gain of 25, but Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada missed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide left with 3:17 left in the first half.

Oklahoma answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive to double their lead.

Mateer passed to Burks for a gain of 22 to the Wolverines' 4, then kept himself for a 2-yard score to make it 14-0 Sooners with 22 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Wolverines got the ball to start the second half and on the first snap, they scored.

Justice Haynes found a seam and went 75 yards for a touchdown and OU's lead was cut in half, 14-7, just 11 seconds into the third quarter.

Haynes had 125 yards rushing on 19 carries.

After an exchange of punts, OU got the ball moving, as Mateer passed to Isaiah Sategna for a gain of 35 yards to the Michigan 14-yard line.

Mateer then finished the 5-play, 51-yard drive, with a 10-yard touchdown run and OU's lead was 21-7 with 10:12 left in the third quarter.

The Sooners forced a Michigan punt, but Sategna muffed the punt and Cole Sullivan recovered for the Wolverines at the OU 31-yard line.

OU's defense held and Michigan got a 42-yard field goal from Zvada to make it 21-10 Sooners with 6:33 to play in the third quarter.

After forcing a Sooner punt, Michigan once again moved to a score.

Underwood passed deep to Donaven McCulley for a gain of 44 yards to the OU 33-yard line.

The Wolverines had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Zvada to make it 21-13 Oklahoma with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

OU moved into field goal range early in the fourth quarter, but Tate Sandell missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

OU forced Michigan to punt after holding them to just eight yards.

Oklahoma then put together a game-clinching drive, eating up 8:27 off the clock and going 78 yards in 16 plays, setting up a 21-yard field goal by Sandell to make it 24-13 Sooners with 1:44 to play.

The OU defense stopped Michigan on downs to get the ball back with 37 seconds left and run out the clock.

This was the second meeting between the two teams, with Oklahoma beating Michigan 14-6 in the 1976 Orange Bowl.

The win was the highest ranked non-conference opponent victory for the Sooners at home since beating #5 Texas A&M 44-14 in 1993.

The Sooners improve to 2-0 on the season.

OU visits Temple next Saturday at 11:00 am.