NORMAN — Offensive errors value Oklahoma dearly on Saturday.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel posted his second three-turnover recreation of the season, placing his group behind the tempo of Baylor within the first half of OU’s 38-35 loss to the Bears on Saturday.
The Sooner followers in attendance at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium had been annoyed time and time once more as Gabriel noticed two of his passes tipped up for interceptions. Then when the protection responded with a choose of their very own, Gabriel gave the ball away once more on an errant overthrow of Jalil Farooq..
Then on the ultimate drive of the half, Oklahoma (5-4 total, 2-4 Big 12) dedicated a pair of penalties on a Gabriel scramble, turning a possible 40-yard subject objective try right into a 55-yard attempt that kicker Zach Schmit missed extensive left.
Combine these missed alternatives with a failed fourth down conversion the place operating again Marcus Major ran straight into the energy of the Baylor defensive position and OU got here away empty handed on 5 completely different first half drives in opposition to a gettable Dave Aranda protection.
“It’s a pretty short story for us, offensively,” OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby mentioned after the sport. “Three turnovers, fourth-down non-conversion, that’s four series in the first half where we put the defense in a bad position and we get no points. At the end of it, that’s the story.”
The efficiency was Gabriel’s worst by far since coming back from his concussion.
Entering the day, the Sooner beginning quarterback had solely thrown one interception all season. He took the blame for 3 turnovers in OU’s 52-42 win over Kansas on Oct. 15, however two of these miscues got here within the type of fumbles.
The lefty was most likely fortunate to solely finish the day with three turnovers, as his worst throw of the day was dropped by a Baylor defensive again on the Bears’ sideline.
OU extensive receiver Marvin Mims mentioned Gabriel’s demeanor didn’t change after the interceptions, and that he was prepared to come again out and preserve attacking downfield.
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“Obviously right after, he may have been a little down or something or like, ‘Oh my bad.’ It’s like, ‘Oh, you’re good.’ Next drive he’s back in there, throwing it again,” Mims mentioned. “Nobody’s going to look at him differently for throwing three picks. He’s our guy, we trust whatever he wants to do, whatever he does with the ball.”
Regardless of if Gabriel’s confidence had taken successful or not, Lebby clearly needed to lean on the run recreation within the second half to attempt to get Oklahoma again into the sport.
Five of the seven performs on OU’s first landing drive within the second half had been operating performs, as Eric Gray’s nice play continued to carry the offense.
Oklahoma’s main rusher totaled 106 yards and two touchdowns on the bottom and Gray added eight catches for 58 yards by means of the air, however penalties once more value the Sooners as these errors introduced drives to a halt within the second half.
“Our offense was good in the red zone, but so were they,” OU coach Brent Venables mentioned after the sport. “We needed to force more field goals, first drive of the second half we had a couple of penalties we had a couple of penalties down in the red zone.
“One of ‘em after making a great play, we get a hands to the facemask. Again, that was really how we played today. We couldn’t get out of our own way at the right times.”
The offensive errors had been compounded by the protection’s incapability to cease the run. Anytime the Sooners tried to get optimistic momentum rolling within the second half, the Bears turned to their floor assault that hit OU for 281 dashing yards.
Despite Oklahoma’s struggles to decelerate Baylor operating again Craig Williams, OU nonetheless out-gained the Bears 499 yards to 413, however Gabriel and the Sooners couldn’t provide you with sufficient performs within the pivotal moments of the competition to flip the consequence of their favor on Saturday.
“I think we fought hard,” Gray mentioned. “But in a game like that, it comes down to the details. Kind of shot ourselves in the foot sometimes with penalties, turnovers. That’s ultimately what led to losing by three.”
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