Oklahoma's John Mateer shatters school record in crushing victory over Illinois State

Oklahoma Sooners Secure Impressive Victory over Illinois State

The Sooners kicked off their 2022 season with a dominant performance against the FCS Redbirds, securing a 35-3 victory.

In the opening quarter, quarterback John Mateer set the tone with a 7-yard touchdown run, giving Oklahoma an early lead. The first play of the first drive was a 28-yard pass from Mateer to Deion Burks, showcasing the offensive rebuild led by Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

Mateer's impressive play continued throughout the game, as he threw for a staggering 392 yards, surpassing the previous record set by Baker Mayfield in an opener. His passing prowess was on display again in the second quarter, when he connected with Burks for a 27-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 14-0.

The Sooners' freshman running back, Tory Blaylock, added to the scoreboard before halftime with a 5-yard touchdown run. The offensive firepower didn't stop there, as Keontez Lewis led the Sooners in receiving in his OU debut, finishing with nine catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

Illinois State's lone score came in the third quarter on Matt Maldonado's 33-yard field goal, set up by Shadwel Nkuba II's interception of a Mateer pass at the Oklahoma 22-yard line. Despite the interception, the Sooners' defence held strong, outgaining Illinois State 495-151 in total yards during the game.

The Redbirds' quarterback, Tommy Rittenhouse, left the game early in the third quarter due to a hard hit from defensive end Taylor Wein. Wenkers Wright led Illinois State in rushing, with 50 yards on seven carries.

Ben Arbuckle, the offensive coordinator responsible for Oklahoma's offensive rebuild, applied an Air Raid philosophy focused on spreading the field and creating mismatches. His strategies paid off, as the Sooners demonstrated a potent offensive performance in their opening game of the season.