Tag: Maine Black Bears Football

What did Brent Venables have to say about Oklahoma’s start against Maine?

The Sooners won 59-14, but started slowly for the third straight week.

The Oklahoma Sooners improved to 5-4 with a 59-14 victory over the Maine Black Bears on Saturday. OU broke a three-game losing streak with the 45-point win on an overcast day in Norman.

While the game wasn’t in doubt against the Football Championship Subdivision opponent, OU started way too slowly. It punted on its first offensive drive. The Black Bears went right down the field on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead.

Oklahoma then locked in, scoring on all but one other possession and stifling any other efforts by Maine until the Sooners were deep on the depth chart. They used their superior talent to overwhelm Maine.

Slow starts on offense are nothing new. The Sooners have struggled to score all season. What was concerning was the ease with which Maine dictated the action the first time it had the ball. The Sooners have started well on defense for the most part, but they have given up a relatively easy touchdown drive on the opening possession of their last three games.

Third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] was asked about the bad start at his postgame press conference. He expressed his displeasure in the way his defense started things off on Saturday.

“Today I was really disappointed,” Venables said of the defense’s opening drive. “We’ve got to be better than that. We did some undisciplined things early in the game. I understand guys get tired, you know, they’re making some plays, we’re making plays later in the game sometimes that it, or maybe it’s out of control, and guys get a little bit sloppy, the guys that come in, they’re not used to being out there as much. But right early in the game we didn’t have edges to our defense several times and just some undisciplined defense. And so whether it’s eyes or adjustments or structure, it was a lot of little things and really disappointing. But they did respond, and we’ve got to be better. (I) challenged them at halftime; thought they responded pretty good.”

Venables went on to detail his message to the team, which was that the Sooners had to respect the game, show up and play at an elite level, regardless of the caliber of the opponent across the line of scrimmage.

Oklahoma has much tougher opponents coming up on the schedule, and subpar starts could prove critical in their hunt for a bowl berth. After the poor start, the Sooners played very well as the more talented team on their home field on Saturday. They will not be the more talented team very often during the next month, so they have to find a way to get rolling sooner if they want to create a spark to finish the season strongly.

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What uniform are the Oklahoma Sooners wearing Saturday?

What uniform will the Oklahoma Sooners wear on Saturday against the Maine Black Bears?

The Oklahoma Sooners will have a different look when they take the field on Saturday. OU will be breaking out the alternate “Unity” anthracite uniforms against the Maine Black Bears this week to celebrate Military Appreciation Day.

It’s the third time that the “Unity” look has been on display for OU. The Sooners wore the look against Kansas in a 2022 victory and against West Virginia in a 2023 win. They’ll look to make it 3-0 in these alternates this week.

In 2022, the Sooners beat the No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks 52-42. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and was the Sooners’ first game after the 49-0 loss to Texas. [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] threw for 403 yards and had three total touchdowns. Eric Gray ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Then true freshman [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] added two scores and 69 yards. Marvin Mims and Brayden Willis each had over 100 yards receiving in the bounceback win.

In 2023, the Sooners had another 50-point day in the Unity uniforms, beating West Virginia 59-20 to move to 6-2 on the season. The win snapped Oklahoma’s two-game losing streak after they were upset by Oklahoma State and Kansas on the road. Gabriel, once again, had a monster day with a school record eight total touchdowns. He threw for 423 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 50 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. The Oklahoma Sooners jumped out to a 38-7 lead in the second quarter and cruised to victory against the Mountaineers.

It’s just a two-game sample size, but the Sooners seem to get right when they’re playing in the “Unity” alternates. Can they get right on the offensive side of the ball against Maine on Saturday?

It’ll also be the second time Oklahoma has worn an alternate look this season, as they wore Bud Wilkinson-era inspired throwback uniforms back on September 7 in a win over Houston.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his Sooners need a win in this game, as they try to carve out a path toward bowl eligibility in 2024. Kickoff against the Black Bears is set for 1:30 p.m. in Norman on ESPN+.

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Can this trio of freshmen help Oklahoma to victory against Maine?

Who are three freshmen to watch out for when the Sooners meet the Black Bears?

The Oklahoma Sooners will look to improve on their 4-4 record when they host the Maine Black Bears this weekend. OU has lost three straight games, but this week’s FCS opponent should provide a breather before a daunting final month of the regular season.

Oklahoma is still facing injury issues at key positions like wide receiver and offensive line, and an opponent like this one is a good opportunity to get some younger players in the action and see how they fare.

With the struggles of the Sooners offense this season, virtually nothing is certain. But if Oklahoma is able to get a big lead, Saturday might be a time to see some faces that haven’t been on the field much in 2024.

Here are three freshmen to watch for this week, as the Sooners take on the Black Bears.

1. Isaiah Autry-Dent, OL

Offensive lineman [autotag]Isaiah Autry-Dent[/autotag] is a guy that head coach Brent Venables has said will be “brought up” from the scout team this week. It’s an exciting opportunity for a young, talented prospect.

Oklahoma is facing injuries to offensive tackles Jake Taylor and Jacob Sexton, forcing even more shuffling from a unit that’s started seven different combinations in eight games. Taylor and Sexton aren’t the only players that are banged up, so this game presents a good opportunity for a player like Autry-Dent to show what he’s got.

2. Michael Boganowski, DB

Defensive back [autotag]Michael Boganowski[/autotag] has been more of a special teams piece for the Oklahoma Sooners but has the ability to be a difference maker for the Sooners defense. He only saw four snaps against Ole Miss, according to Pro Football Focus, but as the Sooners continue to play around with some three-safety looks, he could see the field a lot this week.

Boganowski is part of a very talented and diverse group of true freshmen defensive backs that Oklahoma has at their disposal. He’s a thumper over the middle of the field. With more experience, he’ll become a dynamic part of the Sooners defense.

3. Jacob Jordan, WR

Two weeks ago, nobody thought wide receiver [autotag]Jacob Jordan[/autotag] would even see much of the field. Now, he’s arguably the top target in OU’s passing game, leading the wide receivers in catches and yards the last two weeks. He has 12 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown in just two games.

Jordan isn’t going to be confused for the most athletic guy on the field. But he catches the ball when it’s thrown his way, and he seems to get open a lot.

This week against Maine is a good opportunity for him to get a lot of snaps and continue to develop his chemistry with quarterback Jackson Arnold. In short order, the true freshman walk-on has become a reliable part of the Oklahoma Sooners offense.

The Sooners and the Black Bears will get going at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+ this Saturday, as OU looks to avoid a fourth-straight loss at get back over .500 on the 2024 season.

Who are Oklahoma’s captains this week against Maine?

Who are Oklahoma’s captains for this week’s game against Maine?

The Oklahoma Sooners will look to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Maine Black Bears in Norman on Saturday afternoon. Maine is an FCS team, and OU should have no trouble controlling the game.

Head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has announced Oklahoma’s game captains for this week ten clash. Wide receiver [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Jake Roberts[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], defensive lineman [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], and linebackers [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] will represent the Sooners at home.

Thompson has seen his usage increase in a big way this season with all of the injuries the Sooners have suffered at wide receiver. He’s had a couple of big plays, but OU will no doubt be trying to figure out ways to use his downfield speed better over the final four games of the season.

Roberts is Oklahoma’s best blocking tight end, but plays in a rotational role behind Bauer Sharp. Roberts has nine receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown this season.

Tarquin will be looking to bounce back this week, after he and the offensive line have had a rough couple of weeks. The Sooners have given up 19 sacks in two games. He’ll probably stay on the right side of the offensive line this week if Jake Taylor is unable to go again.

Terry has turned into a very good player up front on OU’s defensive line. He’s a very good run-stuffer and is playing himself into becoming an NFL draft pick come April. He’s a part of a strong defensive tackle rotation that’s allowed the Sooners to be one of the best run defenses in the nation in 2024.

Lewis has blossomed into one of the best players on Oklahoma’s defense this year. The weak side linebacker attacks downhill with speed. He’s recorded 42 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and an interception return for a touchdown this season. He’s positioning himself to be a leader on this defense next year when veterans like Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman depart for the NFL.

McCullough returned from a foot injury after the bye week, and has been put right back into the action. He brings a physicality to the position, and his best trait is the way he plays against the run. Against Ole Miss, McCullough recorded five total tackles and a tackle for loss.

The Sooners and the Black Bears will square off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the game will broadcast on ESPN+.