Oklahoma Rebounds With Resounding 59-17 Win Over Louisiana-Monroe

The Oklahoma of old was back this week as the Sooners ran up a 42-0 halftime lead at home en route to a 59-17 slapdown of overmatched Louisiana-Monroe.

Sep 10, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass the ball agains the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 14 of 20 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns in one half of play as the Sooners came out firing on all cylinders with 21 points in both the first and second quarters to take a commanding lead at the intermission.

True freshman Austin Kendall assumed the quarterback duties for Oklahoma in the second half and threw for 108 yards and two touchdowns of his own to go along with a 42-yard field goal early in the third quarter by Austin Seibert to complete the Sooner scoring for the night.

Bob Stoops is now 97-8 in games played at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. He is now 17-1 in home season openers. All 105 of the Sooners’ home games since Stoops became head coach have been sellouts.

Joe Mixon rambled for 117 rushing yards, averaging eight yards per carry on 14 attempts against ULM. The Sooners rushed for 288 yards in the game, over 200 more than they had a week ago in their season-opening loss to Houston. Freshman Abdul Adams added 91 yards on the ground for OU, and Samaje Perine contributed 51 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Redshirt sophomore Nick Basquine led all Oklahoma receivers with three catches for 81 yards, including a 62-yard reception for a touchdown.

Sep 10, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) breaks a tackle attempt by Louisiana Monroe Warhawks safety Aaron Townsend (31) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma piled up 640 yards of total offense in the game (288 passing and 352 rushing), outgaining the Warhawks of ULM by 290 yards.

The Sooner defense held ULM to 78 yards rushing. Quarterback Garrett Smith, who had 150 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Warhawks’ season-opening win over Southern, was held to just five yards on the ground on six carries.

Stoops sat most of his starters on offense after the first half because of the six-touchdown lead and to prevent injury with the huge showdown with No. 4-ranked Ohio State coming up next Saturday.

This was the second meeting all-time between Oklahoma and Louisiana-Monroe. The Sooners won the first game, also played at OU in 2013, 34-0.