Auburn leads Oklahoma 14-7 at half with close to 200 passing yards on Sooner "D"
By Chip Rouse
Oklahoma scored on its fourth play from scrimmage on a 48-yard touchdown run by freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr, but it's been Auburn in control ever since and with a 14-7 lead at halftime.
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne connected on two long touchdown passes in the second quarter, 31 yards to K Lambert Smith seven minutes later on a 48-yard scoring pass to M Simmons to give the Tigers a 14-7 advantage heading into halftime.
Oklahoma, playing with 11 players out, including their top five wide receivers, had the ball for just 19 plays and 11 minutes in the opening 30 minutes and gained just 111 total yards. Nearly half of that total came on Hawkins' long touchdown run to give OU the early lead.
The Sooners had five possessions in the first half, and three of those ended in three-and-out. One possession was a total of six plays and the touchdown possession was four plays
Coming off the field at halftime, Brent Venables told ABC sideline reporter Katie George that he was not happy with the Sooners' offensive play. OU is having trouble getting pressure on the Auburn quarterback Thorne, which has allowed him to have enough time to find open receivers and throw for 189 yards along with 35 yards on the ground.
Auburn could have tacked on another 10 points in the first half, but was stopped at the goal line on a fourth-and-goal play in the first quarter and missed a 31-yard field goal right before halftime.