Oklahoma/Florida A&M: Report Card

BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Sunday, September 09, 2012
9/09/12 at 5:43 AM

Offense

B- Kenny Stills and Damien Williams gave the offense a huge lift. Williams rushed for 156 yards - no Sooner had ever gained more in his Owen Field debut - and four touchdowns. Stills caught a career-high 10 passes for 120 yards. Brennan Clay scored twice. Trey Metoyer found the end zone for the first time in an OU uniform. Blake Bell got in and ran the every-down offense for the first time. Roy Finch even got some late carries and scored OU's final touchdown.

Still, OU scored twice in its first six possessions. Landry Jones threw one interception and had another one dropped. And Dominque Whaley was benched after his fumble led to Florida A&M's first points of the night. He has two bobbles in as many weeks, and should be very concerned about losing his job to Williams.

Defense

B The defensive line was active most of the night, and got a particuarly strong game from tackle Jamarkus McFarland. The linebackers were solid. The secondary covered everything but one play, when Travis Harvey ran by cornerback Demontre Hurst and completed a 75-yard touchdown pass.

The real concern, aside from Harvey's sprint, was the health of Tony Jefferson. The starting free safety sustained what appeared to be a right ankle injury after making a first-quarter tackle. He limped off the field, tried to return the next series, and aggravated the injury. That was it for the night.

Jefferson's progress between now and OU's next game Sept. 22 against Kansas State bears following, particularly as sharp as K-State looked in hammering Miami on Saturday.

Special teams

A- With OU's offense slumbering over the first quarter and a half, Justin Brown provided a spark with two long punt returns. That set up a pair of touchdowns.

Finch looked spry returning kickoffs. The Sooners covered Florida A&M's returns without a problem.

The only hitch was Michael Hunnicutt dinging an extra point off the upright in the second half.

Associated Images:

Oklahoma's Justin Brown (foreground) leaves Devan Roberts behind on Saturday. Brown had two catches for 55 yards. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Oklahoma's Aaron Colvin brings down Florida A&M's Travis Harvey as Corey Nelson closes in on Saturday night in Norman. The Sooners are idle next Saturday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World