THE CAMPUS GAZETTE
FIRST GAME JITTERS!
FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR THE WARHAWKS OPEN THE SEASON IN UPSET FASHION EDGING THE SOONERS 31-28
(AP) Norman, OK - Head Coach Eddie Polly just took it all in as his Warhawks ran unto Owen Field to play the #13 ranked Oklahoma Sooners. "During the game you dont realize how big of a moment this is for yourself and your team, so I took a minute to sit back and enjoy the 90 or thousand fans and took a deep breath." Said the first year Head Coach.
On other hand it was Warhawks that perhaps had more confidence than the coach as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Sooners leaving the fans in total shock after back to back Cameron Porter touchdown runs.
"We were in these type of environments last year playing Arkansas and Auburn so I felt we could handle it as an experienced team." quarterback Jonathon Mansfield said.
The Sooners started to gain composure and control, quarterback Alex Cummings used both his legs and arm to get the Sooners on the board and just before halftime the Sooners looked to tie the game up at 14.
Thats when cornerback C. Clayton grabbed his first of two huge interceptions picking Cumming off in the end zone before sprinting 90 yards the other way and finally getting tackled at the Sooners 10 with 10 seconds remaining in the half. A R. Moore 22 yard field goal saw the Warhawks up 17-7 at halftime.
"We were a confident bunch at the half." Said Polly, "it seemed like one of those upset days as we were hearing scores from other games around the league."
The Warhawks were too confident and the size and depth help OU gain a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter after Alex Cummings found receiver L. Johnson for a 38 yard touchdown on 3rd and 12. Owen field was rocking. Th Sooners dominated the third quarter forcing the Warhawks into three straight three and outs and the crowd helped in causing three false start penalties. The play of the game came on the games next kickoff however by Warhawks RS Freshmen Jim White, who fumbled the previous kickoff. He made up for it when he made one cut to the left and out ran the whole Oklahoma team 104 yards for a touchdown. White was so emotional after his first ever kickoff return that cameras could see him on the sidelines in tears as his teammates mobbed him.
"Huge, very HUGE!!!!" echoed Polly. "Just as they regained momentum and the woke the crowd up, White makes the biggest play of the game."
His Warhawks would survive a interception and finally preserve the win after Clayton picked off Cummings for the second time in the game with a minute and thirty seconds left.
The Warhawks brought a balanced attack gaining 381 yards of offense while going 6 for 8 on third downs. Mansfield was 15 of 21 and no touchdowns while throwing a interception. He had thrown two but the second was nullified after a roughing the passer penalty.
Porter got into the end zone three times while rushing for 104 yards on 26 carries. Middle linebacker Kyle Stanley registered 8 tackles while Clayton grabbed both of the teams interceptions.
Next up is the home opener against FCS Southeast.
| Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Oklahoma Sooners |
| Jan 1, | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1-0) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| #13 Oklahoma Sooners (0-1) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Team Stats Comparison |
| ULM | OKLA |
| Total Offense | 381 | 401 |
| Rushing Yards | 105 | 88 |
| Passing Yards | 276 | 313 |
| First Downs | 18 | 22 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| 3rd Down Converstion | 6-8 | 0-2 |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 5-3-1 | 5-4 |
| Penalties | 3-37 | 6-68 |
| Posession Time | 15:52 | 8:08 |
| Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks |
| |
Key Stats UL Monroe:
WR C. Preston 5 rec 100 yards
WR C. Richardson 4 rec 94 yards
WR C. Webb 3 rec 64 yards
- Oklahoma's WR Andrew Ford held to just 1 rec for 6 yards both interceptions were on him
- Of Oklahoma's six penalties four were on third downs keeping the drives alive for UL Monroe, One roughing the passer happened after a UL Monroe thrown interception.
- UL Monroe controlled the clock doubling OU's out put
- Sooners have not lost a season home opener since losing to TCU in the early 2000's
- UL Monroe has won back to back season openers on the road against top 15 teams