College Football Front Page
Sooners' Defense Carries Oklahoma to Tepid 14-6 Win Over New Mexico
John Mateer hit two touchdown passes, and Oklahoma's defense held the Lobos to 185 yards as the No. 24 Sooners escaped with a 14-6 victory in Norman.
NORMAN, Okla. — John Mateer threw two touchdown passes and Oklahoma relied on its defense to stave off a stubborn New Mexico team, winning 14-6 on Saturday night to avoid consecutive non-conference losses. The victory moved the Sooners to 2-1 and followed a loss to Michigan that had produced a 13-spot tumble in the AP Top 25. Oklahoma faces a daunting trip to No. 2 Georgia next week.
The offense produced just enough early. Mateer connected on a 29-yard scoring strike to tight end Hayden Hansen early in the second quarter, but the Lobos responded with two field goals to knot the game. Fans voiced displeasure when Oklahoma ran out the clock in the final seconds of the first half, and All-American kicker Tate Sandell missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.
New Mexico threatened at times. The Lobos forced three first-half turnovers, including two interceptions of Mateer, yet managed only two field goals and finished with 69 yards on the ground and 185 yards of total offense. Quarterback Toa Fa'avae threw for 79 yards. New Mexico had opened the season with a rout of Central Michigan and a 70-7 victory over Mercyhurst the previous week.
A late defensive stand sealed the game for Oklahoma. Defensive tackle David Stone stuffed New Mexico back Scottre Humphrey on fourth-and-1 at the Oklahoma 17 with 2:58 remaining, and the Sooners converted a third down moments later to run out the clock. New Mexico will head to New Mexico State next Saturday, while Oklahoma travels to face No. 2 Georgia.