Turnovers Doom Sooners in Loss to South Carolina

Oklahoma’s football team committed four turnovers that led to 22 South Carolina points and the OU offense struggled once again as the Gamecocks beat the Sooners 35-9 at Owen Field in Norman on Saturday.

The loss was OU’s worst at home since a 48-14 loss to Baylor in 2014, and the 9 points is the fewest at home since a 51-7 loss to Texas A&M in 1997.

OU turned the ball over on their first three possessions and South Carolina converted every turnover into a touchdown, two of them on defensive scores.

The Sooners had just 109 total yards at halftime.

OU finished with 291 total yards, more than South Carolina’s 254, but the Sooners were -4 in turnover margin.

Michael Hawkins started at quarterback but was responsible for all three first quarter turnovers, and Jackson Arnold replaced him and played the rest of the game.

Arnold was 18-for-36 for 225 yards passing, with one touchdown.

OU got the ball to start the game and on the first snap from scrimmage, Michael Hawkins had his pass intercepted by Nick Emmanwori at the Sooner 41-yard line.

On the Gamecocks’ first snap, quarterback LaNorris Sellers ran for 25 yards.

Four plays later, Raheim Sanders scored on a three-yard touchdown run and South Carolina led 7-0 with 12:33 to play in the first quarter.

Oklahoma’s second possession resulted in a turnover as well.

Hawkins was hit by Demetrius Knight and fumbled, Tonka Hemingway had the ball bounce right into his hands and he rumbled 36 yards for a touchdown to put the Gamecocks up 14-0 with 11:21 to play in the first quarter.

The third OU possession resulted in another defensive score.

Hawkins was hit as he threw and Emmanwori intercepted, returning it 65 yards for a touchdown to extend Carolina’s lead to 21-0 with 9:33 to play in the first quarter.

Jackson Arnold replaced Hawkins at quarterback for Oklahoma’s fourth possession, but OU only gained 11 yards and the Sooners had to punt.

The two teams exchanged punts after this before the first quarter ended.

Early in the second quarter, OU was lined up to punt in their own territory and faked it, with punter Luke Elzinga passing to Bauer Sharp, but he was immediately tackled by Demetrius Knight for a five-yard loss and the Gamecocks took over at the Sooner 26-yard line.

Carolina gained just four yards and had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by Alex Herrera to extend their lead to 24-0 with 12:05 to play in the first half.

The two teams exchanged punts, then OU put together their first scoring drive of the game.

Arnold passed to Jacob Jordan for 27 yards and to Taylor Tatum for 18.

OU had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Zach Schmit to cut the South Carolina lead to 24-3 with 5:17 to play in the second quarter.

The Gamecocks then put their longest scoring drive of the game together, going 75 yards in eight plays, with Sellers passing to Joshua Simon for a 33-yard touchdown.

USC went for two points and Maurice Brown scored on a run to put the Gamecocks up 32-3 with 1:54 to play in the first half.

South Carolina forced another OU punt after just a 40-second possession.

The Gamecocks lined up for a 46-yard field goal attempt but faked it, and holder Kai Kroeger’s pass fell incomplete as time expired in the first half.

The 32 Gamecock points in the first half is the third most OU has allowed to an opponent at home since 1949, and the halftime deficit of 29 points is the second largest for Oklahoma at home since 1949.

South Carolina was forced to punt on the opening possession of the second half.

Oklahoma then responded with their first touchdown drive, going 90 yards in eight plays, with Arnold throwing deep to Brenen Thompson for a 54-yard touchdown.

The Sooners went for two points on the conversion, but Bauer Sharp was stopped short of the goal line on a shovel pass and it was 32-9 Gamecocks with 7:33 to play in the third quarter.

The two teams combined for three straight possessions ending in punts before the third quarter ended.

Oklahoma marched into USC territory early in the fourth quarter, but on 4th and 8 from the Gamecock 24, Arnold was sacked by Kyle Kennard and Carolina took over on downs.

South Carolina went three-and-out and punted, then OU committed its fourth turnover of the game.

Jovantae Barnes caught a pass and had the ball knocked out by Jalon Kilgore, with Bam Martin-Scott recovering at the Sooners’ 21-yard line.

The Gamecocks got a 33-yard field goal from Herrera to make it 35-9 Carolina with 7:48 left.

This was the first meeting between the two schools.

Oklahoma drops to 4-3 on the season overall and 1-3 in SEC play.

The Sooners visit Ole Miss for an 11:00 am kickoff next Saturday.

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