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If Oklahoma’s Offense Can Find Another Level, the Sooners Can Shake Up the CFP

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If Oklahoma’s Offense Can Find Another Level, the Sooners Can Shake Up the CFP


TUSCALOOSA, AL — Oklahoma’s offense did just enough to beat Alabama. 

But if the Sooners want to truly dream of a late-season surge through the College Football Playoff, Ben Arbuckle’s unit must round into form. 

OU’s 212 total yards were the fewest in a win since the Sooners put up 206 yards in the 14-3 victory over Texas in 2001.

“(Alabama) had their guys ready to play, and we did a lot of really good things whenever it mattered,” Arbuckle said after Saturday’s 23-21 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium. “Big thing we didn’t turn the ball over. That team’s number one in the league and causing turnovers, and we didn’t give the ball back. So that’s a big credit to those kids in there, taking the ball security and the ball respect seriously this week. And so we didn’t do that.”

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Taking care of the football was a huge part of OU’s win. 

But Oklahoma’s offense can take a bit of the pressure off of its defense by taking a few steps forward. 

Quarterback John Mateer threw for 138 yards and completed 15-of-23 attempts. 

Before his hand operation, Mateer threw for 270 yards and a touchdown against Michigan and 271 yards and a touchdown against Auburn. 

Since the procedure, he’s thrown for 200 yards twice (Texas and Ole Miss), and he’s not thrown for more than 225 yards. 

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Mateer did score on a crucial 20-yard run two plays after Jaydan Hardy forced a fumble on a punt, though, showing that OU’s offense can still get the job done when the defense hands it favorable field position.

“I thought (Mateer) was really efficient in a lot of key moments,” Arbuckle said. “Didn’t really put the ball in harm’s way — maybe one time put the ball in harm’s way. But other than that, he was really efficient. Didn’t turn the ball over. Thought he ran really tough and ultimately made the plays that needed to be made to win.”

OU’s longest offensive drive of the game was an eight-play, 41-yard series that culminated in a field goal to start the second half. 

The Sooners only went three-and-out twice, but OU struggled to extend any lead without getting set up in prime field position courtesy of a defensive turnover or a big special teams play. 

Oklahoma Sooners, John Mateer and Xavier Robinso

The Sooners rushed for 74 yards against Alabama. / Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Oklahoma couldn’t get anything going on the ground, either. 

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Xavier Robinson finished as the leading rusher with 34 yards on 10 carries as the sophomore fought through a leg injury that sent him to the injury tent in the second half. 

As a team, OU finished with 74 yards on the ground. 

“We need to get in the end zone more,” Mateer said, “and it starts with me—just being more efficient, pulling the trigger. I had one, and I missed it. I had a couple, and I missed it. I’ll be better.”

The good news is the offense doesn’t have to be that much better. 

Turn one field goal into a touchdown against both Tennessee and Alabama, and the victories get more comfortable in the closing moments. 

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In the end, the Sooners still notched incredible back-to-back victories at Neyland Stadium and Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Since losing to Ole Miss, OU has been in full playoff mode, and Mateer believes the team has what it takes to keep improving and make noise the rest of November and beyond. 

“When you have belief, it’s a powerful thing,” Mateer said. “We don’t fold, and we don’t turn on each other when anything goes bad.” 



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Oklahoma

Putnam City West moves to virtual learning after student incident

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Putnam City West moves to virtual learning after student incident


PUTNAM CITY, Okla. –

Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.

District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.

Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.

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District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.

What we know

Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:

All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.

Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.

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We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.

Putnam City Schools

All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.

Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.

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The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.

School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.

This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.





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Oklahoma launches program letting adults use past credits, test scores to earn diplomas

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Oklahoma launches program letting adults use past credits, test scores to earn diplomas


A new program in Oklahoma is giving adults another way to finish high school by allowing them to use past credits and test scores to earn a diploma, an option officials say could help thousands of people and strengthen the state’s workforce.

For years, adults in Oklahoma who did not finish high school largely had one main option: earning a GED. Now, Oklahoma CareerTech is rolling out the Career Readiness Diploma, a pathway designed to build on what students have already completed rather than requiring them to start over.

“So in Oklahoma right now, if you look at the demographics, we have about 279,000 people in our state without a high school diploma. So it’s almost 10% of our population doesn’t have a high school diploma,” said Lance Allee, an adult education and family literacy specialist with Oklahoma CareerTech.

Allee said the program allows adults to apply previously earned high school credit and combine different assessment scores into a single record to qualify for a diploma.

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“It allows the student to use previously earned high school credit. So, it’s kind of like a portfolio where you can take multiple assessment scores and put them into one portfolio to get your high school diploma,” Allee said.

The program is open to adults 21 and older. In some cases, officials said, participants can finish in just weeks, depending on how many credits they already have.

CareerTech officials say the program is also aimed at improving job prospects for individuals while helping Oklahoma remain competitive when attracting employers.

“When you’re a company and you’re looking at moving into Oklahoma, you look at the demographics and say, is there a workforce there that we can employ? And you say, well, about 10% of the population doesn’t have a diploma, they may start looking at states that surround us. So, we definitely want to get as many diplomas out there as we can,” Allee said.

The program started issuing diplomas in recent weeks, and officials said dozens more people are already in the process. For more information or to sign up click here.

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Cord Rager’s Return, Consistent Hitting Earns Oklahoma First SEC Sweep of Missouri

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Cord Rager’s Return, Consistent Hitting Earns Oklahoma First SEC Sweep of Missouri


NORMAN — Cord Rager’s return comes at a pivotal time for Skip Johnson’s Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they get their day three starter back in time for big road matchups against Auburn and Arkansas on the horizon, but the Sooners pitching strength, their rotational depth, is primed and ready for the test.

The freshman lefty finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up one hit in only 65 pitches before his day ended in the sixth.

No. 14 Oklahoma earn its first conference sweep of the season, defeating Missouri 8-4. It was OU’s fourth conference series win.

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Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8) put their best foot forward as they turn the page to the meat of their schedule where they will do battle against No. 13, No. 20 and No. 16 over the next three weeks — two of those series’ on the road.

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Camden Johnson runs home against Missouri. | Carson Field / Sooners On SI

Four runs in five hits in the second got things rolling for the Sooners.

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Camden Johnson continued his brilliant play of late with a triple in the second. This came after a Brenden Brock solo home run to put OU up 1-0. Deiten LaChance grounded out to short but scored Johnson. Dasan Harris and and Nolan Stevens each found home before the inning ended.


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OU found fortune from the plate again in the fourth. Four runs off of four hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Johnson put Oklahoma up 8-0. It was Johnson’s seventh home run of the season, second on the team behind Brock’s nine.

Trent Collier got the nod in the sixth to relieve Rager.

In the seventh, Missouri finally got on the board for the first time since the ninth inning of Friday night’s Sooner victory. Cam Durnin hit a solo shot — his fourht of the season — to make the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.

The Tigers got their third hit of the game shortly after. From there, Collier’s short day was done. Gavyn Jones came on to relieve

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Dasan Harris runs home to score against Missouri. | Carson Field / Sooners On SI

LaChance missed a home run by inches when Tiger center fielder Kaden Peer made a leaping catch, jumping into the fence.

In the eighth, the Tigers continued to chip away. With bases loaded, Blaze Ward hit a basehit to score two Missouri base runners. OU led 8-3 heading into the final inning.

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Harris led the Sooners with three hits. His day was accented by an RBI, stolen base and a run.

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Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the No. 13 Tigers for a three game series starting on Friday. Before that, they will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman. The Sooners won 4-0 against ORU earlier this season.

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