The Tulsa Golden Hurricane kicked it off to the Oklahoma Sooners to start the game. Back to receive for the Sooners was Jalil Farooq, who caught the kick and took off.
Farooq returned the ball 62 yards into Tulsa territory, but a nice punch by a Golden Hurricane forced the fumble and Tulsa recovered. You could see Farooq put his head down and trot to the sideline. Several teammates and coaches immediately greeted him to encourage him before his next opportunity to take the field.
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The Sooners’ defense picked him up with Gentry Williams’ interception. Two plays later, Farooq got another opportunity. Farooq took a slant 34 yards to the house to put the Sooners up 7-0.
Jalil Farooq fumbled the opening kickoff, but the #Sooners got the ball back and #3 finished off the 2-play drive with a 34-yard TD.
“I got this sh!t right back!” – @jalilway_ pic.twitter.com/g6ryAtj4XH
— Holden Krusemark (@HoldenKrusemark) September 17, 2023
Farooq told reporters after the game, it was good to bounce back after the slow start.
“Me being able to let the mistake be the mistake, learn from it, it’s always the guy you don’t see,” Farooq said. “Next time, I’ve got to grip it tight. So just being able to respond, I felt good after my touchdown. So, just keeping my head in the game and not letting a mistake tear me down.”
Farooq finished with six catches for 126 yards and a touchdown to lead the Sooners in receiving yards. He also provided more than 100 yards on three kick returns.
He’s someone who has been off to a slow start to the season but made several competitive plays in this game. Farooq now has a touchdown in two straight games and eight receptions the last two weeks after being held without a catch in week one.
The Sooners hope he carries that over for the rest of the season.