University of Oklahoma Athletics

Saturday, September 3
Norman
2:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

1-0 , 0-0

45
vs
13

UTEP

0-2 , 0-1

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
UTEP
0
10
0
3
13
Oklahoma
21
7
14
3
45

Sooners Dominate Miners to Open Venables Era

September 03, 2022 | Football

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — New Oklahoma coach Brent Venables got emotional when athletic director Joe Castiglione presented him with the game ball and the players loudly celebrated his first career victory as a head coach.

Dillon Gabriel passed for two touchdowns and ran for another and No. 9 Oklahoma rolled past UTEP 45-13 on Saturday.

Venables was a full-time assistant for the previous 26 years in stints at Kansas State, Oklahoma and Clemson. He took over for the Sooners after Lincoln Riley left to take the Southern California job last December and brought energy and hope to a stunned fanbase.

Then came the waiting.

"In some ways, it went by really fast in that last nine months, and then in many ways, it seemed like dog years," he said. "It's like 'When are we going to get to play a game?' But everything has its time."

Now, the Sooners have taken a significant step forward.

"At the end of the day, it was going to be about Oklahoma re-establishing the soul and the spirit of this program," he said.

Gabriel, a transfer from Central Florida, connected on 15 of 23 passes for 233 yards. Eric Gray rushed for 102 yards, Brayden Willis caught two touchdown passes and Marcus Major rushed for two scores.

Oklahoma held UTEP to 316 total yards.

"For the most part, we played a really clean game on both sides of the ball," Venables said.

Gavin Hardison passed for 244 yards, Tyrin Smith caught eight passes for 71 yards and Reynaldo Flores caught seven passes for 76 yards for the Miners (0-2).

Oklahoma jumped out to a 21-0 lead just over eight minutes into the game. The Sooners gained 301 yards to take a 28-10 halftime lead. Gabriel passed for 164 yards and two touchdowns before the break. Reggie Grimes led the Oklahoma defense with 2 1/2 sacks in the first half, including one on the final play of the second quarter to snuff out a scoring threat.

"I thought after we handled the first onslaught, the 21-0 run, I thought we played better," UTEP coach Dana Dimel said. "From that point on, it was 24-13. We executed and did some things better."

Oklahoma then held UTEP to 99 yards and three points in the second half.

Dimel said it wasn't all bad.

"I really feel like we're a better team leaving the field," he said. "We played a really good football team today. They executed at a high level and they did some really good things. But I feel really comfortable about our football team and what we gained."

Venables appreciated the win but won't be celebrating for long.

"I want them to enjoy this one," he said. "But on Monday, we're going to strip this thing down to the studs and start over again."

THE TAKEAWAY

Oklahoma: The Sooners rushed for 259 yards and passed for 233. Oklahoma averaged 8.1 yards per play and 6.8 yards per carry and did not commit a turnover. The Sooners were balanced offensively and protected Gabriel relatively well.

GRAY SHINES

In his first game as the clear No. 1 back, Gray turned in his first 100-yard rushing performance for the Sooners.

Gray transferred from Tennessee before last season, then split time with Kennedy Brooks. With Brooks gone, Gray finally got the kind of work he wanted. The senior had 16 carries and caught two passes, including a 35-yard run and a 24-yard reception.

WHAT A START

Oklahoma true freshman receiver Gavin Freeman took a reverse 46 yards for touchdown on his first collegiate touch.

Freeman attended Heritage Hall School in Oklahoma City, the same place that produced NFL great Wes Welker.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma: Hosts Kent State on Sept. 10. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Next Event

Kent State
W, 33-3

Sep 10 (Sat)

6 p.m.

Team Stats

TEP
OKL
Total Yards
316
492
Pass Yards
288
233
Rushing Yards
28
259
Penalty Yards
50
59
1st Downs
26
23
3rd Downs
5
3
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
38:33
21:27
1st Quarter
Logo

TEP 0, OKL 7

OKL - Gabriel,Dillon 12 yd run (Schmit,Zach kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:17

Logo

TEP 0, OKL 14

OKL - Willis,Brayden 6 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon (Schmit,Zach kick) 6 plays, 93 yards, TOP 01:48

Logo

TEP 0, OKL 21

OKL - Freeman,Gavin 46 yd run (Schmit,Zach kick), 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 00:30

2nd Quarter
Logo

TEP 3, OKL 21

TEP - Baechle,Gavin 48 yd field goal 14 plays, 44 yards, TOP 07:31

Logo

TEP 10, OKL 21

TEP - Awatt,Ronald 2 yd run (Baechle,Gavin kick), 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 05:10

Logo

TEP 10, OKL 28

OKL - Willis,Brayden 28 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon (Schmit,Zach kick) 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 04:01

3rd Quarter
Logo

TEP 10, OKL 35

OKL - Major,Marcus 1 yd run (Schmit,Zach kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:40

Logo

TEP 10, OKL 42

OKL - Major,Marcus 6 yd run (Schmit,Zach kick), 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 01:51

4th Quarter
Logo

TEP 13, OKL 42

TEP - Baechle,Gavin 54 yd field goal 11 plays, 38 yards, TOP 04:15

Logo

TEP 13, OKL 45

OKL - Schmit,Zach 22 yd field goal 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 05:28

Game Leaders

CMP
15
TD
2
YDS
233
INT
0

Players Mentioned

RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
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