Quick's TD leads Red past White in Oklahoma spring game

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Even Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops wasn't exactly sure what the Sooners gained from their modified spring game.

First-team players weren't tackled, a short field goal was conceded instead of kicked, and the game was called with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Still, they kept score, and Red squeaked out a 17-16 win over White on a windy day at the newly enclosed Memorial Stadium.

''A little tough to gauge what statistics might be, the first group not going full go to the ground,'' he said. ''Hard to say when a back might have made him someone miss him and broke a tackle, receiver made someone miss him or what. But I'm more concerned with keeping guys on the field right now than I was being particular about how much yardage somebody got or didn't get.''

Michiah Quick broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown catch from Kyler Murray the fourth quarter for the winner.

''I figure we won, no matter what it looked like,'' Stoops said. ''Really, most pleased everybody stayed healthy, had no injuries. Got a lot of good team work, had Big 12 officials. Just game management. I thought it was really positive for all that.''

Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 18 passes for 142 yards for the Red team.

The fans got their first look at Austin Kendall, a freshman who is on campus early and will likely be Mayfield's backup this season. He completed 8 of 17 passes for 52 yards, and he ran for a score. Stoops has been impressed with Kendall throughout the spring.

''Austin has gotten a lot of snaps this spring, and he's been really mature about handling them,'' Stoops said. ''He's been more than we could have expected.''

Kendall still needed to be calmed down in his first action at the stadium in front of a large crowd.

''I think he was a little nervous at first, but coach (offensive coordinator Lincoln) Riley did a good job of getting him some handoffs and quick easy throws that he knew he could handle,'' Mayfield said. ''Once he settled in, he made some good throws.''

Here are five things that stood out:

RECEIVING TARGETS: The Sooners are looking to replace production from Sterling Shepard, one of the school's most productive receivers ever.

Dede Westbrook was Mayfield's primary target with four catches for 76 yards. Quick caught four passes for 66 yards.

Stoops said Quick, a junior, has improved significantly since last season.

''He's just had a much more consistent and productive spring,'' Stoops said. ''He's really just been more disciplined in everything that he's doing, and it's showing up. He has the ability to make some plays, and he's made quite a few this spring.''

RODNEY ANDERSON: The redshirt freshman running back missed most of last season with a leg injury, but he showed potential on several runs with the first team on Saturday. It was hard to tell how much damage he would have done had tackling been allowed, but because of his quickness, he often found himself beyond the line of scrimmage in one-on-one matchups with defenders. At 6-foot and 211 pounds, Anderson has the power to break arm - or touch - tackles.

RUNNING IN REVERSE: Mayfield mentioned that there were no turnovers in the game, but the safety he took in the second quarter was the closest thing. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo tagged him in the end zone for two points. Okoronkwo finished with two sacks, and the quarterbacks were under constant pressure.

MURRAY'S INTRO: Murray, a transfer from Texas A&M who will not be eligible this upcoming season, broke loose for a 25-yard run on his first play, especially impressive considering quarterbacks just needed to be touched to be down. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

''Kyler - he can make plays,'' Stoops said. ''He's exciting. He's explosive like that. When he takes off, he can make a lot of things happen. But he's got a live arm, too. He's got the ability to hurt you both ways.''

NEW LOOK: A crowd of 42,436 saw the south end of the stadium completely enclosed for the first time. The school is in the midst of a project to renovate the facility, which opened in 1923.

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