Oklahoma Passing Game Gets a Boost from Running Backs

NORMAN — Oklahoma running backs Marcus Major and Tawee Walker figured to get their share of carries Saturday night against SMU.

They did, with Walker rushing 21 times for a career-high 117 yards and Major adding eight carries for 39 yards in his second career start.

But neither player was expected to contribute in the fourth quarter of a tight game as a pass catcher.

Both caught balls to extend scoring drives, while Major closed out Oklahoma's 28-11 win with a 27-yard touchdown reception.

"(Running backs coach) DeMarco (Murray) has been stressing that running back is the heart of the offense, so we needed to make something happen for the team to make something happen," Walker said. "That’s what I did today. That’s what the running backs did today."

Following a touchdown and a 2-point conversion by the Mustangs to draw to within 14-11 with 12:09 left, the Sooners scored on back-to-back possessions to finally shake SMU.

The first drive covered 75 yards in 10 plays and Walker, the junior from North Las Vegas, got it started by picking up 11 yards on a short pass from quarterback Dillon Gabriel to give the Sooners some breathing room at their 36.

A few plays later, Major broke off a 17-yard run to give Oklahoma a first down at the SMU 29. Two plays later, the redshirt senior from Oklahoma City caught a Gabriel pass over the middle for 24 yards and an apparent score to once again make it a two-possession game.

But the touchdown was nullified when offensive tackle Tyler Guyton was flagged for being 6 yards downfield on the play.

No matter.

Four plays later, Gabriel found Jalil Farooq over the middle for a 21-yard touchdown to make the score 21-11.

After the OU defense forced a three-and-out on SMU's next possession, Major went back to work, catching a pass down the left sideline and taking it to the house to cap a three-play scoring drive that took less than a minute and put the game out of reach.

"Just felt like we had an opportunity to get him in the flat with some of the things we were seeing on third and medium," offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said. "He made a great catch, really good job by Drake (Stoops) and then Andrel (Anthony) down there being able to strain and cap it off."

Between them, Walker (three catches) and Major (two) combined for five catches for 48 yards to aid an Oklahoma offense that sputtered much of the evening. Jovantae Barnes also contributed one reception.

Walker also played a big role in OU's second scoring drive, which covered 94 yards and put the Sooners up 14-3 in the second quarter. He rushed for 59 yards on seven carries, and four of those runs resulted in first downs, including a 30-yard carry.

Lebby said Walker's game is about "toughness, edge and physicality."

"Just doing whatever he can possibly do to help his football team win," he said. "That’s who he’s been and it’s been great to see. I’m happy for him and the success he had tonight."

Going forward, Lebby said he'll ride with the running back that has the hot hand and can protect the ball.

"Marcus had a great game as well, had a great catch and run. Gavin is just getting back in the mix," Walker said. "I think we all could have had a hot hand. It’s just today I got more opportunities and I capitalized on it."

The Sooners travel to Tulsa next Saturday to take on the Golden Hurricane.

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