By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer
DALLAS (AP) — John Mateer threw for 202 yards with three interceptions in his return for sixth-ranked Oklahoma in a 23-6 loss to Red River rival Texas on Saturday, only 17 days after having surgery on his throwing hand.
Mateer completed 20 of 38 passes and said he felt fine physically. The junior transfer quarterback said he just didn’t play good enough for the Sooners (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference.)
“The pain level was nothing. I mean there’s no excuse,” said Mateer, who was 20-of-38 passing and sacked five times. “I was ready to go physically, but mentally I just didn’t perform.”
Texas (4-2, 1-1) had been ranked No. 1 in the preseason before two early losses sent it plummeting all the way out of the AP Top 25.
The 23-6 victory over the previously undefeated Sooners on Saturday saved the season for Texas — at least for now.
Texas retained the Golden Hat trophy and should be back in the next AP poll Sunday. More importantly, the Longhorns avoided a loss that likely would have ended any realistic chance of getting into the College Football Playoff for the third year in a row.
Keontez Lewis also was back for the Sooners and had two catches for 16 yards, just a week after a scary incident when his momentum sent the receiver headfirst into a brick wall behind the end zone in Oklahoma’s home game against Kent State. He was briefly motionless and attended to for about 10 minutes before being carted off the field after getting hurt on an overthrown pass by backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.
Texas didn’t score off any of Mateer’s interceptions, but Malik Muhammad’s second pick came in the end zone with only 2 seconds left in the first half. That prevented the Sooners from having the chance to add to a 6-3 lead before the break, and they didn’t score again.
The Longhorns missed field goal attempts of 55 and 56 yards after the other two interceptions.
Mateer injured his right hand in Oklahoma’s home win over Auburn on Sept. 20. He had surgery four days later during that bye week, then didn’t play last week in the 44-0 win over Kent State.
As for his preparation leading up to the Texas game, he said he got to practice “a good amount” this week.
The Washington State transfer played three quarters against Auburn after hurting his hand, and even scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter. In his first four games with the Sooners, Mateer completed 95 of 141 passes (67.4%) for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns, and rushed for 190 yards and five more scores.
Hawkins threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score playing three quarters in the win over Kent State. Hawkins last year became the first true freshman Oklahoma quarterback to start against Texas, in a 34-3 loss for the Sooners.
Up Next
Oklahoma will play at South Carolina on Saturday.
