Oklahoma run game leads the way in Spring Game performance

The Oklahoma Sooners returned to a traditional spring game on Saturday to the delight of more than 31,000 fans in attendance. The red team, made up of the top of the depth chart on both sides of the ball, dominated the white team by a score of 31-3.

The story of the day was the Oklahoma Sooners running game. Between Lloyd Avant, DeZephen Walker, and Jonathan Hatton, the Sooners ran for more than 150 yards in the game behind an offensive line that was creating big running lanes. The Sooners ran for three touchdowns.

According to Jesse Crittenden of OU Insider, quarterback John Mateer was 13 of 19 for 190 yards and a touchdown to transfer wide receiver Mackenzie Alleyne. Mateer had a big completion to Isaiah Sategna that appeared to go for a touchdown but was called down at the defensive 26-yard line. The Sooners scored a few plays later.

The offensive line created good running lanes and provided protection for Mateer throughout the contest, giving him plenty of time to work from the pocket in the passing game.

From the white team, the standout was true freshman wide receiver Jahsiear Rogers, who had the biggest play of the day for the white team and was targeted frequently by quarterbacks Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley.

The red team defense didn't give the white team offense much room to operate on the day, creating pressure and bottling up the running game. It was a dominant performance for a unit missing guys like Adepoju Adebawore, Jayden Jackson, David Stone, and Owen Heinecke on the field on Saturday.

Heinecke was there, being introduced in pregame warmups to the sounds of 50 Cent's "Many Men" ringing through Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.