Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State: Mateer throws 2 TDs as Sooners win 23-15; Kamario Taylor exits with foot injury

Oklahoma won the first-ever meeting between the programs, beating Mississippi State 23-15 on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Starkville. John Mateer threw touchdown passes on consecutive possessions on either side of halftime, and the Bulldogs lost their starting quarterback, Kamario Taylor, to an injury in the first quarter.

The Sooners improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the SEC. Mississippi State fell to 4-3 and 2-3 with its third straight loss.

Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State final score

How the game unfolded

Tate Sandell put Oklahoma on the board with a field goal on its first drive. Late in the second quarter, Mississippi State drove to the Oklahoma 6-yard line, but the Bulldogs’ backup quarterback fumbled on the next play. The Sooners recovered and marched 96 yards in 14 plays, finishing with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Mateer to Isaiah Sategna for a 10-0 halftime lead.

Oklahoma got the ball out of the break and needed just three plays to go up 17-0 on a 32-yard pass from Mateer to tight end Rocky Beers.

Mississippi State finally scored later in the third quarter on back-to-back trick plays, the second an 18-yard pass from tight end Sam West to Camden Capehart. According to the AP, it was the Bulldogs’ first touchdown in eight quarters, dating to their Oct. 3 game against Alabama.

After an Oklahoma field goal made it 23-7 with 4:26 left, Mississippi State hit a 42-yard touchdown pass to Sanfrisco Magee and added a two-point conversion to make it a one-possession game at the 2:10 mark. The Sooners then converted back-to-back third downs to run out the clock.

Key stats

Mateer went 22-of-29 for 283 yards and two touchdowns and added 37 rushing yards on nine carries. Oklahoma, which came in averaging 92.5 rushing yards per game, ran for 184. The Sooners were 8-for-17 on third and fourth down, while the Bulldogs were 3-for-16, per the AP.

“I’m proud of John and the way he played,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said, according to the AP. He also said the game “should have been, probably a four or five-score win. It wasn’t. But I’m just thankful for the victory.”

Kamario Taylor injury update

Taylor’s day was short. He completed 2 of 5 passes for 10 yards and took two sacks before getting hit while running out of bounds on a fourth-down scramble late in the first quarter. He went to the locker room and did not return.

Sporting News reported that Taylor appeared to aggravate the turf toe injury he first suffered in Mississippi State’s Sept. 26 win over Missouri. He left the Oct. 3 game against Alabama early and sat out last week’s game against LSU. He had been listed as questionable before Saturday but was cleared to play. ESPN sideline reporter Tori Petry said Taylor could not put weight on his right foot as he came to the bench, according to Sporting News. He was ruled out before halftime.

Is Kamario Taylor playing this week? There was no official update on his status for next week in the reports available early Sunday. Given that this was at least his third game affected by the same injury, his availability is uncertain.

His replacement is listed as Billy Puckett in the AP recap and as Parker Puckett in the official scoring summary. Before Saturday, Taylor had thrown for 1,450 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions in five games, per Sporting News.

What’s next

Oklahoma hosts South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3:15 p.m. CT, according to the Sooners’ schedule.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Oklahoma holds off Mississippi State 23-15 as Kamario Taylor exits early and John Mateer throws two TDs (Oct 24)