September 17, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 16

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Sports 4 - The Elk City News September 17, 2022 OU football: Dillon Gabriel OU football: Sooners won’t play non-conference games looking to build, improve on with Georgia, Tennessee early-season performances amid future SEC move Jesse Crittenden, The Norman Tran- However, those first four drives against Jesse Crittenden, The Norman Transcript celed due to COVID-19. The teams were origi- nally expected to make up the Norman game in script Kent State showed where Gabriel and the OU Oklahoma's future football schedules re- the future. offense can improve. ceived a bit of a shake up Wednesday. In lieu of the non-conference series with Shortly after Oklahoma's 33-3 win over The Sooners announced that their non- Georgia, the Sooners also announced Wednes- ‘The Sooners recorded just two first downs Kent State last Saturday, quarterback Dillon conference home-and-home series with Geor- in the first quarter, as the team struggled to day that a home-and-home series with SMU gia and Tennessee will not be played due to the Gabriel took the blame for the offensive strug- has been scheduled. The Sooners will host the gain positive yards on first and second down. program's impending move to the Southeast- gles in the first half. ern Conference. The Sooners were originally Mustangs on Sept. 9, 2023 before playing them ‘Three days later, not much has changed for ‘As a result, third downs have been an issue — scheduled to play Georgia at home in 2023 on the road on Sept. 11, 2027. Gabriel after watching the game film. the team failed to convert on all four of their and on the road in 2027, while Tennessee was “We recognize the original excitement in “[There's] a lot to clean up,” Gabriel said third-down attempts in the first quarter and scheduled to host the Sooners in 2024. hosting Georgia next season and traveling to Tuesday. “I feel like we did a good job of flush- finished just 3-of-12 attempts for the game. ‘The games are off, at the direction of the Knoxville in 2024, and the short-term disap- ing it and making sure we make changes and SEC, because the second matchup in both se- pointment this news may bring, but the cir- He also struggled at times with decisive- ries was scheduled to take place after the Soon- cumstances obviously dictated a change in our the necessary changes on everyone's part. And ness in the pocket, and he was sacked twice in ers join the conference in 2025. The move will schedules,” OU Vice President and Athletics to be quite honest, I think there’s just so much not allow the involved teams to “fulfill their Director Joe Castiglione said. “The good news to learn from, so much to grow from and that’s the first quarter after he struggled to throw respective contractual non-conference home- the beauty of it, too, is they're fixable and the ball away. and-home appearance obligations,” per a press issonable that future SEC schedules will provide a rea- “That's a big part on my end,” Gabriel said. rotation whereby Georgia and Tennes- things that we can definitely get better at.” release. “Taking care of the football, getting us back ‘The Sooners will now play both Georgia and see come to Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Me- ‘Tennessee as part of the regular conference ro- morial Stadium, and we will also play on those ‘That's been the mantra for Gabriel through the team’s first two games — there’s been a lot to either zero or away from a negative. And great campuses.” tation once they join the conference by no later of positives and some things to build on. throwing the ball away when things aren’t than 2025. Oklahoma is working on replacing the ‘he stats show Gabriel has been solid to there or when I'm outside the pocket. Trying ‘The Sooners were set to host Tennessee in home-and-home series with Tennessee and will start the season. He’s completed nearly 71 2020 as a non-conference game but it was can- announce it at a later date, per a press release. not to lose any yards, especially on first and percent of his passes, which ranks 22nd na- second down, and then if we're in field goal tionally, while throwing for 529 yards, five Dak Prescott’s type of thumb touchdowns and zero turnovers. His 190.07 range. I just gotta be better at that. I’m defi- passer rating — a formula that uses passing nitely super critical of my play and try to be yards, touchdowns, number of completions better in every aspect.” and interceptions to reflect a quarterback’s performance level — ranks eighth nationally. Gabriel’s constant focus on improving has made him a great team leader on and off the fracture means Cowboys QB should He struggled a bit in the first half against Kent State, completing just six passes over field, OU coach Brent Venables said. And he’s confident that Gabriel will continue to build return sooner than expected the Sooners’ scoreless first four drives. But he David Moore, The Dallas morning that the club won't there throwing the ball pretty on his performances through two games. went 5-for-5 on the team’s final drive of the Morning News place Prescott on injured re- quick,” Jones said. half, capping it off with a 36-yard touchdown “He’s an assassin,” Venables said following serve, a move that would It’s a much more palatable to Marvin Mims. last Saturday's win. “This is not his first rodeo. A Cowboys team that had force the quarterback to miss timetable than the one the He was much better in the third quarter, He's been around the game. He's just a ball braced itself for life without at least four games before re- club faced before the surgery. completing 9-of-10 passes for 137 yards and junkie. He's a great leader. The game comes Dak Prescott until the second turning. Club officials initially two touchdowns while leading the Sooners to half of the season is now op- “If we thought he wasn’t feared that Prescott suffered easy to him in so many ways, but his best attri- erating on the premise he'll be going to be ready to go for an intra-articular fracture, 24 points in the quarter. bute is he never gets too high or too low. He's able to return in October. four games, after four games, one that affects the wrist joint It's those moments that flash the potential the same guy. Every once in a while, he'll have ‘This accelerated time frame we would be putting him on and means the distal radius is of the offense with Gabriel under center. is based on the type of fracture injured reserve,” Jones said. fractured. The return from this “Love how efficient he was throwing the a nice smile when he has a big-time play, but he suffered. “We're not doing that. We injury is six to eight weeks, football, obviously, and taking care of the he's the same guy every day, like non-stop.” Surgery revealed that think he can come in and play” which is why there was con- Prescott suffered an extra- Keeping Prescott on the cern he would be out through football,” OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby While there are areas that need improve- articular fracture to his right active roster means there’s an the bye and not return until said. “Those things are going to be huge in us ment, Gabriel has been a solid presence at thumb in the team’s season- element of hope in the orga- the team’s game against Green moving forward the right way, but continuing quarterback so far this season. Lebby is con- opening loss to Tampa Bay, nization that he could return Bay on Nov. 13. to take care of the rock, again, that’s where fident the team’s offense is in a better spot a person with knowledge of for the team’s game against Now, he'll be back well be- it’s all going to start for us. Proud of him from the procedure said. This is a the LA Rams on Oct. 9. Amore fore the bye. that standpoint. early this season compared to other places he’s fracture that occurs above the likely target would seem to be “I was told it was much been. wrist joint and doesn’t extend the Cowboys’ division show- cleaner than it could have “Love how he’s played with great effort. into the joint itself. down in Philadelphia that been,” Prescott told report- “t's because of who's catching the snap.” He’s had incredible command. He’s been really This injury typically carries next week, ers after the loss to the Buc- accurate. Just so many things to continue to Lebby said. “We've got a guy that’s got great a four-to-six-week time frame “We feel very good after caneers. “It’s unfortunate, but improve on.” understanding.” for recovery. That’s why owner surgery, after listening to the Tll do what I’ve always done Jerry Jones declared on 105.3 medical people that Dak has when adversity comes. Take it The Fan [KRLD-FM] Tuesday a real chance to be back out on headfirst.” Providing comfort and, Supportfor End of Life chotces Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- 49ers, Seahawks enter Week 2 on sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Hospice re also helps family members manage the practical opposite sides of upset fun-house mirror details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. Michael Nowels, The Mer- straight touchdown drives — games mean more to the sea- For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: cury News the last aided by a Trey Lance son than games in any other interception. After driving 68 pro sport, but we're still a The NEC West may have yards for a field goal to open single game into the season. Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsis rator been the toughest division in the second half and make it ‘There's a lot left to learn. football last year. a two-score game, the 49ers Shanahan, like many Pat Welsh, RN/ Coordinator of Patient Care Now, one week into the 2022 season, the Seahawks combined for just 74 yards on their next four drives in dete- coaches, holds his cards close to the vest in the preseason, are on top of the division as riorating conditions. running a watered-down ver- Some of the most common conditions are: the only Week 1 winners. Yes, It was a deflating loss for a sion of his offense. With one * Cancer * Failure to Thrive * End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) those same Seahawks who fin- team with Super Bowl aspira- rough, wet game under his + End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) © End Stage Amyotrophic ished in last place in 2021 and tions, even setting aside any belt, perhaps Lance will feel a then traded away their super- sort of hair-trigger reaction to bit more comfortable running Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) * End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) star quarterback. Lance’s tough day in the rain. the 49ers’ offense in Week 2, * End Stage Liver Di: ase * End Stage Renal Disease * AIDS/HIV ¢ ‘The division’s three other ‘The next night in Seattle, playing at home in expected + End Stage Neurological Disease such as Parkinso s or Alzheimer’s teams — including the two sunny conditions against a the Seahawks had a feel-great NEC Championship Game win, beating their former team on short rest. participants in the Rams and quarterback and seeing their ‘The Seahawks would prefer pearrle 49ers — all lost their opening new starter perform surpris- for Week 1 to be a harbinger erry, RN7 Professional, Passionate games. ingly well, especially in the of a surprise season. After all, ‘The reigning Super Bowl game's first half. Seattle, a Smith was pretty effective in Advance, Attentive... champion Rams were blown six-point underdog, led Den- relief of Wilson last season, out, but had an excuse in the ver every step of the way after with a career-high passer rat- Our Difference Is Our Care form of Josh Allen and the scoring on its opening drive. ing of 103.0. Seattle probably visiting Bills, this year’s Super Geno Smith outplayed former can’t count on repeating its » Bowl favorites. Arizona, the Seahawks star Russell Wilson two fumbles forced at the goal last undefeated team standing for large portions of the game, line in addition to 100-plus Have you ever considered becoming in 2021, lost to Patrick Ma- completing his first 13 passes yards (and seven first downs) homes and a Chiefs team that and finishing 23-of-28 for 195 in opponent penalties, though a hospice volunteer? reached the AFC title game last yards and two touchdowns. A the 49ers were just one pen- A fulfilling experience in the spirit season. alty yard shy of the century strange final minute-plus of The 49ers, on the other Broncos clock management mark themselves in the Chi- of giving and receiving. hand, lost 19-10 as 6.5-point anda missed 64-yard field goal cago opener. favorites to a Bears team ex- attempt sealed the game. For what it’s worth, Vegas pected by many to finish last So, what does all this mean doesn’t seem to believe in Se- in its division, and perhaps thefor the 49ers’ game on Sunday attle’s ability to stay alone atop conference. against the Seahawks? the division or continue a four- San Francisco staked itself Kyle Shanahan and the game winning streak against to a 10-0 lead in sloppy condi- 49ers are surely hoping it San Francisco, as the 49ers tions, then totally came apart doesn’t mean much. By virtue have opened as 8.5-point fa- on defense, allowing three of the 17-game schedule, NEL vorites to bounce back.