‘I was so free I felt like something was wrong’ – Oklahoma defender makes admission that will haunt Tennessee fans for a long time
The Oklahoma Sooners’ scoop and score was a game changing play against the Tennessee Vols
If you’re going to point out one play that changed the game in the Tennessee Vols’ 33-27 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday night, it would almost certainly be OU’s scoop and score in the first quarter.
The Vols looked like they were on their way to going up 14-0 in the first quarter until quarterback Joey Aguilar fumbled after getting sacked. Oklahoma defensive lineman R Mason Thomas returned the fumble 71 yards for a touchdown.
It was the longest fumble return in Oklahoma history.
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke makes admission about the scoop and score that will frustrate Vols fans
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke delivered the hit on Aguilar that forced the fumble.
Heinecke, though, didn’t expect to impact the play.
The Tulsa native told reporters after the game that he was supposed to be a “sacrificial lamb” on that play.
“We got a call in, and normally on that call I get kicked out by the tackle,” said Heinecke. “I’m kind of the sacrificial lamb, and this time he went down — I think it was maybe a little bit of miscommunication on their part — and I came free. I almost stuttered for a second because I was so free I felt like something was maybe wrong. I tackled him and didn’t really realize the ball was out until I saw R Mason running all the way.”
It’s tough to hear that a guy who didn’t even expect to be involved in the play ended up making arguably the biggest play of the game.
True freshman offensive tackle David Sanders Jr, by the way, missed his assignment, which allowed Heinecke to come free and get a clean hit on Aguilar.
Sanders is going to be a great player for the Vols, but he’s still a true freshman who is developing as a player. He’s going to have some tough learning moments — that’s part of the development process for every player. But due to the current state of college football — where depth is fleeting and true freshmen are expected to play like seniors from day one — it’s put the Vols in a spot where they have little choice but to start Sanders at right tackle despite his inexperience.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Tennessee Vols as ‘I was so free I felt like something was wrong’ – Oklahoma defender makes admission that will haunt Tennessee fans for a long time.
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