John Mateer for much of the game against LSU had a really tough night. He finished the game 23-of-38 for 318 yards and two touchdowns, but also had three interceptions in the first three quarters.
However, at the quarterback position, it is all about being able to make the plays late in the game when the team needs them. Mateer delivered when it mattered most, as he connected with wide receiver Isiah Sategna on a 58-yard touchdown with 4:16 remaining in the game to give the Sooners a 17-13 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
While it wasn’t his best performance, Mateer said he had to do whatever was needed to get the win.
“When you have a third quarter like I did, I knew I just had to keep going out there and playing football,” Mateer said on the postgame radio interview after the game. “I was either going to hate myself forever or become a man.”
Mateer has been battling a hand injury for much of the season, and hasn’t quite put up the type of season that Oklahoma fans had hoped for when he transferred from Washington State.
For much of Saturday, it looked like Mateer might be ending his season in Norman with a loss that prevented the team from making it to the College Football Playoff. However, in his own words, he became a man on Saturday night and helped the Sooners be in prime position to host a CFP game.
The bracket will be revealed next Sunday.
