R Mason Thomas Shines in Career Performance as Sooners Defeat Tulane 34-19
NORMAN— Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas had a breakout performance Saturday, leading the Sooners to a 34-19 victory over Tulane. The junior’s standout play came in the final six minutes, where he single-handedly shifted the momentum and sealed the game for the Sooners with a series of dominant defensive plays.
After a back-and-forth contest, OU stretched its lead to 31-19, putting Tulane in a position where they had no choice but to air the ball out. This scenario set the stage for Thomas, who had been relatively quiet throughout his career, to deliver a game-changing sequence.
Thomas sacked Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah twice within four plays during a critical drive. The first sack came on first down for a 5-yard loss, putting Tulane on its heels. After breaking up Mensah’s third-down pass, Thomas struck again on fourth-and-13, sacking the quarterback to give the Sooners possession with time winding down.
With less than two minutes remaining, Thomas wasn’t finished. In what capped off his career day, the junior chased down Mensah one last time, forcing a fumble and recovering it himself, effectively ending any hopes of a Tulane comeback.
“We finally got them in position where they had to throw,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said after the game. “I think that’s the No. 1 thing. … Their backs were against the wall for the first time, really, all night.”**
Before Saturday’s heroics, Thomas had recorded just 2.5 sacks in 21 career games. Against Tulane, he notched three sacks in less than a quarter, along with a forced fumble and recovery — both the first of his career.
Thomas also contributed earlier in the game with a quarterback hurry, rounding out an impressive and disruptive performance.
The Sooners’ defense, led by Thomas down the stretch, clamped down on the Green Wave’s offense when it mattered most. Oklahoma now looks ahead to its next challenge with momentum on its side, thanks to Thomas’ breakout day.
