Coaches have a hard time gauging intrasquad scrimmages. Each success and failure has a direct result on the team.

Oklahoma's Red/White wrestling scrimmage was that way Thursday night at McCasland Fieldhouse. Sooner coach Jack Spates was left with a familiar feeling.

"After they're over, I'm always wondering where we're at. Aren't we better than that?" he said. "Then there were some real bright spots as well."

For score-keeping purposes the Red trounced the White 27-6, but some bouts had more importance than others. The winners will get the start Wednesday night when the Sooners open the season at Central Oklahoma.

The true goal, however, is to see who will compete in front of a crowd.

One of the most competitive bouts of the night came at the start at 125 pounds. A couple of talented freshmen -- Justin Forrest and Jarrod Patterson -- went head-to-head. Patterson edged out a 3-1 victory.

Patterson, who was a four-time state champion at Cushing High School, is one of the big group of freshmen the Sooners are relying on this season.

His win only helped re-inforce what he's shown throughout the preseason.

"It was just another match. I don't know what else to say," soft-spoken Patterson said.

Spates, however, saw more. It's one thing to be good in the wrestling room. Another to produce when it counts.

"The deal is Jarrod has been winning those matches almost every day, but Justin Forrest is a great lights guy," Spates said. "Beating him under the lights means a lot more than beating him in practice."

The most positive outcome for the Sooners was their returning starters had pretty solid nights.

At 174, Jeff James claimed a 16-3 major decision over Nolan McBryde. Eric Lapotsky claimed a technical fall over Keldrick Hall at 197.

Zack Bailey topped Kendric Maple 6-1 at 141. Kyle Terry cruised past Matt Lester 7-0 at 149 and heavyweight Nathan Fernandez turned back Joe Bach 3-1.

The common trait in those bouts were veterans against freshmen with experience winning out.