Thriller in Dallas; OU Outlasts Longhorns 28-20
Texas haunted by eerily similar plays
Dallas - The 105th meeting between OU and Texas started off quick for the Sooners and Texas fans experienced a little deja vu from last week’s game versus UCLA. The Sooners ran a whopping 57 offensive plays while Texas was only able to eek out 27, a stat that was definitely reflected in the first half of action.
Senior defensive tackle Adrian Taylor made his first start of the season aa did fellow senior defensive end Pryce Macon, both Texas natives, of which OU started a total of 9.
After losing the coin flip, OU received the kick and proceeded to drive the ball 83 yards on 13 plays, chewing up 4:09 of clock en route to their first score of the game. Landry Jones took a second and six hike from Ben Habern and handed off to Demarco Murray, who then scampered 18 yards to his left, putting the Sooners on the board first, 7-0.
That score marked Murray’s first in the Red River Rivalry since his freshman campaign in 2007.
Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert had no success on his first series from scrimmage, throwing for three straight completions, but for -2, -2, and 7 yards, respectively.
After the Texas punt to the OU 25, Jones trotted the Sooner offense out onto the field yet again and would lead his group to pay-dirt once again. This time, Jones completed a 16 yard pass on first-and-ten to freshman receiver Kenny Stills to put OU on top 14-0.
Looking to get their offense on track, the Longhorns took the field and in 4 plays, found what UT fans were looking for. Sophomore running back DJ Monroe pounced over the left side of the OU defensive line, broke into the secondary, and when OU safety Jonathan Nelson came up lame attempting to cut him off, Monroe walked into the end zone for Texas’ first score.
With 3:46 to play in the first, OU led Texas 14-7. The score would stand there until the 7:19 mark of the second quarter.
After a 27 yard shank-punt from UT punter John Gold, OU took the ball with its best field position of the day at the UT 48. On second-and-ten from the UT 31, Jones looked to have another score, but an illegal shift on receiver Ryan Broyles negated the score.
Texas then committed a pass interference penalty that looked questionable at best, giving the OU offense life again, and Jones cashed in. Junior receiver Dejuan Miller caught a 15 yard strike from Jones that set-up OU on the UT 5. After two run plays, OU looked to Jones again from the 2 yard line, where he found sophomore tight end James Hanna for the touchdown.
OU would see the ball 2 more times with Texas receiving 3 more opportunities. Neither team could move the ball well, the teams trading punts until Texas last possession that ended the half. With time expiring, Garrett Gilbert heaved a hail mary pass from the UT 44 yard line and was intercepted by OU senior safety Quinton Carter.
The teams entered the haltime period with OU on top 21-7, the Sooners out-gaining Texas on offense 270 yards against only 165. Jones passed 29 times, completing 20 of those for 163 yards and 2 scores, while Murray rushed 15 times for 64 yards and a score of his own. Dejuan Miller led the way at receiving for the Sooners with 4 grabs for 55 yards. Stills and Hanna caught each of Jones touchdown passes.
Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert struggled to find rhythm in the passing game, going 10 of 15 for a mere 58 yards and an interception, his longest pass completion of only 10 yards. Running back DJ Monroe, despite his 60 yard highlight-reel touchdown run, only managed 5 additional yards on 3 carries. Mack Brown’s team was in for a long second half.
The Longhorns came out sputtering on offense in the second half, but still managed to light the scoreboard. After two holding calls on the Longhorns - one that negated a long pass pay from Gilbert to wide receiver Marquis Goodwin- a successful fake punt and Gilbert’s longest pass of the day - 44 yards - to junior wide out James Kirkendoll, Texas was only able to put 3 points up, due in part to a hard hit by freshman Tony Jefferson on Gilbert that flipped the quarterback on his head.
Neither team would score again in the quarter as both defenses stepped up and stopped the other from reaching the end zone. That would change in the last frame as the final few minutes of the fourth quarter proved to be some of the most exciting moments in recent memory of this rivalry.
On an eight play, 54 yard drive that took up 2:48 seconds, Demarco Murray ran for his second score of the game, a beautiful 20 yard scamper to the edge of the defense as he tip-toed along the sideline, keeping his feet in bounds, stretching OU’s lead, 28-10.
With the ball on their own 24, trailing by 18, the Longhorns had to make something happen, and they did. Aided by a 33 yard pass to running back Cody Johnson, Gilbert tossed his first touchdown pass of the game when he found Johnson for a short, 5 yard strike, giving the Longhorns life, 28-17.
Coach Stoops would make his first real mistake of the game when he elected to allow Patrick O’Hara to trot out onto the field for what looked like a 41 yard field goal try. OU proceeded to commit a 5-yard delay of game penalty, then faked the 46 yard attempt and was sacked for a 12 yard loss.
Luckily for the Sooners, linebacker Tom Wort dropped Gilbert for an 11 yard sack and Texas was not able to pick up a first down. After alternating possessions, OU kicker Tres Way shanked a 17 yard kick and gave Texas great field position on the OU 46.
Gilbert completed a 40 yard bomb to wide out Malcolm Williams to the OU 6. Fortunately for the Sooner Nation, OU’s defense stiffened and held UT to a 21 yard field goal that made the score 28-20.
Then, Mack Brown would make his own bad call on a kick. The Longhorns lined up for the kickoff and the Sooners lined up in what looked to be a favorable return formation for the Longhorns to kick the ball high and have a chance for a recovery. Texas instead kicked the ball low and on the bounce, the ball rolled into the end zone giving the Sooners the ball at their own 20.
On the following Sooners possession, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson made his own worst call of the game, rolling Landry Jones out for a pass at games’ end. As Jones rolled out of the pocket, he was hit and fumbled the ball back to the 6 yard line; however, Texas’ defense was unable to fall on the ball and cover the turnover opportunity and the ball stayed with OU.
Knowing OU would rush the ball, the Texas defense allowed Demarco Murray to run for 17 yards, setting up a punt to junior cornerback Aaron Williams. When the ball from Tres Way came down to Williams, the return-man muffed the ball and it was there covered by the Sooners’ long snapper James Winchester. A nightmarish play akin to the muff punt in the UCLA loss a week ago.
The Sooners knelled out the ball to preserve the win 28-20. Landry Jones finished the day with 242 yards and OU won not only the game, but the rushing battle as well, going off for 127 yards versus Texas’ 107, proving yet again that the team that runs the ball, wins the game in this historic game.
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