Oklahoma quarterback instrumental in 34-30 defeat of No. 3 Texas
In a slugfest where neither team held momentum beyond a single possession, the 2023 Red River Rivalry saw running and passing quarterback Dillon Gabriel seemingly willing his crimson-striped team on a 5-play, 75-yard, 62-second drive that ended with him zip tossing a pass to Nic Anderson, standing wide open in the Sooners’ end of the Cotton Bowl, with 15 seconds to play in the game and securing a 34-30 upset Oklahoma win over No. 3 Texas at the Texas State Fair on Saturday.
Gabriel’s performance put him in the Oklahoma football history books and convinced national naysayers that all predictions of the demise of the storied Sooner program, which suffered its worst defeat ever in this game last year, were as flimsy as Big Tex’s pants flapping in the breeze at the other end of the midway.
“He was fearless. I don’t put any limits on what Dillon can do. He’s playing as confident as anybody on our team right now. … He’s just a guy that’s gonna find a way to get it done,” Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables said.
Dillon Gabriel dons the Gold Hat, trophy for the winner of the Red River Rivalry.
The game lands among the all time favorite OU-Texas games — right up there with an unimaginable overtime win in 1996, the Roy Williams “Superman” leap game in 2000 and the Caleb Williams-led come-from-three-scores behind win in 2021.
Oklahoma jumped from No. 12 in the Associated Press poll to No. 5 on Sunday — recognition that sports writers who vote in the poll do actually watch games on TV.
The tone of the game was set early, with two interceptions (by OU) and a blocked punt (by UT) in the first five minutes of play.
Defense shined for both teams, Oklahoma getting a four-play goal line stand and Texas stopping the Sooners on a fourth down try at midfield.
Oklahoma defenders sacked the Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers five times.
Gabriel finished the day with 115 yards rushing and 285 yards passing (completing 23 or 38 passes). He ran for one touchdown. And his single passing touchdown came at the most opportune time. When it was especially needed.
Statistically, the game was very even. At the half the Sooners had a 20-17 lead.
But, the win wasn’t so certain in the waning minutes of the game. Oklahoma held a 27-20 lead going in to the fourth quarter. Ewers’ precision passes kept the Longhorns in the game. And the ‘horns RB Jonathon Brooks scampered for 29 yards for a Texas touchdown that tied the game up with only 6:10 left.
With just 1:17 left in the fourth quarter, Texas kicked a 47-yard field goal to take a 30-27 lead and the Sooners’ backs were against the wall. Fans began to wonder if the Sooners’ herculean efforts to upset the Longhorns would be for naught.
And then Gabriel’s offense took the field.
That’s when those Wednesday afternoon practices, where the Sooners routinely scrimmage one-minute offense drills, kicked in.
Gabriel turned to teammate running back Tawee Walker and said, “I got us.”
With no time outs available and the clock ticking away, the first play was an 11-yard pass to redshirt receiver Drake Stoops, son of the legendary coach. 1:11 was left on the clock.
Next came a pass to Jalil Farooq, who would end up leading all Sooners’ receivers on this day, with 130 yards receiving on five catches. Farooq twisted out of the arms of a Texas defender and got another 16 yards. 1:02 on the clock.
Then on the next play Gabriel was flushed from the pocket and in mid-run tossed a perfect spiral again to Stoops for 28 more yards. :51 left.
On the next play a pass interference call flagged a Texas defensive back guarding WR Nick Anderson. That put the Sooners at the Texas 6 yard line. Then came a Gabriel run to the three. The clock was at :35 and the Sooners had no way to stop it.
Oklahoma rushed to the line. And on the final Sooner offensive play, with just 15 seconds left on the clock and under a tremendous Longhorn pass rush, Gabriel saw Anderson alone in the corner of the end zone and completed the winning pass.
Pandemonium in the upper deck of the Cotton Bowl the moment Gabriel finds Anderson for the winning TD.
There was an explosion of sound. In those ensuing seconds, the Cotton Bowl, at least on the half that holds the Oklahoma faithful, had never been louder.
Meanwhile, the burnt orange fans at the other end began to gather their things. A last second hail mary pass by Ewers was batted down and the Sooners’ 51st all time win over the Longhorns was in the books.
“I honestly don’t understand why he shouldn’t be No. 1 (in the Heisman race),” Anderson said after the game. “Dillon is gonna get everything he deserves. He’s a great guy. I’ll run through a wall for that dude anytime of the day. Love that guy.”
After the game Gabriel said former QB great Baker Mayfield had called him the night before the game and told him, “Do whatever it takes” to beat the Longhorns.
What it took was a gutsy last minute drive on the big stage of college football. Gabriel stepped up and delivered.
Photo credits: Olivia Lauter/OU Daily, Soonersports, MichaelDuncanphoto.com
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