Gabriel sets school QB scoring record with 8 touchdowns
An Oklahoma offense clicking on all cylinders scored on its first five possessions while its defense held West Virginia to just seven points in that time, then went on to a 59-20 win that saw Dillon Gabriel become the first Sooner quarterback to score eight touchdowns in a game.
Gabriel passed for 423 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 50 yards and three scores. He surpassed the previous touchdown record of seven set by Baker Mayfield in 2016 and matched by Kyler Murray in 2018.
The performance put Gabriel in the Top 10 of the NCAA’s all-time career passing list.
The game put Oklahoma back on track after two straight losses in previous weeks (to Kansas and Oklahoma State). The win was significant, because the Sooners were one game behind Big 12 conference co-leaders Oklahoma State and Texas going into the contest. OSU lost Saturday to UCF.
“We had two tough back-to-back weeks that were very challenging in the ways you would expect. I’m really proud of our guys — the leaders on the team. Our guys’ mind set attitude, resolve, toughness, persistence — all the things you would want. Go right back out there, put your head down. There’s a lot of football to be played,” Coach Brent Venables said.
Meanwhile, although late in the season, the offense appeared to have settled on its starting running back: Sawchuck.
Oklahoma had 644 yards total offense. In addition to Gabriel’s steller passing stats, Oklahoma gained 221 yards rushing and netted 25 first downs.
Drake Stoops had his best game of the season with 164 yards receiving on 10 receptions of Gabriel passes. It was the most for an Oklahoma receiver in four years.
“He’s as tough as all get out,” Venables said of Stoops.
“The players love him. He’s special. I’m really thankful what he brings to the locker room every single day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Stoops put praise on his quarterback.
“That’s my guy. Dillon’s my guy for sure,” Drake Stoops said after the game.
Frankly, both Oklahoma’s offense and its defense dominated.
A mark of the game was a goal line stand by the defense.
“It shows to the grit and the toughness our guys have,” Venables said.
And, raucous Oklahoma fans were particularly participatory in the night time contest.
After one West Virginia score, the PAT kick that landed in the north end zone was grabbed, as usual, by a Sooner fan. But rather that follow the tradition of tossing the ball up the rows of the stadium to fans in the upper seats to passing over the wall and outside the stadium, one young lady ran the ball up 70 rows of steps and tossed it out herself. That garnered her an ovation.
Late in the game the fans commented on a controversial pass interference call by chanting “SEC…SEC” — exhibiting the disgust the Oklahoma faithful has developed this year, thinking the Big 12 conference officials are biased against he Sooners, who leave for the Southeastern Conference next season.
Dillon Gabriel celebrates with the band after the Sooners 59-20 win.
Next: Oklahoma at BYU on Saturday, November 18.
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