Drake Stoops reacts to fight vs. West Virginia, Dillon Gabriel, teammates defending him
Oklahoma celebrated a dominant win over West Virginia on Saturday, defeating the Mountaineers 59-20 at home to secure their eighth win of the season. But the Sooners had to fight for their win, both before and after the whistle was blown.
Sooners wide receiver Drake Stoops caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass where he took a hard hit from West Virginia defensive back Anthony Wilson in the end zone. Wilson proceeded to stand over Stoops while he was on the ground which got the attention of Stoops teammates, as a multitude of players including quarterback Dillon Gabriel came to his defense leading to a brawl breaking out in the end zone.
After the game, Stoops spoke about the scuffle from his perspective and his teammates having his back.
“That’s my guy, Dillon’s my guy for sure, I love that guy. Jalil [Farooq] too I love him,” Stoops said. “I got the wind knocked out of me honestly, so I was like I’m just gonna lay here for a second I scored so I earned it. So I was like I’m gonna lay here and I look up and there’s brawl going on. I was just like man, I just love my team, and I alluded to that Monday. That just shows it right there.”
The touchdown catch marked the third of the game for Stoops who had a monster day, hauling in 10 receptions for 164 yards to go along with his three scores. But that didn’t stop Wilson from taunting him following the jarring hit that thankful didn’t result in injury for either player.
“I didn’t know that he stood over me after, and knowing that, I’m not surprised at all that my teammates came because I couldn’t really get off the ground at that moment. And I don’t know, I wouldn’t really stand over someone who just scored on me, but that’s just me,” Stoops said.
No penalties were given out during the scuffle that looked like quite the physical altercation, likely due to the flickering strobe lights in Memorial Stadium that made players difficult to identify in the brawl. But on the next play, Oklahoma senior offensive lineman McKade Mettauer was ejected from the game after continuing to go after Wilson on the extra point attempt after the whistle was blown.
“Yeah we just got done in the locker room and he had apologized and he just got lost in an emotional moment and emotions kind of highjacked him. That’s not who he is and that’s not the type of player he is and we all know that, so I’m saying that now so everyone else knows that too,” Stoops said. “I appreciate him always having my back, but yeah, we just got a little lost in the moment. And even shoot, me making a mistake, spiking the ball a little bit there highjacked my emotions so that’s a mistake I can’t make again.”
Stoops touchdown catch marked his ninth of the season, which now ties for the most in the Big 12, as the Sooners will keep fighting for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game with two games remaining in the regular season.