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WATCH: Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel scores 61-yard tightroping rushing touchdown against Nebraska

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•09/17/22•

AndrewEdGraham

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Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel rushes the football against UTEP in a game on Sept. 3, 2022. (Brian Bahr / Getty Images)

Trailing Nebraska by a touchdown early, Oklahoma faced a 3rd and 7 on its second possession of the game. With the pocket collapsing, quarterback Dillon Gabriel scampered around before taking off upfield for the first down.

Gabriel, known for his passing ability, didn’t look to slide or get out of bounds, instead ducking and dodging defenders up the right sideline for a 61-yard touchdown rush to tie the game. It’s the longest run of Gabriel’s career — he had a 44 yarder at his prior stop, UCF.

On the initial angle, it looked like Gabriel might have caught just a bit of the sideline and the play would be overturned, but the end zone angle replay showed just how deftly the Oklahoma quarterback ran. Some fleet feet on the sideline setting up a tie game midway through the first quarter.

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables loved the attitude the Sooners displayed

Following a 49-14 drubbing of rival Nebraska, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables was asked about his favorite part of the game. His highlight was the first half, when the Sooners raced out to a 35-7 halftime lead.

In the locker room at halftime, Venables loved that his team was still hungry and engaged. A 14-0 third quarter for the Sooners was evidence enough that he was right.

“The highlight, probably the first half,” Venables said on the field after the game. “The way our guys came out in the first half. Everything on both sides of the ball. The first drive was a little shaky but our guys — how they responded. I love the attitude and the hunger in the locker room at halftime and the way we came out in the third quarter and really slammed the door on it. Not being satisfied. Not being relaxed. I think the hardest time to coach is when you’re having success. Was really proud of the maturity and the poise, the determination these guys showed all day.”

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With a multi-touchdown lead and time waning, Venables and the Oklahoma staff rotated in a number of younger players and pulled starters, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who finished 16-for-27 for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

Even with the younger players and reserves in the game, Venables and the coaches kept on coaching hard. Venables expect those players to play up to the Oklahoma standard, even in garbage time, and so he’ll be coaching hard, too.

“Well, again, we’ve got a lot of young guys in there that we’re going to have to count on,” Venables said. “We’ve got to develop our team. They need to go through and some failure along the way is how you get better. But the standard doesn’t change and when they go in, they need to play to the standard, so we’re going to coach the same way.”