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At the buzzer takeaways: Golden Hat coming back to OU

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•10/07/23•

BPrzybylo

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Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman stands over a Texas receiver after a big hit - Photo: USA Today

DALLAS – One of the many questions of the week was whether OU could erase a 49-point loss in just one year?

The Sooners answered that with an emphatic yes. Head coach Brent Venables and Team 129 have officially put 2022 to bed with a 34-30 victory against Texas in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday afternoon at the Cotton Bowl.

No. 12 OU is now 6-0 and 3-0 in the Big 12 headed into its bye week. The Sooners will be a top-10 team Sunday afternoon.

Nic Anderson, you are officially a Red River Rivalry legend. The game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds left to cap another classic between these two foes.

Here are your at the buzzer takeaways.

Bringing the boom

No other way to say it. OU’s pride was hurt last season. A 49-point drubbing that could have been a whole lot more.

Those players remembered it. It was Billy Bowman jarring the ball loose from Ja’Tavion Sanders to lead to a Kendel Dolby interception.

Quinn Ewers tried to run for a first down on third-and-long and Peyton Bowen blew him up. It forced a fumble that was recovered by Gentry Williams. Williams also had an interception on the first drive of the game.

And defensive end Ethan Downs might have had his best game as a Sooner. He was in Ewers’ face all afternoon.

OU has just announced itself to the rest of the college football audience for 2023.

Goal line stand for the ages

Are you kidding? For real? OU was up 27-20 to begin the fourth quarter, and Texas earned its way to a first-and-goal at the OU 1.

Three runs? Nothing. Fourth down pass? Bowman and Dasan McCullough combine for the stop that will be talked about for a long, long time. Like a centimeter away.

Incredible.

Gabriel embraces the moment

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel talked about transferring to OU for games, moments like this. And no, he wasn’t perfect. But Gabriel fought hard, through a bloody finger ‘n all.

He rushed for a touchdown. And when he needed to make plays with his legs, he did just that in a crucial fourth quarter drive.

And when the biggest moment needed to happen, oh, did he deliver with the TD pass to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left.

Gabriel threw for 285 yards and rushed for more than 100 in a statement-making performance.

Gabriel, of course, didn’t get that chance last year against Texas. He made this one count.

Red River Wild

It wouldn’t be OU-Texas without some crazy shenanigans. And these two teams were full of it in the first quarter.

OU earned two interceptions. The Sooners had a punt blocked for a touchdown. All week the talk was about riding the wave of momentum and keeping poise.

This game, that quarter epitomized what everybody was talking about. It was one wild moment after another. The Sooners were still standing.

Injuries

OU lost two integral offensive players during this one. Wide receiver Andrel Anthony and offensive guard McKade Mettauer both left the game in the second half.

Mettauer was taken by cart out of the stadium. The whole OU team came around to give him support on his way out.

Up next

OU (6-0, 3-0) is off next weekend. The Sooners welcome Central Florida to Norman in two weeks. TV and time have not been announced.

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