Silas Bolden out-hustles everyone on his way to a strong Red River Shootout

There are 22 players on a football field at a given time. In the Southeastern Conference and especially in the Red River Shootout, all 22 are typically great, driven athletes with a passion and desire to succeed. The stakes are higher in the Cotton Bowl for Oklahoma and Texas, with players often giving extra effort in order to help their 11 outclass the opposing squad.

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And yet on Saturday late in the second quarter, Texas wide receiver Silas Bolden outran 20 other football players for one of the biggest plays of the Longhorns’ season.

With under three minutes to go before halftime, the Longhorns moved into Oklahoma territory via a long catch and run from Ryan Wingo. Bolden lined up at receiver in a condensed formation, and escorted his assignment away from the play.

Quintrevion Wisner took advantage of the blocking provided by Bolden and company, and rushed nearly untouched to the Oklahoma two-yard line. There, Robert Spears-Jennings made a quality defensive play, stripping the ball from Wisner.

The pigskin bounced around and into the end zone, creating a mad dash for the football.

The winner of the race that would determine touchdown or touchback? Bolden, who outran all of his teammates save Quinn Ewers and all 11 members of the Oklahoma defense before jumping on the football, maintaining possession in the end zone, and putting a needed six points on the board for the Longhorns.

SILAS BOLDEN TD🔥

HUSTLE HARD‼️

🎥: ABC pic.twitter.com/5X51GbDmZy

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ABC said during its telecast of the Longhorns’ 34-3 win that Bolden ran 55.6 yards in order to save the day for Texas late in the first half. Though Wisner would eventually cross the plane of the end zone with possession of the ball a few minutes later, he was glad to have received help from Bolden on that play.

“For him to come in an correct one of my mistakes, I’m very grateful for that,” Wisner said.

55.6 yards is a long way and a lot of running, especially on a dead sprint. It took a lot of energy for Bolden to get to the back of the end zone for six points he earned every bit of.

“I didn’t realize how far it was,” Bolden said. “I was tired after that play, I ain’t going to lie.”

Bolden finished with one catch for three yards plus his touchdown, but that wasn’t the only place where he impacted the game. As the Longhorns’ primary punt returner, Bolden had his best day in burnt orange with four returns for 70 yards, including a season-best 55-yarder that set up a Bert Auburn field goal which made it 27-3.

Nine points were created due to Bolden’s Saturday effort, something head coach Steve Sarkisian said was the result of a strong few days of preparation.

“He probably had his best week of practice this week that he’s had since the regular season began, and it showed in his play,” Sarkisian said. “He was playing faster. His effort was better. He was courageous on some punt returns early in the game to keep field position. It was a total effort play for him to make that play in the end zone, and then he finally got that big punt return. I think it was all a byproduct of his focus on staying positive, continuing to work. The result was he was very impactful in the game today.”

Sarkisian mentioned that Bolden’s transition from No. 1 receiver at Oregon State to rotation piece at Texas was not easy for the California native. He mentioned that both he and wide receivers coach Chris Jackson pushed Bolden throughout camp to remain positive and continue to work.

Bolden made the most of his opportunity on Saturday.

While he might not have to outrun 20 other football players the rest of the season, he was proud to showcase that skill was in his repertoire during the Longhorns’ biggest rivalry game.

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“I just go out there and play with heart,” Bolden said. “Whenever my opportunity is called, I make a play. That’s all I can do.”