DALLAS,Texas- The 103rd edition of the Red River Shootout was one for the ages. The annual Big 12 rivalry game had plenty of "pop" as the Texas Longhorns (5) dismissed the previously undefeated top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (1), 45-35 before a capacity Cotton Bowl crowd.
Whoever nicknamed the game the Red River Shootout, sure knew something about these two teams. Oklahoma sophomore Sam Bradford, leads the explosive Oklahoma offense and Texas junior Colt McCoy leads the Longhorns offensive attack. Both of these players were on fire today as they combined to throw for over 664 yards. Their teams combined to score 80 points, the most points scored in the storied game's history.
The Sooners came out like pole cat struck by lighting in the first quarter. They effortlessly took the game's first possession down the field in just 8 plays. Bradford torched the Texas secondary on the opening drive, completing four of his first five passes. His passing accuracy accounted for all but one of the teams' first 65 yards gained on offense. The last five was a bullet to Manuel Johnson and the game's opening touchdown score.
The Longhorns could only muster a field goal on their first possession.
Both teams would trade punts for the remainder of the first quarter before Bradford and the Sooners got a drive going in waning seconds.
Bradford would hit Ryan Broyles for a short 8-yard touchdown score early in the second quarter to push the Sooner lead to 14-3. But before the Texas fans could get down Colt's roommate would show a little lightning of his own.
A weakness of the Oklahoma team all season has been their special teams play. Texas took quick advantage of their poor play as Texas wide receiver and kickoff specialist Jordan Shipley raced 96 yards for the score cutting into the Sooner lead 14-10. The Sooners were unshaken. Bradford marched them right down the field for another touchdown score. On a third and four play, Bradford found Jermaine Gresham for a 52-yard beautifully spiraled pass that hit him in stride. He galloped untouched for the score and a 21-10 Sooner lead.
Texas stormed back with its own quick score at the 10:25 mark of the second quarter. McCoy found Shipley in the end zone for the score which cut into the Sooner lead again, now 21-17. The Longhorn defense hurried and harassed Bradford on the next possession and he threw his only interception of the game. The Longhorns needed the benefit of a roughing the passer penalty to keep their drive alive before settling for another field goal. The raucous first half was finally over with the Sooners ahead 21-20.
Texas won the coin toss and deferred so they got the ball to start the second half. They would stumble out of the halftime gate going three and out quickly on their first possession. Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles setup the Sooners in excellent field position on the punt. He returned it punt 24 yards to the Longhorns 49 yard line. Bradford and company would do the rest. Two passes later they would be setup at the Texas 14 yard line and after two rare Bradford incompletions, the sophomore starter found Manual Johnson for another touchdown pass his fourth of the day.
Battling back Colt and the Longhorns put together a sustained 12-play 89-yard drive that ate up 6:12 off of the third quarter game clock. McCoy would find his roommate Shipley again for a 2-yard touchdown score helping the Longhorns keep pace at 27-28.
Right about here is where Texas coach Mack Brown proved that he has turned the corner against his coaching nemesis Bob Stoops of Oklahoma. Stoops had been waiting until just the right moment to try some trickery and Mack was ready this year. On 4th and 6 from the Oklahoma 48, the Sooners setup for the punt but decided to run a fake. Texas sniffed out the play and stopped punter Mike Knall one yard shy of the first down. With wind in their sails the Longhorns were on the cusp of taking their first lead of the game.
Penalties were definitely an Achilles' heel of the Sooners for most of the day. They were flagged a total of ten times for 73 yards. When they were flagged a second time for roughing the passer, the Texas momentum increased.
Driving to take the lead late in the third quarter Texas appeared to blink. McCoy threw an errant pass that looked like it was picked off by the Sooners in the end zone. But, thankfully for the Longhorns the review officials decided to take another look at the interception play. Upon further review they overturned the call on the field of an Oklahoma interception and Texas kicked their third field goal of the day to take the outright lead 30-28.
As the fourth quarter got under way, the Sooners were again moving the ball down the field with relative ease against the Longhorns' defense. On third and 14 from the Texas 40-yard line Bradford hit wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias for 26 yard gain to the Texas 14. He would finish off the drive on the next play with his fifth touchdown pass of the day, Sooners regain the lead 35-30. They wouldn't score again as Texas took complete command of the game afterwards.
The Longhorns would go on to score 15 unanswered points to secure the victory and knock the hated Sooners from the ranks of the unbeaten. The win was also Mack Brown's third victory over Stoops in the last four years. The undefeated Longhorns are now in a very envious position, as they have a serious eye towards the Big 12 and National Championships respectively.
HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!
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- Really Different Staff