Texas Wins Third in Row Over Oklahoma : Rivalry: Longhorns’ Jacques scores on fumble recovery. Sooner freshman misses three field goals.

At least this time Peter Gardere didn’t beat Oklahoma.

Texas upset the Sooners for the third consecutive season Saturday on a 30-yard return with a fumble recovery by Bubba Jacques. In the previous two games, Gardere had beaten the Sooners with last-minute touchdown passes.

The Texas defense survived three missed field-goal attempts by Oklahoma freshman Scott Blanton before Jacques’ touchdown as the Longhorns beat the previously unbeaten Sooners, 10-7.

Texas tackle James Patton knocked the ball out of the grasp of fullback Mike McKinley and Jacques, a senior who had never scored, scooped it up and ran untouched with 13:30 to play.

“The defense had to make something happen because our offense was having trouble,” Jacques said. “I kept telling our line to tackle the ball, and it finally happened.

“I made a grab for it, missed it, then scooped it up and was all by myself. It was like winning the national title, beating them three years in a row. We showed the world what we’re made of. Our defense is awesome.”

The Sooners, of the Big Eight Conference, dropped to 4-1 while the Longhorns, of the Southwest Conference, are 2-2.

Oklahoma quarterback Cale Gundy, who completed only five of 17 passes for 69 yards, was sacked six times. Gundy had set Oklahoma passing records for completions and attempts going into the game.

“They missed three field goals and that was crucial,” Patton said. “It took a lot out of them. We were lucky just to be behind 7-3 at the half. But we didn’t take any chances in the second half. We put them back on their heels.”

Texas Coach David McWilliams said he wasn’t sure at first if Jacques’ touchdown would count. The ball has to be fumbled beyond the line of scrimmage to be converted.

“I was worried if you could advance a ball like that, but then I saw where the official marked the ball and I knew it was a live ball,” McWilliams said. “After that, they had to throw to catch up and we knew it.”

Blanton missed three field-goal attempts in the first half but the Sooners still led, 7-3, on Gundy’s 24-yard pass to Ted Long.