Victory Comes Much Sooner

A red and white OU flag was shoved to midfield, the Sooner Schooner was rolling up the sideline and Oklahoma players and coaches were gathering at the 20 for an impromptu team photo.

A big victory deserves a big celebration and the No. 10 Sooners treated themselves to a doozy after beating No. 11 Texas, 63-14, Saturday in one of the most lopsided games in the 95-game history of the rivalry.

Oklahoma, 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference, had plenty of time to plan to party, as Josh Heupel led the Sooners to touchdowns on their first five drives.

But when their three-game losing streak against the Longhorns (3-2, 1-1) was officially over--it realistically ended when Oklahoma led, 42-0, in the second quarter--the outpouring of joy seemed pretty spontaneous.

Players did victory laps in front of the stands, slapping hands with some fans, hugging others. Cheerleaders alternately waved fingers signifying No. 1 and the upside down version of “Hook ‘em Horns”.

“People came from across the country and we wanted to represent this university, this state and this football team extremely well,” said Heupel, who passed for 275 yards and one touchdown.

Oklahoma led, 17-0, in last season’s meeting, only to lose, 38-28. Texas had not only won the last three meetings but also eight of 11.

This time, on a cold, dreary afternoon, the Sooners put an exclamation mark on their best start since 1993.

Quentin Griffin set a school record by running for six touchdowns, all eight yards or less, as Oklahoma scored the most points by any team in this storied series.

The Sooners also came within a point of the biggest blowout, a 50-0 Oklahoma win in 1908, and the 77 points were another series record.

Making those nuggets sweeter--and more shocking--is the fact this was the first time since 1984 that both teams were ranked for their traditional meeting on the second Saturday in October.

“Our game plan was to get off fast, hold the lead and play a full 60 minutes,” said second-year Coach Bob Stoops.

Oklahoma took a big step ahead in the Big 12 South race and can move into the national title picture with its next two games at No. 4 Kansas State and at home against No. 2 Nebraska.

Lowering the Boom

By-the-numbers look at No. 10 Oklahoma’s 63-14 victory over No. 11 Texas on Saturday:

63 Points for Oklahoma, most by either team in the 95-game series history, topping the Sooners’ total in a 52-13 victory in 1973.

77 Combined points are a series high, topping the 75 in a 48-27 Oklahoma victory in 1971.

49 Point margin is second only to Sooners’ 50-0 win in 1908. This was Oklahoma’s largest margin against a ranked opponent.

6 Rushing touchdowns for Quentin Griffin, breaking the school record of five held by Steve Owen (vs. Nebraska, 1968) and Jerald Moore (vs. Oklahoma State, ‘94).

534 Oklahoma’s yards and 28 first downs are both school-bests against Texas.

-7 Yards rushing for Texas, a school-worst.