Sooners’ final Big 12 game a big win over TCU
The Oklahoma Sooners’ final home game as a member of the Big 12 Conference against the visiting Texas Christian University Horned Frogs was quite the offensive show. The two teams combined for 1,127 combined yards and 114 points with OU coming away with a 69-45 victory over TCU on Friday at Owen Field.
NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners’ final home game as a member of the Big 12 Conference against the visiting Texas Christian University Horned Frogs was quite the offensive show. The two teams combined for 1,127 combined yards and 114 points with OU coming away with a 69-45 victory over TCU on Friday at Owen Field.
It was the most points scored by the Sooners in a Big 12 game since beating Texas A&M 77-0 in 2003. However, the win was not good enough to get a rematch with Texas in this Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game as Oklahoma State’s 4034 double-overtime win over Brigham Young the following afternoon clinched a spot in the title game for the Cowboys.
Redshirt senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel, playing in perhaps his final game at home, threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He has one season left due to the COVID ruling if he chooses to remain in college.
The Sooners (102 overall, 7-2 in Big 12 Conference play) dominated early in the game, jumping out to a 42-13 lead late in the first half. Gavin Sawchuck scored from 12 and seven yards out, and Gabriel hit Jayden Gibson on a 59-yard TD and Brenne Thompson from 53 yards out. Tawee Walker went in from nine yards out before TCU kicked a field goal to trail 42-16 at halftime.
After Zach Schmit hit a 23-yard field goal to start the second half, TCU scored three of the next four touchdowns to pull within 52-38 entering the final quarter. Quarterback Josh Hoover hit Jared Wiley from three yards out and then threw to Emani Bailey from 12 yards out. Bailey added a 32-yard run for a touchdown as the Horned Frogs gained some momentum.
Sawchuck added another TD from nine yards out, and Billy Bowman Jr. finished off the Horned Frogs with a 45-yard interception return for a score.
OU finished the regular season unbeaten at home and scored at least 50 points for a fourth time at Owen Field.
“(I’m) really thankful and proud of everyone (players) and their hard work,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “Dillon supplanting himself at fourth in college football history in touchdown passes.”
Gabriel felt like TCU was going to make a run in the second half.
“We knew that the fight wasn’t going to stop,” the OU quarterback said said. “You know, they were fighting for bowl eligibility, and we’re fighting for a 10th win, so I think everything was on the line for both teams.”
Drake Stoops, playing in his final collegiate home game, caught 12 passes for 125 yards and a TD for the Sooners. Stoops and Gabriel were honored on Senior Day prior to the game and received loud ovations from the fans as they came off the field late in the game.
Sawchuck finished with 130 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and Nic Anderson added four catches for 97 yards for OU.
Hoover threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns, and Bailey ran for 150 yards to lead TCU (5-7, 3-6).
The Sooners will now wait until this weekend to find out their bowl destination and opponent.
