The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 1 Oklahoma 65, No. 11 Texas 13
10.11.2003 | Football
DALLAS -- Texas and Oklahoma met for the 98th time, and the Sooners came away with a 65-13 win on Saturday in Dallas at the SBC Red River Shootout, despite 127 yards rushing by QB Vince Young. The win was the fourth straight in the series for Oklahoma, the longest streak for either team since the Longhorns won four consecutive from 1989-92.
"We started the game with two interceptions in the first three series which is something we haven't done all year, and we have to credit the Oklahoma defense," head coach Mack Brown said. "Oklahoma is a great football team, and they are very well coached. We can't do the things we did and expect to win. Our guys tried and they were ready for this game, but we just didn't play very well. Our team wouldn't have played as poorly as they did today if I had done my job. What we have to do is go back and correct the mistakes we made today."
In the opening drive for Texas, the Sooners made the first interception of 107 passes thrown by QB Chance Mock in his career. It was made by CB Derrick Strait, who returned the ball to the Texas six-yard line. From there, RB Renaldo Works ran to the left side of the end zone 1:34 into the game for a 7-0 Oklahoma lead.
The Longhorns were forced to punt on the following possession, but it was Oklahoma's time for a turnover when David Thomas knocked the ball loose from returner Antonio Perkins at the OU 44-yard line where Brett Robin recovered.
Young entered at quarterback and led Texas on a six-play drive that was highlighted by a 30-yard connection to WR Roy Williams and was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Cedric Benson to even the score, 7-7. Young finished with a career-high 135 yards passing, while Williams caught a team-high seven passes for 89 yards.
"It is always hard to lose big games," Williams said. "One in a season hurts, but two is devastating. We just have to bounce back next week and come ready to play. We just need to stay strong and come back with a 'W' next week."
Oklahoma's second score was again set up by an interception. Free safety Brodney Pool picked off a Young pass at the Texas 35-yard line, and although two penalties moved the Sooners back to the OU 45, QB Jason White completed passes of 17 and 18 yards as part of a six-play drive that ended with a completion from White to RB J.D. Runnels for a five-yard touchdown with 3:54 to go in the first quarter and a 14-7 lead. White was 17-for-21 for 290 yards and four touchdowns for the game.
To open Texas' next drive, Young broke several tackles en route to a 59-yard run down to the Oklahoma 21-yard line. However, three plays later, he fumbled at the two-yard line, giving the ball back to the Sooners. Oklahoma drove to the Texas 24 and kicker Trey DiCarlo extended the lead to 17-7 with a field goal.
Following a second Sooner field goal, Young was intercepted for a second time. Oklahoma DE Jonathan Jackson returned the ball 21 yards for the score with 6:09 left in the half, extending the OU lead to 27-7.
Young recovered on the next drive, completing passes of 17 and 19 yards to Williams and WR Sloan Thomas, respectively, and finishing the six-play, 65-yard drive with a 27-yard run for a touchdown, making the score 27-13. It was Young's sixth touchdown of the season, tying him for sixth on UT's freshman total touchdowns list with Selvin Young, Victor Ike and Earl Campbell. Kicker Dusty Mangum's extra point attempt hit the right upright, ending his UT record streak of consecutive PAT's made at 121.
Oklahoma went on to score 38 unanswered points to close the game at 65-13. The 65 points are the most scored by an opponent since 1997 when UCLA scored 66. However, Young's 127 yards rushing tied him for the ninth-best rushing performance by a UT quarterback and it marked the first time since 1980 a quarterback had run for over 100 yards.
The Longhorns next travel to Ames, Iowa to face Iowa State on Saturday, October 18.
