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Right on Q

Quentin Griffin picks up Sooners with big day

10/13/2002

By RANA L. CASH / The Dallas Morning News

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops stopped short of stating what seems apparent: The Sooners have Texas' number.

"You'll never hear me say that," Stoops said.

He doesn't have to. Second-ranked Oklahoma keeps finding ways to rain on Texas' parade and did so again Saturday with a 35-24 victory in front of 75,587 at the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma defeated No. 3 Texas for the third consecutive year and, for the third time, prevented Texas quarterback Chris Simms and coach Mack Brown from getting over the big-game hurdle.

The Sooners took chances when they needed to, capitalized on Texas' mistakes and, more importantly, kept their head above water even as the levels rose in the first half.

But the biggest play came early in the fourth quarter. Quentin Griffin, who rushed for 248 yards and a touchdown, scooped up a fumble and ran it in to give the Sooners a 21-17 lead.

"We always felt a positive momentum," Stoops said.

And even though OU quarterback Nate Hybl was admittedly shaky at times - he threw four interceptions - he didn't cave in. The difference was tremendous.

"I was hurting mentally," Hybl said. "The crowd was getting to me. I just used my teammates and told them how much I needed them."

Simms did not have such broad shoulders to lean on. The senior has thrown eight interceptions and no touchdown passes in his career against Oklahoma, including three Saturday. While the interceptions were not all his fault, Simms, who rushed for two scores, nevertheless concludes his Texas career void of an OU win. Simms also has 15 turnovers and no touchdown passes in games as a starter against top-10 teams.

Oklahoma took advantage of his miscues and created a lot of havoc by gaining excellent field position and rushing for 266 yards. The OU defense gave up 209 yards of total offense, and Texas converted three of 13 third-down attempts.

The Sooners grabbed the momentum at the end of the first half while trailing 14-3. First, Antwone Savage returned a kickoff 81 yards to the Texas 16. On fourth-and-2 with the ball on the Texas 8-yard line, UT freshman defensive end Bryan Pickryl jumped offside on a hard count with only 22 seconds left. Two plays later, Hybl connected with tight end Trent Smith for a 3-yard touchdown. Then, Stoops did the unexpected: He went for the two-point conversion. Hybl found Curtis Fagan in the back of the end zone to cut the Texas lead to three, 14-11.

Then, as time expired, Simms took a knee at the 50-yard line.

"A Hail Mary from the 50-yard line into the wind didn't make sense," Brown said.

Hybl's pass on the opening drive of the third quarter was intercepted by Derrick Johnson after pressure from tackle Rodrique Wright. UT responded with a 36-yard field goal from Dusty Mangum to make it 17-11.

Despite having to punt, things still went in the Sooners' favor. Blake Ferguson's punt was batted by Will Peoples, and the ball hit the pylon and marked at the 1.

Texas could not do anything with the ball and punted.

Trey DiCarlo's 37-yard field goal made it 17-14.

Dakarai Pearson intercepted Hybl's pass on OU's next possession, but Simms' next pass was picked off, too. A pass intended for B.J. Johnson was intercepted when Johnson was nailed by Brandon Everage, and Teddy Lehman was there for the pick and the 20-yard return.

Oklahoma made good on the turnover - luckily. Texas was flagged for a facemask penalty against Griffin, putting the ball on the 9. Hybl completed a pass to Peoples on third-and-goal from the 6. Linebacker Reed Boyd popped it out at the 2, but Griffin scooped it up for the go-ahead touchdown.

A critical UT mistake on the next Oklahoma drive helped clinch it. On third-and-7, Nathan Vasher was flagged for pass interference. Hybl connected with Peoples for a 36-yard gain to help set up a 2-yard surge for a score by KeJuan Jones, making it 28-17 with 6:41 left and taking five minutes off the clock. A 17-yard Griffin touchdown run iced it.

All that Texas had done to mount a 14-3 lead was lost.

Simms found Roy Williams on a 44-yard fly pattern to set up Simms' 1-yard score. Rod Babers picked off Hybl and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown with 1:43 left in the half.

"It's a horrible disappointment," Simms said. "It's one game, and this is a long season. We have to keep our heads up. I felt we were in control most of the way, and we let it slip away."

Oklahoma didn't feel that way. On the contrary, the Sooners - with Sooner Magic in hand - had a sense of their destiny.

"I'll take all the Sooner Magic I can get," Stoops said, "Sprinkle it here, sprinkle it there."