Sunday, October 12, 2008

Gun Fight At The Cotton Bowl Corral

Today 10 – 11 – 2008 was more than just another day at the Texas State Fair hosted by the city of Dallas. It also marked the 103rd meeting between the legendary Oklahoma Sooners and the storied Texas Longhorns.

Billed as the Red River Rivalry, prior to 2005 it was called the Red River Shoot Out, and today it was just that, The Red River Shoot Out providing football fans the gun fight at Dallas’s Cotton Bowl.

The #1 ranked undefeated Oklahoma Sooners were led by gunslinger sophomore and Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Bradford.

Bradford stats:
He has completed 106 passes of 146 attempts for 1,665 yards and completion percentage of 72.6 with a ypa of 11.4, 18 TDs versus 3 interceptions and 3 sacks and a rat of 204.97

The # 5 undefeated Texas Longhorns were led by gunslinger Colt McCoy a junior and Heisman Trophy candidate.

McCoy stats:He has completed 103 passes of 130 attempts for 1,280 yards and completion percent of 79.2 with a ypa of 9.85, 16 TDs versus 3 interceptions 5 sacks and a rat of 197.94

Even though Oklahoma entered the game favored, this was one game that should have been called even, that exceeded the pregame hype. Not only did they set a rivalry scoring record of 80 points, a combined aerial attack totaling 664 yards and 6 touchdowns. They had an explosive 96 yard kick off return, two point conversion, circus catches, one for a touchdown, a fake punt and naturally their fair share of controversial calls. A game that had something for everybody.

Emotions run high in arch rivalry games and this gun fight was no different, the two teams combined for 16 penalties and 128 yards.

Even though much this game was settled in the trenches, the running game offered 61 rushing attempts for a combined 209 yards and 3 touchdowns. While the gunslingers filled the air with balls, throwing 86 passes 56 completions and 2 interceptions.

Oklahoma drew first blood on a 5 yard pass from Bradford to Manuel Johnson, Jimmy Stevens kick. Texas answered almost 6 minutes later with a Hunter Lawrence 26 yard field goal, ending the first quarter scoring.

Oklahoma opened the second quarter with a blitzkrieg strike that only took 1 minute and 46 seconds, scoring on an 8 yard pass from Sam Bradford to Ryan Broyles, Jimmy Stevens kick.

First Quarter Score:

Oklahoma Sooners: 7
Texas Longhorns: 3

The Texas Longhorns answered in 12 seconds with Jordan Shipley electrifying crowd, scoring on a 96 yard kick off return. Hunter Lawrence kick.

Two minutes and 37 seconds later Oklahoma’s Bradford found Jermaine Gresham for a 52 yard score and Jimmy Stevens kick.

Six minutes and 44 seconds later Texas Longhorn Cody Johnson burst into the end zone on a 1 yard run, Hunter Lawrence kick.

As the quarter winds down, the Texas Longhorns end the first half with 33 yard Hunter Lawrence field goal.

Half time score:

Oklahoma Sooners: 21
Texas Longhorns: 20

The Oklahoma Sooners open the second half quickly, using a scant 3 minutes and 15 seconds, Sam Bradford hooks up with Manuel Johnson for Johnson’s scoring reception on a 14 yard pass, Jimmy Stevens kick.

Colt McCoy and the Longhorns retaliate 6 minutes and 12 seconds later with Jason Shipley getting his second score on a 2 yard pass from McCoy. Hunter Lawrence kick.

Hunter Lawrence and the Texas Longhorns close out third quarter scoring with 01:04 left in the quarter, Hunter puts one 28 yards through the up rights,

3rd quarter score:

Oklahoma Sooners: 28
Texas Longhorns: 30


Eleven minutes and forty two seconds into the fourth quarter found the Oklahoma Sooners resuming the lead on a 14 yard Sam Bradford to Manuel Johnson pass, Jimmy Stevens kick.

Even with a 30 -35 lead the Sooners position did seem tenuous. Earlier in the third quarter Oklahoma ball 3rd and around 9, leading 28 – 20 Stoops tried the fake punt, coming up a yard short of the first down. The momentum changed towards Texas.

Texas mustered a field goal gap closing field goal off that turn of events. The momentum seemed to stay with Texas.

Midway through the 4th quarter The Texas Longhorns answered the Sooners score with one of their own. Set up from a long pass Longhorn Cody Johnson plunged into the end zone from the 1 yard line, making the score 36 – 35 Texas. Colt McCoy followed up with a 2 point conversion pass to Quan Cosby, making the score Longhorns 38 – Sooners 35.

Four minutes and two seconds marked the end of the scoring with running back Cody Johnson bursting over the goal line on a 2 yard run, Hunter Lawrence’s kick being the final scored point.

4th Quarter:

Oklahoma Sooners: 35

Texas Longhorns: 45

This installment of the Red River Rivalry lived up to its billing and more. Both teams combined for 80 points, the most ever scored in the annual Red River Shoot Out, giving football fans, The Gun Fight at The Cotton Bowl Corral

Thank you Longhorns and Sooners for a great game.

No comments: