Like a combatant in battle, Dillon Gabriel rushed to the aid of one of the fallen soldiers.
Drake Stoops had been brought down in the end zone moments before by West Virginia safety Anthony Wilson, but lay motionless while Wilson defiantly stood over him. The redshirt senior wide receiver had just caught his third touchdown reception of the game despite Brown’s timely hit.
Gabriel wasn’t in the mood, so he made sure to let the climbers know they were safe. The Sooners quarterback had some choice words to protect WVU’s safety, then erupted into a scuffle led by him and a large group of OU teammates.
“(He’s) my brother and someone I love very much,” Gabriel said of Stoops. “As I watched him fall, I wondered what it looked like from my angle, but I wanted to say some kind words to him. Like I said, , it’s competitive. It’s football.”
Just like that moment, with glimpses of relentless camaraderie and brotherhood, Stoops and Gabriel came together to lead OU’s attack against the Mountaineers. Their combined effort helped the No. 17 Sooners (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) defeat West Virginia (6-4, 4-3) 59 Saturday night in Norman. I broke it at 20.
Gabriel was refocused and rejuvenated, tearing apart WVU’s defense and racking up 423 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and 50 rushing yards. His eight total touchdowns set a program record for most touchdowns scored in a single game.
He also finished in the top 10 on the career passing yards list. He currently ranks 10th all-time with 14,274 yards.
Stoops had 10 receptions, a career-high 164 receiving yards, and three touchdowns, all of which were thrown to Gabriel. For the season, Stoops had 694 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, the most in both categories in his six-year college career.
Just one week ago, Gabriel and Stoops watched OU’s College Football Playoff dreams shattered by Bedlam rival Oklahoma State. Questions were raised about the Sooners’ will to compete and the season, but Stoops and Gabriel frankly shared the same message: There’s still a lot to fight for.
Stoops and Gabriel’s performances showed just that.
“It showed us we weren’t that far away,” Stoops said. “Everyone wants to paint a narrative that we’re not doing well, or doing bad things, or feeling this way or that. This is the way we should play our game and do things. If we execute…we’ve shown that we can be better offensively than anyone in the country. We showed that in the first few weeks of the season.”
The connection between Gabriel and Stoops that began in the spring master’s program blossomed into a strong leadership tandem as they became one of the Sooners’ strongest options on the field.
The Sooners sit in third place in the conference standings, one game behind the Cowboys and two spots behind Texas, with both teams fighting to keep OU alive for a chance at a late berth in the Big 12 title game. ing. On top of that, it’s Gabriel and Stoops’ final year of college football, making their bond even stronger.
It was clear that both players wanted to lead OU with a different mentality following consecutive losses.
“I just think we had the advantage,” Gabriel said. “I think we were ready to play. I like the physicality of the front and everyone that played.
“I don’t know if (this win) was necessary or not. I think it’s tough considering what happened the last two weeks. Life and football are roller coasters. This game humbles you. But when we came out, everyone was hungry. I think it was the best week of practice.”
Stoops continues the same tradition established by his father, former college head coach Bob Stoops, and embraces the great moments that it means to be a Sooner. To date, Stoops has caught 149 passes for 1,606 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
“He’s just tough,” OU head coach Brent Venables said. “People say he’s a coach’s kid, but he’s a great football player. That discredits all the work Drake has put into his career, his instincts, consistency, and ability to make plays.” I think…he’s special. The players love being around him. We really appreciate what he brings to the locker room every day.”
At the end of OU’s win, Gabriel and Stoops were unashamed in their praise of each other in the postgame presser for both. “He’s a guy I love. Our personalities fit really well,” Gabriel said.
Stoops had similar sentiments.
“Eight is eight,” he said. “This is really a testament to his hard work and preparation every week.”
The Sooners will pivot to their final road game of the regular season against BYU (5-5, 2-5) in Provo at 11 a.m. CT, but OU’s offense will look to finish the season with a strong team. He will need to play at a high level. Momentum for entering the SEC.
For now, both Stoops and Gabriel are in their final moments, which were key contributors to OU’s dominant victory over the Mountaineers.
“I think as humans, we’re always chasing the future and thinking about the future,” Gabriel said. “We rarely stay in the present and just enjoy the moment. I think the players have done a good job. That’s what I’ve tried to do myself. Win or lose, tomorrow Because the sun is rising. I think how you react to good and bad things is a huge testament to who you are.”