'05 Texas slips by '00 Oklahoma

One of college football’s most time-honored and intense rivalries intensified in a gripping first round matchup in the Scout.com/WhatIfSports Tournament of Champions. Despite the heroics of Sooner QB Josh Heupel and RB Quentin Griffin, the Longhorns mustered up a couple of game breaking plays to seal the victory 26-21.

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Heupel finished 22 of 43 for 356 yards and three scores, but threw three costly interceptions that ruined the Sooners’ chances. UT’s Michael Griffin returned an errant Heupel pass 61 yards two minutes into the game, capping Oklahoma’s initial drive and seemingly rattling Heupel into a few other uncharacteristic mistakes. Quentin Griffin turned in a solid performance for Oklahoma, rushing 29 times for 119 yards and hauling in 6 receptions for 125 yards, including a game-high 57 yard reception.

Besides Griffin’s early interception, Texas’ other key play was QB Vince Young’s first quarter 78 yard touchdown run-a vintage Young scramble that left the Sooners’ defense grasping at air. The impressive run offset an off day for Young in the passing department-completing just 8 of 18 passes for 102 yards and one interception. Coupled with a defense that bent but kept the OU offense out of the end zone just enough and K David Pino’s four field goals, the Longhorns kept the second half low-scoring and preserved the win.

Oklahoma’s Quentin Griffin was awarded the player of the game for his impressive day both running and catching the ball, but it will be the 2005 Longhorns moving on to the quarterfinals against the winner of the 2003 LSU/2004 USC contest.

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