View from the Cheap Seats-Red River War

[echeese]

View from the Cheap Seats-Red River War

The Angry Team Won

 

“Only angry people win football games.”-Darrell Royal.

 

In a series dating back to 1900, covering 121 games, TEXAS came into the game with their season on the brink.   There is zero margin for error, as another loss, especially against their bitter rival, would end any hope of a playoff berth and send the fanbase over the edge.   The pre-season edition of the Cheap Seats stated this team would take us as far as the defense would carry us.   After a horrid showing in the swamp, the defense came out angry, pissed off, and with a point to prove.  And prove it they did.   Coach Kwiatkowski’s young charges looked like a completely different team than the team Florida gashed.  They would hold OU’s offense completely out of the end zone, only allowing two field goals and both of those coming very early in the game.  Along the way, they intercepted Mateer 3 times, though they let one get away, which would have been an easy pick-six. 

And sadly, for the 1st quarter, the TEXAS offense looked completely lost again.  Penalties would once again rear their ugly head and fans were bemoaning “Oh no, here we go again”.

The offense would doink a long field goal on their best early drive of the game.   The Horns would only have one drive in the 2nd Quarter, but it was a good one.  A 12-play, 70-yard+ drive to kick a field goal, making the game 6-3, the score that would stand up at halftime.     The thieves of land would then drive for it on 4th down in the red zone, passing up a chip shot FG, only to see Malik Muhammad record his 2nd interception of the game.  

The 2nd half was a tale of two teams.   The TEXAS offense woke up, mainly behind the rushing and pass-catching of Tre Wisner.  The young man announced his return from injury (kinda like his presence, bonus points if you know the movie) with authority.

TEXAS took the opening kickoff and converted on 3rd down 4 times on their way to their 1st touchdown of the game.  It would also result in the “winning score” to use a baseball analogy.  Along the way, they faced 3rd down on four separate occasions, converting each of them.  They would only have four drives in the 2nd half, as the game went very quickly, TEXAS would record a Touchdown, would kick 2 FGs, and had a long FG come up short.

 The offense came alive in the 2nd half against one of the best defenses in the Nation.   Along with a nifty, Ryan Nibblet punt return, tight-roping down the sideline for a TD, the Horns would outscore their bitter rivals 20-0 following their early 6-0 lead.

Arch had a good game, essentially driving the bus and extending plays with his legs.   While it wasn’t a spectacular statistical performance, he looked much better throwing the ball and making his reads.   We have to mention one play that might have been the key play of the day.   Backed up to their own 5-yard line on 3rd down, the Burglers of Dirt pinned their ears back and came hard.  Arch rather deftly, side steps the pass rush and hits his roommate (you did know Arch is rooming with Livingstone?) Parker for a 21-yard gain on a deep sideline route.   It was a tough throw and catch, but Parker got both feet down for a major 1st down instead of TEXAS punting to OU and giving them decent field position.  The drive resulted in TEXAS’ 2nd field goal.

Is there a better sight than watching the Sooner side of the Cotton Bowl start emptying in the 4th quarter?    The only thing funnier was watching Arch waving to the Boomer fans late in the game.  He had just gone on a long run on 3rd down to ice the game. 

Nana-nana-hey-hey-goodbye.

https://www.tiktok.com/@secnetwork/video/7560101999484751134?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Glass half empty

After the 1st quarter, not much

Glass half full

Vs the best D they faced this side of Ohio State, the Horns answered the bell in a big way in the 2nd half.  Meanwhile, the Horns' D played well from the start.  Welcome back, Tre Wisner.

We have to give props to an offensive line that spent the week having abuse heaped on them.  Seems they had a point to prove as well.  And they did this with Nick Brooks recording his first start.

BTW, beating OU is always goal #1 of every season, doing it against an unbeaten Sooner team, just that much sweeter.  

Offensive Player of the Game

Tre Wisner-he made his 2025 debut in grand style, rushing for 94 yards and adding another 34 yards receiving.  His ability to make tacklers miss has frankly been “missing” from our offense. Most importantly, he would record seven 1st downs out of TEXAS’ total of 15.

Defensive Player of the Game

Collin Simmons, in his biggest game so far of the season, would record two and a half sacks to go with two and a half tackles for loss.  Breakout game for the pre-season All-American?

Special Teams Player of the Game

Ryan Nibblet-His 75-yard punt return up the sideline for a touchdown put a dagger in the hearts of the Sooners.  He picked a great time to break out.

Stats that Matter

·       8 of 13   3rd down conversions in the 2nd half by the Horns

·       6 of 17   The Thieves of Land 3rd down conversion rate

·       5/7    5 sacks record and 7 tackles for loss

·       3-2    Sark’s record vs our friends from the North

·       4-7    Sark improved his record at TEXAS vs top 10 teams to 4-7

·       1-1    Red Zone TD scoring by the Horns

 

On Deck

The Horns will not play at DKR the entire month of October.   This week, they travel to 0-3 in conference, Kentucky, which will be coming off a bye week.   Sark had the team ready for the biggest game of the year. Can he keep them focused, traveling to play the weakest team in the SEC?   He proved he can handle failure with Texas’s best game of the season following a brutal loss to the Gators. Can the Horns and Sark handle success?   We think so and are calling it a 38-10 victory.   We’re fans, we can look ahead, we believe a trip to Starkville is the middle third of the season’s “trap game”.

 

Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dQakUVA2UA

 

 

[echeese]

Under Glass half empty, 2 turnovers, zero points gained.   3rd turnover ended the half.