Like a fighter in battle, Dillon Gabriel rushed to assist certainly one of his fallen troopers.

Drake Stoops, who was clobbered moments earlier than by West Virginia security Anthony Wilson in the long run zone, laid immobile whereas Wilson tauntingly stood over him. The redshirt senior vast receiver had additionally simply caught his third landing reception of the sport, regardless of the clock-cleaning hit from Brown.

Gabriel wasn’t having it, and he made positive to let the Mountaineers’ security know. The Sooners’ quarterback rushed right into a brawl led by him and a throng of OU teammates, earlier than sharing some selection phrases with WVU’s security.

“(He’s) my brother, someone that I love a bunch,” Gabriel mentioned of Stoops. “Seeing him go down and me questioning what it looked from my angle, I had some kind words to say to him. Like I said, it’s competitive. It’s football.”

Like they have been in that second — a glimpse of relentless comradery and a touch of brotherhood — Stoops and Gabriel united to information OU’s offense vs. the Mountaineers. Their mixed efforts led the No. 17 Sooners (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) to a 59-20 stomping of West Virginia (6-4, 4-3) in Norman on Saturday night time.

Gabriel, re-focused and reinvigorated, sliced and diced via WVU’s protection for 423 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns, three dashing touchdowns and 50 dashing yards. His eight complete touchdowns set a program file for probably the most touchdowns scored in a single sport.

He additionally cracked the highest 10 on the profession passing yards listing. He now sits in tenth place all-time with 14,274 yards.

Stoops completed with 10 receptions, a career-high 164 receiving yards and three touchdowns, all of which have been thrown by Gabriel. On the season, Stoops has 694 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, probably the most he’s had in each classes throughout his six-year faculty profession.

Just every week in the past, Gabriel and Stoops watched as OU’s College Football Playoff desires have been crushed by their Bedlam rival, Oklahoma State. Questions of the Sooners’ struggle and can for the season have been introduced up, however Stoops and Gabriel candidly shared the identical message: there’s nonetheless a lot to struggle for.

Stoops and Gabriel’s efficiency showcased simply that.

“It just showed us we’re not far off,” Stoops mentioned. “Everyone wants to paint the narrative that we’re not doing good, and we’re bad, or we’re feeling this or that. It just shows that when we play our game and execute the way we’re supposed to … we can be as good at offense as anyone in the country. We showed that in the beginning weeks of the season.”

For what began within the pair’s grasp’s diploma class within the spring, Gabriel and Stoops connection has blossomed into one of many Sooners most potent choices on the sector and a tandem of sturdy leaders off of it.

Both are combating to maintain OU alive for a possible late push for the Big 12 title sport, because the Sooners sit third within the convention standings, one sport behind the Cowboys and two spots under Texas. Alongside that, it’s Gabriel and Stoops’ last yr of faculty soccer, making their bond that a lot stronger.

It was clear they each needed to guide OU with a unique mentality following back-to-back losses.

“I just think we came out with an edge,” Gabriel mentioned. “I think we came out ready to play. I just like the physicality up front and everyone who played.

“I don’t know if (this win was) needed. I think with what happened the past two weeks, it’s tough. It’s a roller coaster of life and in football. This game will humble you. But, the way we came out, the guys were hungry. I think we had our best week of practice.”

Stoops, on his personal, is embracing the finer moments of what it means to be a Sooner, carrying on the identical legacy created by his father and former OU head coach Bob Stoops. To this level Stoops has caught 149 passes for 1606 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.

“He’s just tough,” OU head coach Brent Venables mentioned. “People say he’s a coach’s kid, but he’s a fantastic football player. I think that’s discrediting all the work that Drake has put into his career, his instincts, his consistency and his ability to make plays. … He’s special. Players love being around him. I’m really thankful for what he brings to the locker room every single day.”

At the top of OU’s win throughout the pair’s respective publish sport pressers, Gabriel and Stoops weren’t shy to share their adulation for one another. “He’s just a guy I love, our personalities mesh very well,” Gabriel mentioned.

Stoops shared an identical sentiment.

“Eight goes for eight,” he mentioned. “It’s just a testament of his hard work and his preparation every week.”

As the Sooners pivot to their last common season highway sport towards BYU (5-5, 2-5) at 11 a.m. CT in Provo OU’s offensive duo shall be wanted to play at a excessive stage to shut out the season sturdy, giving their staff momentum because it heads into the SEC.

For now, each Stoops and Gabriel are simply embracing the ultimate moments, which was a giant half to OU’s emphatic victory over the Mountaineers

“I think as people we’re always chasing, thinking of the future,” Gabriel mentioned. “We very rarely stay in the present and just enjoy the moment. I think the guys have done a good job of it. I’ve been trying to do that myself. Because tomorrow, the sun rises, whether it was a win or a loss. How you respond to good or bad, I think, is a big testament to who you are.”