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Happy Independence Day, Sooner friends and fam! Some of you may have noticed an absence of posts from me for while on this wonderful site. Thought I’d get back into the flow by jumping in to help with our 2019 Countdown to Kickoff series on this festive summer holiday. We’re now 59 days away from the start of the 2019 season and what better time to revisit one of the most signature plays in Oklahoma, and college football, history — the immaculate 59-yard, fourth-quarter TD toss from Baker Mayfield to Mark Andrews to seal up the 2017 Red River Shootout/Showdown/Rivalry/whatever.
"The eyes of Texas are upon you" pic.twitter.com/123kV2yM61
— C&C Machine (@CCMachine) October 15, 2017
The Oklahoma Sooners, ranked No. 12 at the time, were lightning coming out of the gates in this contest and jumped out to a 20-0 lead on their Big 12 rivals in the second quarter. Then, Texas true-freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger did his best Tim Tebow impression and brought the ‘Horns back to take a 24-23 with eight minutes left in the fourth.
That’s when Baker the Touchdown Maker had one of his many Heisman moments, finding one of his favorite targets and current Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews wide open down the sideline. What transpired next left the Longhorns defense in the dust and the eyes of Texas full of tears. Such amazing tears.
Mayfield completed 17-of-27 passes for 302 yards, two touchdowns and a pick on the afternoon, while Andrews’s 104 yards and the touchdown on four receptions led all Sooner pass catchers. The classic 29-24 win in Lincoln Riley’s first Red River game as head coach was the Sooners’ second-straight over their archrivals in the Cotton Bowl. It also helped the team bounce back strong following the disappointing upset against Iowa State in Norman the week before.
The Mayfield-to-Andrews pass play was yet another special moment in the storied rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas, as was this iconic image in the book of Baker Mayfield. Donning the Golden Hat for the second year in a row, Baker took to the field to celebrate this one in style before riding away valiantly on his imaginary horse with this historic victory in hand.
Baker Mayfield galloped off the field while wearing the Golden Hat after Oklahoma's win https://t.co/VFfBt92Qoh pic.twitter.com/7gj1NgRfj8
— For The Win (@ForTheWin) October 15, 2017
Baker Mayfield gallops into the Cotton Bowl tunnel for the final time wearing the Golden Hat pic.twitter.com/nVRaP7l9zh
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) October 14, 2017
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