Oklahoma and Texas are 2-0 in the Red River Conference after the Sooners scored half a hundred on Texas A&M, and the Longhorns defeated Baylor.

 

Texas beat Baylor 48-13, in a game that Head Coach Chris Hopps said was underwhelming. 

 

“We were inconsistent with flashes of solid play,” said Hopps.

 

Meanwhile, the Sooners did well to beat a tough A&M team 50-32. 

 

Wing Olusegun Ayadi, flanker Braeden Hood, props Eric Wiggin and Dickson Garnett, flyhalf Matthew Theodore, and sub forward Hunter Graham all scored tries.

 

This marked the first time in several years that Oklahoma had upended the Aggies.

 

“Today we were able to turn the tide early and play the physical yet dynamic rugby we have been working toward since last 15s season,” said OU Head Coach Jason Horowitz. 

 

Michael Al-Jiboori knew he would be targeted by the A&M defense so he used his support, with Trevon Barnes and Manny Soto working off him. Freshman wing Grant Clancy had a strong game defensively. 

 

A&M ran out to an early 10-0 lead with tries from wing Olusegun Ayadi, and flanker Braeden Hood. But Al Jiboori scored to make it 10-7, and after an Aggie turnover, the Sooners put Soto over to make it 14-10. A&M prop Eric Wiggin’s try nudges his side in front, but the conversion was wide, part of the Aggie story on Saturday. Just before halftime Colby Townsend scored to put Oklahoma ahead to stay.

 

In the second half, Al-Jiboori started to find some space and scored two quick ones to make it 33-15. Townsend then set up Al-Jiboori for the captain’s third, and after prop Dickson Garnett and flyhalf Matthew Theodore scored for A&M, another Soto try made it 45-27. Sub forward Hunter Graham touched down for A&M - who made only one conversion all day, from scrumhalf Justin Brown - before Isaac Koh rounded it out for Oklahoma.

 

““Mike’s tries were set up well by his support lines,” said Horowitx. “It was not a track meet by any stretch. It was a physical brawl for 80 minutes, and a very exciting game to watch.”

 

Jayce Crowder and Matt Long led the charge in the forwards along with a standout performance by Vance Young.  

 

"With a few changes around 15 mins in the 1st half, we were able to start taking some control in the set pieces,” said Horowitz. “We are very young in the forwards so it takes them some time in the 1st half to find the system and the flow.”  

 

Townsend and freshmen Somto Iromuayna were crucial in opening up space for the Sooner centers.

 

Flyhalf Tom Chinellato and Scrumhalf Alex Markowski once again had outstanding performances and took on the Aggie’s tenacious backfield.

 

Texas and Oklahoma meet up in Dallas next Friday.