OU football notebook: Big game

BY ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Sunday, October 14, 2012
10/14/12 at 4:50 AM

The longest reception in Oklahoma-Texas history doesn't belong to an All-American wide receiver.

The record is held by a versatile Oklahoma fullback who made his mark in Saturday's 63-21 victory over Texas.

Trey Millard did most of the work on a 73-yard catch from quarterback Landry Jones, taking a short toss down the right sideline, leaping over safety Mykkele Thompson and knocking safety Adrian Phillips down at the same time.

Millard finished with a career- and team-high 119 receiving yards. He also rushed three times for 115 yards.

"The coaches put me in great opportunities," said Millard, who also had a 25-yard TD reception.

"When I'm out there, I just try to make people miss. I did this time and made some plays."

Setting a record: Jones now owns 33 victories as a starting quarterback, the most of any Oklahoma quarterback. He topped Steve Davis with the victory.

He also joined Jimmy Harris, Jamelle Holloway and Davis with a 3-0 record over Texas as a starting quarterback.

"It's hitting me right now," Jones said. "You just look back at all the great quarterbacks, all the great players around this place and to be in that company and be in all those things, it's just really been fun."

He said he came back to OU for his senior season for days like Saturday.

"Days like this, exactly," he said. "You don't get too many days like this and, when you do, you have got to cherish them and remember them and always thank God for them."

Finding the end zone: Blake Bell had four rushing touchdowns against Texas, joining Heisman Trophy winners Billy Sims and Steve Owens as the only OU players with multiple games of four or more touchdowns.

"When I come off the field, I go straight to Landry and say thanks," said Bell, who had three 1-yard scores and an 8-yard dash. "He's the one that gets me down there. When coach calls my name, I'm going to get in there and do my job."

The Golden Hat: R.J. Washington placed the Golden Hat on his head following the Sooners victory.

"It was great," the senior defensive end said. "You see it in the locker room throughout the year because you keep the little trophy and you kind of forget about the moment. You just grab that hat again and you're like 'Oh yes.' I never really got to grab that hat because I never felt like I played a big enough role but this year I grabbed it, felt great, senior, last one, couldn't hope for a better outcome."

Making his debut: Wide receiver Jalen Saunders, who was granted a waiver to play immediately for the Sooners this week, made his OU debut with a 32-yard reception in the third quarter. The former Fresno State star added a 22-yard catch later in the game.

"He's another weapon on this team that we've got," Jones said. "Now we get to move different people around and use him in different situations that we want."

Big-time offense: OU had 677 yards of total offense, which ties for the 10th most in school history. It easily surpassed the former high against Texas (552, 2003).

Tough game for Bevo: The current Bevo, the Texas Longhorns' legendary mascot, fell to 4-5 in games against the Sooners.

Brady Maus, a Texas senior from Phoenix, is one of Bevo's handlers.

"He gets tense when something happens and the crowd erupts and the cannon goes off," Maus said.