It wasn't everybody, it was Gabriel

Sooner QB hit the throws he'd been missing and the ones, previously, they wouldn't even let him try … overcoming a still porous Sooner defense

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) runs for a first down ahead of Kansas linebacker Rich Miller (30) and defensive lineman Malcolm Lee (99) Saturday at Owen field. The Sooners prevailed 52-42. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

The whole game came down to one play.

First snap of the fourth quarter, Sooners facing third-and-6 at their own 20, Dillon Gabriel drops back to pass and quickly hits Drake Stoops for 7 yards.

All right, fine, you caught me.

That wasn’t the play.

For myriad reasons, it couldn’t possibly have been.

Oklahoma, which would go on to win 52-42, led Kansas 49-28 at the time.

Though Gabriel kept that drive going with one of his 29 completions, the march soon ended when a slight backfield collision between him and Jovante Barnes created a fumble the Jayhawks picked up; a turnover that soon became a touchdown, running back Ky Thomas going in from a yard to make it 49-35 with an eternity, 10:33, remaining.

So no, the opening play from the final frame actually meant nothing at all. Still, perhaps for others and not just me, it was the one that made it all so crystal clear.

Because Gabriel had been in that same spot so many times and not just Saturday.

But on Saturday, he converted one time after another.

One more to Stoops was a late reminder of all he’d already managed.

And that was the difference in OU finally ceasing to embarrass itself.

It was almost funny.

Coach Brent Venables tried to make it about the entire unit, 11 young men playing together.

“I think it’s just maturation and improving,” he said. “Just getting better at the little things … putting our guys in position to be successful.”

No doubt he’d like to think that, maybe actually thinks that and, come to think of it, it may behoove him to think that.

But none of it’s why the Sooners suddenly ran a well operated offense.