Xavier Robinson delivers Sooner Magic once more for Oklahoma in upset victory to keep their CFP hopes alive
Running back Xavier Robinson delivered Sooner Magic in yet another monumental win for Oklahoma, picking up where he left off last year
The Oklahoma Sooners defied the odds on Saturday when they took down the Tennessee Volunteers 33-27 in one of the biggest wins of the Brent Venables era. It wasn’t a perfect game from the Sooners, but they took every punch the Vols threw at them and responded right back with a haymaker of their own.
One of the key players of the game for the Sooners was running back Xavier Robinson, who is used to delivering in key moments for Oklahoma in his two years in a Sooners’ uniform. Last year, it was his two-touchdown performance over the Alabama Crimson Tide that gave Oklahoma their sixth win to reach bowl eligibility.
On Saturday, Robinson delivered with another 100-yard game and his lone touchdown on the ground gave the Sooners the lead late in the third quarter, and Oklahoma never looked back from there. One more big play later, and Oklahoma was all but assured of their victory.
Sooner Magic for Xavier Robinson
It was a tense fourth quarter for the Sooners. Up 26-17, John Mateer made a poor decision when he elected to pass on an RPO call instead of hand the ball off with 4:18 left in the game. The Volunteers marched right down the field to make it a 26-24 game with just 1:56 left. Oklahoma needed a first down to clinch the game and salt out the clock.
Who else would deliver but Xavier Robinson? After the Sooners recovered the onside kick, Robinson got the first touch of the drive and made the biggest play of his season, racing out 43 yards and falling to a knee at the one-yard line. Oklahoma then delivered their final punch of the night, going up 33-24.
Robinson also made a few other plays that didn’t count in the box score like breaking up a potential interception and a few key blitz pickups to keep Mateer clean.
After missing the beginning half of the season with injury and taking time to get up to speed, Robinson has slammed the door shut on any competition at running back, dominating the touches and snaps over Tory Blaylock. Despite only really playing in the last three games, Robinson is already second on the team in yards with 332 rushing yards, and he is tied for second in rushing touchdowns on the team.
As the year goes on, Robinson will continue to be the Sooners’ bellcow back. Fortunately, he will have another year of eligibility and should be a key force for Oklahoma’s offense for now and at least next season, and will hopefully continue to deliver Sooner Magic like he has so far in his career.
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