DALLAS (KXAN) — No. 1 Texas kept Oklahoma's dynamic freshman quarterback in check to claim The Golden Hat with a 34-3 win over the No. 18 Sooners in the Red River Rivalry game Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma started Michael Hawkins Jr. at quarterback, the first time the Sooners have put a true freshman there to start a game in the history of the rivalry. He showed flashes of talent with his arm and legs, but the swarming Longhorns defense kept him from getting free for long. He finished the game 19-for-30 passing for 148 yards with 27 yards on 20 carries. Is Texas-OU college football’s greatest rivalry? Texas held the Sooners to 3.4 yards per play and forced two fumbles, recovering both on consecutive drives in the second quarter. Texas outgained Oklahoma 406-237 and the Sooners were 4-for-15 on third down. In his first game back from injury, Texas junior quarterback Quinn Ewers had some rust. He threw an interception on the Longhorns' first drive, overthrowing an open receiver down the middle of the field. He threw mostly short passes that his receivers turned into big gains except a 30-yard pass to tight end Gunnar Helm to set up the Longhorns' final score. Ewers finished 20-for-29 for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His scoring pass was a 7-yarder to Helm in the first quarter. Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron (7) wears the Golden Hat Trophy as he celebrates the team's win against Oklahoma with fans after an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, left, and head coach Steve Sarkisian, center right, hold the Golden Hat Trophy after their team's win against Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) holds up the trophy for fans after the team's win against Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian celebrates a score against Oklahoma in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner (26) carries the ball as Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) moves in to make the stop in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Texas wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (0) catches a long pass as Texas linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith (26) looks on in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (9) gains short yards on a keeper as Texas defensive lineman Vernon Broughton, left, and Michael Taaffe (16) make the stop in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Oklahoma fans react to play in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Oklahoma fans react to play in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)A few Oklahoma band members take shelter from the heat in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (9) is stripped of the ball by Texas in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Oklahoma wide receiver J.J. Hester (13) is upended after catching a pass by Texas defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau (3) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., top left, drops back to pass against Texas in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Actor Matthew McConaughey, center in cowboy hat, stands on the Texas sideline watching play against Oklahoma in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Texas defensive back Derek Williams Jr. (2) celebrates after recovering a fumble by Oklahoma running back Taylor Tatum in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Oklahoma running back Taylor Tatum (8) carries the ball before being hit by Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) and fumbling on the play in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables walks off the field after his team's 34-3 loss to Texas in an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)Texas wide receiver Silas Bolden (11) and others celebrate after recovering a teammates fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against Oklahoma in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrates with teammates and fans after the teams win against Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) "We were a little off in the first quarter, but we played well in all three phases eventually," Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "When one phase is a little off, we built a team to have the other phases step up. We played really good complementary football." Texas freshman running back Quintrevion Wisner ripped off two huge runs to rack up his yards per carry average. He finished with 118 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown, scoring on a 43-yard run late in the second quarter. He had a 36-yard run on the previous drive but fumbled near the goal line, but thankfully for the Longhorns, receiver Silas Bolden was there to recover the ball in the end zone. MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Sarkisian said it was Bolden's best week of practice of the whole season. He said it was a "pure hustle play," and embodied the kind of effort Bolden has been putting in. Bolden also had a 61-yard punt return he nearly ran back to the end zone. "He transferred from Oregon State where he was the go-to guy, and he's assumed a different role for us," Sarkisian said. Helm had five catches for 91 yards and Ryan Wingo had two catches for 49 yards. The game took a similar path in the beginning with Ewers throwing an interception on the first drive, but Ewers said the team has matured, as he has, and that was huge in helping the team regroup. Ewers was critical of himself for not making some of the throws he typically makes and didn't use his injury recovery time as an excuse. "At the end of the day, I should have made some more of the throws. I can't tell you it's rust because I've been practicing the past two weeks, so those are on me," Ewers said. Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC) faces No. 5 Georgia at home next week in the marquee matchup of Week 7 in college football. Oklahoma (4-2, 1-1 SEC) hosts South Carolina next week. More details and postgame press conference quotes will be added to this story. Check back later for more.