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Sam Ehlinger honors Brees wears Chaps Jersey in Sugar Bowl win.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

By now, Longhorn fans have seen video clips or photographs of Sam Ehlinger paying homage to Drew Brees by donning his throwback Westlake jersey at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

What some may not know is that the idea didn’t come from Ehlinger himself, and the jersey wasn’t found at an Austin-area merchandise shop. Instead, the show of respect came about thanks to an alert teammate from Homestead, Florida.

Senior cornerback Davante Davis was walking near Canal Street prior to the game when he spotted the jersey at a retail shop. After a quick text message to an excited Ehlinger, Davis purchased the item, brought it to Ehlinger and the quarterback reimbursed the $90 price tag. 

Ehlinger wore the jersey during a pregame walk into the stadium, and the former Chaparral put in on once again after Texas had completed a 28-21 upset of the highly-touted Georgia Bulldogs. Not even head coach Tom Herman’s strict dress code policy could stop Ehlinger from honoring the NFL’s all-time passing leader.

“Coming into the Superdome, I had to respect Drew because of all the amazing things he’s done in this building,” Ehlinger said. “I honestly wanted to play like him and have a little magic. That was just paying my respect to him.”

Brees was sent a picture of Ehlinger’s tribute and posted his support on Twitter. He said that he was able to catch most of the second half of the Sugar Bowl and gave his Westlake predecessor credit for guiding the Longhorns’ offense.

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger heads to the locker room before the team’s Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in New Orleans. Ehlinger wore a high school jersey of Westlake High School graduate and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

“He played big, his team played great, but he was obviously the leader and the catalyst for the team,” Brees said. “I’m happy for his success and he’s a great kid.”

Brees, of course, led Westlake to the 1996 UIL Class 5A state championship before departing for Purdue. Ehlinger left Westlake two decades later and finished his prep career as the program’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Brees said he’s known Ehlinger for years and marveled at how the signal caller has handled the spotlight of being the Longhorns’ starter.

“I feel like I’ve seen him grow up a little bit, just knowing him since middle school and high school and some of his goals and aspirations,” Brees said. “I think he’s always envisioned himself being in that position, playing for the University of Texas — the hometown team — and leading them at quarterback. He’s done a phenomenal job of that in his first two years. He’s still young. His future is very bright.”

That opinion is shared by many that watched Ehlinger earn the Sugar Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player award after becoming the first Texas quarterback since Vince Young to rush for three touchdowns in a bowl game.

But even after witnessing Ehlinger rise to national prominence in his own backyard, Brees still seemed more surprised that the sophomore could actually find one of his No. 15 Chaps jerseys.

“Did he have to get that specially made or put a call in to the coach or AD and borrow it?” Brees asked reporters in a press conference the day after the Sugar Bowl. “I don’t know. It was cool.”

Westlake High School has since remedied the problem of a potential lack of inventory. It announced on Jan. 9 that the team store inside Chaparral Stadium has ordered throwback Brees jerseys to sell, as well as versions with Ehlinger’s No. 4 and Nick Foles’ No. 7.

Perhaps Davis should ask for a portion of the proceeds.

Clemson Roll Tide:44-16

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in Football.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Clemson took out a full year’s worth of frustration on Alabama Monday night in one of the most stunning championship game beat-downs in recent history.

The Tigers (15-0) got better as the night elapsed and rolled the Tide 44-16 at Levi’s Stadium to claim the program’s second national title in three seasons. The contest also served as the birth of a new college football megastar in Clemson true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who absolutely shredded Alabama’s defense by going 20-of-32 passing for 347 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s amazing,” Lawrence said. “I just love everyone that’s been a part of this journey. It’s really unbelievable.”

The 2019 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship got off to a dubious start for the Crimson Tide when Tua Tagovailoa was picked off by A.J. Terrell, who motored 44 yards the other way for a touchdown. 

Tagovailoa immediately bounced back with a 62-yard scoring toss to Jerry Jeudy, and after the two teams once again traded scores in the first quarter, the nationwide audience surely thought that an instant classic was in the making.

But Dabo Swinney’s Tigers had a different storyline in mind.

Alabama (14-1) tacked on a field goal early in the second quarter, but after that, it was all Clemson. The Tigers buried the Tide under an avalanche of 30 unanswered points — much to the delight of any college football fan fed up with seeing Nick Saban’s sour mug on their television set every January.

Clemson was untouchable during its surge, which saw Travis Etienne tally a 1-yard TD run and catch a 5-yard scoring strike from Lawrence before the Tigers added a field goal to take a 31-16 lead into the half.

Alabama still had a chance to rally after receiving the third-quarter kickoff, and the combination of Tagovailoa and Damien Harris quickly moved the Crimson Tide into the red zone. Clemson’s defense bowed its back and forced a field goal attempt, but Saban rolled the dice and dialed up a high-risk fake. It was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage, and from there, the Tigers clerly smelled blood and began to pour it on.

Lawrence went to the air and hit fellow freshman Justyn Ross for a 74-yard bomb to extend the lead, and after another fourth-down stop from Clemson’s defense, the QB capped the next drive with a 5-yard TD throw to Tee Higgins.

Once more the Tide drove into Tiger territory only to be turned away with nothing to show for it. Following a third straight turnover on downs, Clemson put the finishing touches on its blowout win by controlling the ball, keeping the clock moving and giving its starters a well-deserved curtain call.

“Alabama is Alabama, but I felt like we had the better team,” Swinney said afterward. “Our guys came in with the mindset that we were going to play on the balls of our feet and we were going to attack — and we did.”

The Tigers and Tide are now 2-2 when meeting in the new CFP, but Clemson holds a 2-1 edge with the title on the line. With their lopsided victory on Monday, the Tigers became the first NCAA Division I FBS team to finish a season with a perfect 15-0 record since 1897.

SUGAR IS SWEET

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

By Tucker Stephenson

NEW ORLEANS — After a full month of hype, everyone wearing the burnt orange and white couldn’t wait to get a piece of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Even Bevo himself.

Texas’ mascot nearly maimed Georgia’s favorite pooch, Uga, during an ill-advised pregame meeting, and the Longhorns finished the job over the next several hours by outmuscling the Bulldogs for a 28-21 win in the 2019 Sugar Bowl. Head coach Tom Herman’s team showed confidence and urgency from the very first snap and ultimately left The Big Easy with the program’s biggest postseason prize in a decade.

And with regard to the obvious question surrounding Texas football, quarterback Sam Ehlinger — the game’s Most Outstanding Player — answered it during the postgame ceremony.

“Longhorn nation,” Ehlinger said, “we’re baaaaaaack!”

It was a nearly flawless start for the Longhorns (10-4), who rattled off 17 consecutive points to take control of the contest. The Bulldogs (11-3) eventually pulled to within two scores with plenty of time remaining in the fourth quarter, but Texas’ defense rose to the occasion and got the stop it needed thanks to a key sack by linebacker Gary Johnson.

The Longhorns survived a penalty-plagued final minute to snag an onside kick that sealed a major upset — in Las Vegas’ eyes, at least.

“We pride ourselves in our physicality,” Herman said after the game. “At this point in our program, that’s how we’re going to win games. That’s always how we’re going to win games.”

Texas moved swiftly after receiving the opening kickoff, marching 75 yards in 10 plays and scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by Ehlinger — the first of three scores on the ground from the Westlake alum.

The Longhorns then got a short field after Georgia punter Jake Carmada’s knee touched the ground as he reached for a low snap. Cameron Dicker capped the brief drive with a 37-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs survived another disaster courtesy of Carmada — this time a shanked punt that traveled all of 11 yards — but they weren’t so lucky following a fumble by running back D’Andre Swift that was covered up by defensive lineman Gerald Wilbon. The takeaway resulted in more Texas points when Ehlinger ducked under the Georgia rush on third-and-goal from the 9 and bullied his way across the goal line.

Georgia showed signs of life by answering with a 12-play touchdown drive, but Dicker tacked on a 30-yard field goal prior to intermission to give the Horns a 20-7 edge.

The Texas defense kept that lead intact for much of the second half, as P.J. Locke III opened the third quarter with an interception and the Longhorns then forced back-to-back Georgia punts.

Ehlinger then led a determined 14-play, 70-yard drive that eventually found the end zone after four consecutive runs from the 1 by the sophomore signal caller. It was the second fourth-down conversion of the possession, which proved to be a crucial one for Texas.

“Our No. 1 goal coming to New Orleans to participate in the Sugar Bowl was to win the game,” Herman said. “We weren’t just happy being here. We were going to win the game and do everything it took to win it.”

Following a successful 2-point conversion pass, the Longhorns held a commanding 28-7 advantage with 11:49 left to play. 

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm notched a pair of late TD tosses to try and spark a rally, but the last one was mostly cosmetic. Texas’ Collin Johnson easily handled the Bulldogs’ desperation onside attempt with 14 seconds left, and the Longhorns lined up in the victory formation.

“I’m just so proud of how hard our guys played,” Herman said. “They played hard early, they played hard late, they overcame some adversity and it was a complete team effort.”

Ehlinger became the first Longhorn quarterback to rush for three scores in a bowl game since Vince Young did so in the 2006 National Championship Game. Ehlinger finished with 241 total yards — 169 through the air, 64 on the ground and 8 on a pass from Lil’Jordan Humphrey. 

As a team, Texas ran for 178 yards on 49 carries. Graduate transfer Tre Watson led the way with 91 yards on 18 totes.

Ehlinger and the Longhorns’ youth movement, including freshmen B.J. Foster, Joseph Ossai, Keaontay Ingram and Sam Cosmi — were on display all night long, but the senior class also left a lasting impression in its final college game. Elijah Rodriguez, Patrick Vahe and Andrew Beck helped pave the way for the running game, while Locke, Gary Johnson, Chris Nelson, Anthony Wheeler, Kris Boyd and Davante Davis helped put the brakes on the SEC’s third-ranked offense.

“They are going to go down as the most influential senior class, certainly of our tenure here, because of the culture they have instilled and the culture that they have upheld as well,” Herman said. “That locker room has finally become a player-led team instead of a coach-fed team.”

Cowboys Win NFC East Host Seattle in Wildcard Saturday

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

The Cowboys will start their playoff journey on Saturday night. Will it be short lived or a long one into Feb?

Should the Dallas Cowboys advance to the divisional round who they play still depends on what happens in the other NFC wild card game. If Chicago wins, Dallas would go to New Orleans. If Philadelphia won, Dallas would head to Los Angeles. The Cowboys won their last game of the regular season over the Giants Sunday in dramatic fashion with a 2 point conversion after a Cole Beasley diving catch. Dallas came back to win with 1:19 to play in the 4th. Cowboys 36 – Giants 35. Dallas ended the regular season as the NFC EAST CHAMPS at 10-6 in 2018.

This Weekends lineup:

Colts/Titans at Houston Texans, 4:35 pm ET on ESPN

Seahawks at Cowboys, 8:15 pm ET on FOX

Sunday, January 6th

Chargers at Ravens, 1:05 pm ET on CBS

Eagles at Bears, 4:40 pm ET on NBC


Texas Held Up by Rampage in San Antonio

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in HOCKEY.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, ended the 2018 calendar year on the wrong end of a 4-2 decision against the San Antonio Rampage. The Rampage continued their home win streak, extending the streak to six games.

The Rampage opened the scoring on a beautiful tip by Ryan Olsen nine minutes into the game. Olsen set up at the left side of the net and waited for Mitch Reinke to launch a shot from the blue line. The effort flew three feet wide of the net before Olson redirected the puck past Philippe Desrosiers. Late in the period, the Rampage scored again as Austin Poganski notched his fifth of the season on a rebound. The goal put San Antonio up 2-0 with 20 seconds left in the period.

Texas responded with a goal early in the second period. Nicholas Caamano pushed the puck out to center ice for the Stars to spring up the ice. Adam Mascherin entered the offensive zone and found Gavin Bayreuther for a partial breakaway. The defenseman collected the puck and took a shot between his own legs, causing a rebound off the pads of Jordan Binnington. Stars forward Joel L’Esperance was there to slam the loose puck home and cut the lead in half. It was one of 19 shots in the period as Texas outshot the Rampage 39-30 in the game.

Unfortunately for the Stars, all their shots came with no result on the scoreboard but two rushes for the Rampage put the game out of reach. Zach Sanford and Connor Bleakley each scored goals 33 seconds apart to extend the lead. Sanford was the trailer on a 2-on-1 and collected a pass from Sam Blais to make it 3-1 while Bleakley’s shot deflected into the net off the Stars defense.

The Stars carried a power play into the third period and wasted no time finding the net. L’Esperance again connected, this time on a one timer from the left circle. Ben Gleason and Justin Dowling set the play up for a blast by the rookie to score his 17th goal of the season.

Countless efforts in the third period would be stopped by Binnington and the Stars were unable to best the netminder even with Desrosiers on the bench for an extra attacker. Texas’ loss to the Rampage places them 5-3-1-0 against San Antonio this year, as the teams will not meet again until March.

New Year’s Six Bowl Previews (not including Texas)

Written by Steven Ryan on . Posted in Football.

Orange Bowl: #1 Alabama v.s. #4 Oklahoma

The selection committee chose against putting two SEC teams in the playoff for a second consecutive year and instead went with Big 12 champion Oklahoma for the final seed. Oklahoma brings a historically great offense that ranks first in yards per play (8.6, a full yard ahead of second place) and points per drive (4.2). It’s led by junior quarterback Kyler Murray, a terrific athlete whose produced 4,981 total yards and 52 total TDs. The defense, however, leaves a lot to be desired. The Sooners rank 91st in yards per play allowed (5.9) and 107th in points per drive (2.75). Alabama brings a more balanced squad to the table. The Crimson Tide sit one spot behind OU in yards per play (7.6) and points per drive (4.04), but unlike their opponent have a defense to match it. Stocked with next-level talents like linemen Quinnen Williams and Raekwon Davis, safety Deionte Thompson and linebacker Mack Wilson, Alabama’s defense is second in points per drive (1.01) and sixth in yards per play (4.3). Alabama is on one of the most dominant runs in college football history with four national championships in the last nine years. Yet its somehow done that without a truly great quarterback (sorry, A.J. McCarron). Sophomore quarterback Tua Tagobailoa has brought an explosiveness to Alabama’s offense that’s never been seen, which makes some people think this version of the Crimson Tide is the best yet.

Cotton Bowl: #2 Clemson v.s. #3 Notre Dame

This is the only bowl that features two undefeated teams. Clemson is in the College Football Playoff for the fourth straight year. Those last three trips include a runner-up finish in 2015 and a national championship in 2016. Clemson is led by a nasty defensive line that starts three All-ACC first teamers (Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence) and a third-teamer (Austin Bryant) who will all have their names called early in April’s NFL Draft. The offense has a game breaker at running back in Travis Etienne (1,308 yards, 19 TDs) and a young but talented in quarterback in true freshman Trevor Lawrence, whose completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,606 yards with 24 TDs and only 4 INTs. This is Notre Dame’s first invitation to the playoff party and it comes into this matchup as a double-digit underdog. This is because the Fighting Irish’s undefeated run was less dominant, with half of their 12 wins coming by eight points or less. Clemson had only two such close calls out of 13. Notre Dame’s defense, which ranks fifth in points per drive (1.28) and eighth in yards per play (4.4), is ahead of the offense. But if junior quarterback Ian Book and senior running back Dexter Williams get hot, watch out. Book didn’t start until the season’s fourth game and Williams was suspended until the fifth, which negatively skews the offensive numbers a little bit.

Rose Bowl: #6 Ohio State v.s. #9 Washington

For the second straight year, an embarrassingly lopsided loss to a mediocre team cost Ohio State a chance at the playoff. Last year it was a 55-24 defeat to 7-5 Iowa and this year a 49-20 shellacking at the hands of 6-6 Purdue. The Buckeyes sported their worst defense in some time as they allowed 5.6 yards per play (66th in the country) and 1.89 points per drive (40th). Big play prevention was a major problem. Going into the Big 10 Championship game, Ohio State had given up 36 plays of 30-plus yards, seventh-worst in the nation. Washington doesn’t exactly have the explosive type of offense to take advantage of that, though. The Huskies’ senior backfield duo of quarterback Jake Browning and running back Miles Gaskin has been a bit disappointing. Browning threw just 16 touchdowns, 27 less than he had when he guided the Huskies to the college football playoff in 2016. Gaskin’s 1,147 rushing yards on the season are the lowest of his career and his 4.9 yards per carry don’t even rank in the top 100 of NCAA backs. The matchup of Ohio State’s offense v.s. Washington’s defense should be strength on strength. Sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins set a Big 10 record with 4,508 passing yards. Washington’s D finished 16th in yards per play and 12th in points per drive.

Peach Bowl: #10 Florida v.s. #7 Michigan

UCF finished its second straight undefeated season and again wasn’t seriously considered for inclusion into the playoff. This means the Golden Knights will be miffed and pumped up to prove their doubters wrong against an LSU team that might not be as excited for this matchup in the desert. UCF lost its best player when quarterback Mckenzie Milton went down with a serious knee injury in the regular season finale, but backup Darriel Mack Jr. was good enough to lead the Golden Knights to a come-from-behind victory in the AAC Championship Game with six total TDs (four rushing, two passing). LSU is a big step up from Memphis, however, and that could be incredibly problematic for UCF’s defense. The Golden Knights fall well short of the gold standard in stopping the run, where they rank 96th in yards per carry allowed. LSU prides itself on being a tough, physical football team and will certainly test that front seven early and often. Group of five teams are 3-1 in New Year’s Six Bowl Games since the advent of the College Football Playoff. UCF beat Auburn 34-27 in last year’s Peach Bowl under similar circumstances and claimed a “national championship” to much uproar. If the Golden Knights do it again, expect another “national championship” parade in Disney World.

Peach Bowl: #10 Florida v.s. #7 Michigan

With the inclusion of LSU and Florida, the SEC became the first conference to get multiple three-loss teams into New Year’s Six Bowls, which seems a bit unfair considering the season 10-2 Washington State had. But alas, here we are. The Wolverines’ defense was considered tops in the country for most of the year but had a disastrous outing in its final game, a 62-39 loss to rival Ohio State. They still put five players (linemen Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary, linebacker Devin Bush, DBs Lavert Hill and David Long) on the All-Big 10 first team and will be frothing at the mouth to rebound from the Ohio State performance. Offensively, Michigan improved from 102nd to 27th in yards per play and 95th to 20th in points per drive behind the leadership of junior quarterback Shea Patterson, who transferred in from Ole Miss. Senior running back Karan Higdon made All-Big 10 first team with 1,178 yards and 10 TDs. Florida was solid but unspectacular in its first season under head coach Dan Mullen, the revered offensive coordinator from the Gators’ Tim Tebow years. The future is bright in Gainesville but Mullen is still in the early stages of building his program. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is 38-13 in four seasons, is much farther along and enters this game as about a touchdown favorite.

Horns lose Big 12 Title to Sooners

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

Horns lose Big 12 Title to Sooners

By Tucker Stephenson

The good news from Saturday is that Tom Herman had his team competing at the peak of its ability when a conference championship was on the line.

The bad news is that when Lil’Jordan Humphrey got assaulted on a potential first-down reception, the refs weren’t on the scene to make the proper call.

Texas (9-4) gave Oklahoma (12-1) all it could handle in a rivalry matchup for the Big 12 title on Saturday, but the Sooners’ late surge was enough to guide Lincoln Riley’s team to a 39-27 victory at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

“It’s difficult,” Texas head coach Tom Herman said. “Losing is supposed to hurt. With a 1-0 mentality that we have, we don’t worry about the big picture. We went 0-1 today. Tomorrow it’s our job to wake up and try to go 1-0 in the bowl game.”

Humphrey appeared to be roughed up on a third-down play in the final quarter, but the referees chose not to whistle the foul, which led to a Longhorn punt. Oklahoma took possession at its own 20 and appeared destined for a score until Gary Johnson jarred the ball loose on a long pass play and Brandon Jones pounced on the loose pigskin.

Moments later, a bit of rivalry deja vu ensued as the Sooners’  Tre Brown played the role of Roy Williams while sacking Sam Ehlinger for a safety after flying in unblocked on a blitz from the edge.

Oklahoma added a final TD to seize a 39-27 lead, and Ehlinger was picked off by Tre Norwood to end the game.

It was a memorable effort by Ehlinger, who staked the Longhorns to a 14-6 lead after capping a pair of early drives with scoring runs of 16 and 3 yards in the first half.

However, Kyler Murray found some rhythm prior to intermission and directed the Sooners to a pair of scoring drives before opening the second half with another TD march. CeeDee Lamb, Grant Calcaterra and Trey Sermon were the culprits in helping Oklahoma build a 27-21 edge.

Ehlinger then led a seven-play, 75-yard scoring march that was capped by a 27-yard toss to Collin Johnson, but the PAT carromed off the upright to keep the score tied at 27-all.

The Sooners’ Austin Seibert responded with a 31-yard field goal, and after the no-call on Humphrey’s key third-down route, Oklahoma survived a fumble to sack Ehlinger and change the complexion of the game for good.

“I felt like we weren’t running the ball like we thought we would be able to,” Herman said afterward. “That was certainly an issue. When you’re playing one-handed a little bit throwing the football, there’s things that can happen. When their drives stalled, they were able to get field goals. When our drives stalled, we had to punt. It’s a matter of 10 or 15 yards.”

The Longhorns still may sew up a bid in the Sugar Bowl, or at the least, a berth in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. No matter what, a 10-win season would signal a major accomplishment for Herman in his 2nd year at the helm.

 

 

 

THE REMATCH: TX-OU

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS.

Perhaps Sam Ehlinger and Kyler Murray were born to be rivals.

After Murray completed an immaculate run at Allen High School, where he went 42-0 as a starter and guided the Eagles to three straight state championships, he headed off to College Station — not exactly a friendly haven for those who bleed burnt orange.

Right about the time that Murray and the Aggies were preparing for their 2015 Music City Bowl match-up with Louisville, Ehlinger — then a junior at Westlake High School — sprung a 23-17 upset win over Allen in the UIL Class 6A Division I semifinals. The victory ended the Eagles’ winning streak at 57 games and cost Allen a shot at surpassing Celina’s state-record mark of 68 consecutive wins.

Everyone knows the next series of events. Murray transferred to Oklahoma, and Ehlinger, a lifelong Longhorn fan, chose Texas. A collision course was set, and the two finally met face to face at the Cotton Bowl in October, with Ehlinger earning a 1-0 edge by way of his team’s thrilling 48-45 triumph.

The two signal callers reportedly traded a few choice words after the game, which adds even more intrigue to Saturday’s rematch in the Big 12 Championship Game at Jerry World in Arlington. This week, Murray was asked how much he respect’s Ehlinger’s game, and the Heisman trophy hopeful responded with a brief chuckle and a “no comment.”

The Longhorns’ win in the 2018 Red River Showdown represents the Sooners’ lone blemish of the season, and with Ohio State’s recent bludgeoning of rival Michigan, Oklahoma understands that its shot at a national title rides on Saturday’s outcome. Style points may even be necessary depending on what the Buckeyes do against Northwestern in the Big 10 title game.

For Texas, a shot at playing in the program’s first Sugar Bowl since 1995 is likely at stake.

One of the Longhorns’ keys to success in the first meeting with the Sooners was a near-flawless start on offense, as Texas scored on each of its first four possessions and added three more touchdowns during a dominant third quarter. The Longhorns managed to survive a frenzied finish led by Murray when Cameron Dicker nailed a now-legendary 40-yard field goal with 14 seconds left.

To post a second straight win over Oklahoma, Ehlinger, who was picked off twice by Kansas, must return to taking care of the pigskin and converting key third downs to keep Murray and his weapons sitting on the sideline. Texas’ defense will also probably need to manufacture a few turnovers like it did back in October.

The Sooners, on the other hand, will be out to prove that they actually have a functioning defense. Breckyn Hager remains skeptical.

The battle lines have already been drawn for the 114th meeting all-time between the two programs — and the first outside of Dallas in 95 years. If the Horns can improve upon their current series lead of 62-46-5, then it’s finally safe to say that Texas is officially back.

As for Ehlinger, sore shoulder and all, a second straight win over OU will bring him another step closer to earning a spot beside VY, Colt and Major in modern Longhorn quarterback lore.

 

 

RED RIVER II Big 12 Title Game

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in Football, TEXAS SPORTS.

Not since 1903 — and the third time ever will the Longhorns and Sooners play for a second time in a single season, but this time for the Big 12 Championship.

In a series that began in 1900 these two Rivals will go head to head once more with the conference on the line. A Texas defeat of Kansas in Lawrence last Friday clinched the first appearance in the Big 12 Championship game since 2009 for the Longhorns. Then  Friday night, Oklahoma edged out WV in an all out thriller in Morgantown 59-56 Sooners.

The Cotton Bowl rematch  in Arlington  is set for December 1st this Saturday at AT&T Stadium.The Longhorns narrowly escaped the Sooners back in October at the Red River Showdown this season, in a 48-45 thriller over OU.

The Sooners have been red hot since the loss to Texas and have won every game since.

Texas has seen some offensive woes in recent weeks and QB Sam Ehlinger has gone down in two games due to a shoulder injury. Which Texas team will show up for coach Tom Herman at this Big 12 title match? The team who struggled against Kansas and Baylor, or the team that put up 41 against West Virginia and 48 against the Sooners?

The stakes are high with implications of a potential playoff. Then there is the New Years Six bowl placement, and don’t forget bragging rights in this rivalry. And while I am rooting for my Longhorns to win this game, I also know it will be tough against a high flying Kyler Murry lead offense, however Texas also has the receiver core in Lil Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson. With the arm and legs of Sam Ehlinger and a Texas secondary that is lead by Kris Boyd and Caden Sterns the Horns need only stay within a score to catch the Sooners. In fact I’ll bet that the last team with the ball will win.”

The Arlington kick off at is at 11 a.m. Central on ABC.

Texas survives Tech & Prepare for Iowa State

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

Texas held off the Red Raiders in a nail-biter last Saturday night in Lubbock getting the win 41-34 over Texas Tech improving to 7-3 on the season.

The win came from some improved plays on the offensive side of the ball for Texas with the sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger hooking up with Humphrey once more for the go-ahead touchdown. The two hooked up earlier in the game when Humphrey hauled in his fifth catch for a 9-yard touchdown. That gave Texas the lead, 10-7 with 3:46. Texas played loose at times but this game basically came down to whoever had the ball last before the clock read zeros.

Ehlinger has thrown 274 consecutive passes without a pick setting a Big 12 conference record.

SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads the all-time series, 50-17. The Red Raiders won a decisive 27-23 victory over the Longhorns in Austin in November of 2017.  Neither team has won on its home field since the Longhorns defeated the Red Raiders 41-16 in Austin in 2013.

The Longhorns have had several close games this season and now prepare for a statistically tough defense in the Big 12 with Iowa State coming to Austin this weekend.

No. 14 Texas (7-3, 5-2 Big 12) vs. No.18 Iowa State (6-3, 5-2 Big 12)
November 17, 2018
Where: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium
Time: 7 p.m. CT
TV: Longhorn Network