Rangers beat author/insider
Dec. 21, 2024
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Up to date 9:03 p.m. CST
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AUSTIN — In as of late of drones, Amazon and DoorDash, there are nonetheless occasions when good old- common floor supply will get the job accomplished simply fantastic.
Texas might take a airplane to Atlanta for the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in two weeks, however it can get there due to the bottom sport in a 38-24 win over Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday at Darrell Okay Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. A crowd of 101,150 confirmed up and even acquired a rousing spherical of “Texas … Combat” from Matthew McConaughey.
Going through a group that ranked 73rd within the FBS — and final amongst CFP members — in run protection, the Longhorns merely exploited their largest benefit in rolling up a season-high 292 dashing yards and 4 touchdowns.
Listed below are 5 ideas from what, given the group’ uniforms, merely may have been dubbed the Orange Bowl:
Up subsequent
Texas will face Arizona State and Cam Skattebo in Atlanta on New 12 months’s Day on the Longhorns’ new residence away from residence. Will probably be the Longhorns’ second game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium since Dec. 2. The Atlanta Falcons may have solely performed there as soon as. And Texas would like to make a 3rd journey there for the nationwide championship sport Jan. 20. Simply as long as it’s not Georgia this time.
Prepare to listen to so much about Skattebo, although the running back’s performance against Iowa State at AT&T Stadium in the Big 12 Championship ought to have mentioned sufficient. Then once more, solely 55,889 confirmed up at Jerry World, so perhaps he’s nonetheless one thing of a neighborhood secret. Anyway, the bullish Skattebo has 1,568 yards on floor, together with 494 in his final three video games. He’s rushed for eight touchdowns in that stretch.
Possibly no person, least of all Steve Sarkisian, ought to promote the Longhorns’ operating sport quick. Apart from the 2 Georgia losses, Texas has been in a position to run at will. The Longhorns have rushed for no less than 200 yards thrice within the final 4 video games and 4 occasions within the final six.
Quintrevion Wisner did the laborious work and Jaydon Blue broke off a few massive runs to place Clemson away. Each backs completed with greater than 100 yards: 110 for Wisner, who sat out the ultimate three minutes of the second quarter and many of the fourth with a knee harm, and 146 for Blue. It was the primary time Texas had a pair of 100-yard backs in the identical sport since Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks did it towards Kansas in 2022.
Coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned Wisner may have returned, however the Longhorns made the choice to go along with Blue late.
Blue broke off landing runs of 38 and 77 yards, the final coming three performs after Clemson had minimize the lead from 28-10 at halftime to a one-possession sport.
After Clemson drove 75 yards on the opening kickoff, the Longhorns answered with their very own 75-yard drive with Wisner scoring from 3 yards out. On its subsequent possession, Texas rolled off a five-play, 65-yard drive all on the bottom, capped by Blue’s 38-yard landing run. Texas scored dashing touchdowns on three consecutive drives. Wisner scored the third from 16 yards out. Say this for Texas: Something it does, it does massive. That applies to implosions, too. On successive performs with simply over three minutes remaining, Texas misplaced three gamers and the soccer.
It started with Quinn Ewers faking a handoff, taking two steps, spinning round and throwing again throughout the sector. It was awkward choreography to start out, however that was one of the best a part of the play. Quintrevion Wisner caught the ball, for a loss and was wrapped up by a Clemson defender. Proper sort out Cameron Williams acquired caught up within the whirlwind and when he and Wisner went down, neither acquired again up initially. Each needed to be helped off the sector.
On the following play, a Ewers cross went by way of the arms of DeAndre Moore and into the arms of Clemson’s R.J. Mickens for an interception. On the play, Texas middle Jake Majors took a blindside hit from Clemson’s Tré Williams and lay on the sector immobile for a second.
Whereas Wisner returned for the beginning of the second half, each linemen remained on the sidelines for the rest of the sport with what Sarkisian referred to as knee accidents. He mentioned each may have returned however Texas opted towards it. The Longhorns did a great job of shuffling linemen and did finally release Blue on the 77-yard run, however Texas additionally slowed down on the Clemson 2 on its first drive of the second half.
On state championship weekend, it’s at all times good for previous teammates to get collectively and reminisce. Properly, no less than some acquired collectively. The primary half alone featured an Austin Westlake child (Texas’ Ethan Burke) sacking a former Westlake teammate (Clemson’s Cade Klubnik). On the opposite finish, a Southlake Carroll kid (Clemson’s R.J. Mickens) intercepted a former Southlake kid (Quinn Ewers), which was about the one time Clemson stopped the Longhorns within the first half. In fact, Westlake and Carroll, with Klubnik and Ewers directing their respective groups, staged a memorable Class 6A championship game. Klubnik walked away a 52-34 winner in that one.
It was not Texas’ finest defensive sport of the season, however the Longhorns did get an enormous goal-line stand within the fourth quarter when Clemson as soon as once more threatened to make it a one-score sport.
With Clemson at third-and-1 from the Texas 1, David Gbenda and Michael Taaffe, one other Westlake product, stored Klubnik from attending to the sting. Then on fourth down, nostril sort out Invoice Norton overpowered Clemson middle Ryan Linthicum to stuff Keith Adams chilly. Texas took over at its 1.
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Evan has coated the Rangers since 1997. He has twice been named one of many high 10 beat writers within the nation by the AP Sports activities Editors. His passions outdoors of overlaying baseball are his spouse, Gina, his two step children, two loopy canines & barbecue. Let’s not focus on the cat. Evan graduated from Georgia State College, however oddly is a Georgia fan.
