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Texas uses strong defensive performance to power over #11 Utah

Nick Harris

Staff
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Sep 30, 2018
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Home-field advantage? Finally healthy team? Maybe. Domination? No doubt.

Behind a strong performance from a pair of defensive underclassmen, Texas finishes a roller coaster of a season on a high note with a 38-10 win over #11 Utah in the Alamo Bowl for their third consecutive bowl win.

Since filling in for injured starters in the secondary, true freshman Chris Adimora has proved his worth from the safety position as the Horns used a strong performance from the 2019 four-star recruit to limit the Utes to just 126 passing yards.

Joseph Ossai rounded out a phenomenal sophomore campaign with a 9 tackle (6 for loss), 3 sack performance as the front seven played arguably its best game of the season in limiting Utah’s stellar rushing attack to just 128 yards, over 100 yards under its average.

Texas got on the board first out of the gate with a Cameron Dicker 29-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game to go up 3-0.

The defense held firm in the first half as they kept the Utes scoreless through the first two frames, Utah’s second such occasion in a row after also putting up a goose egg in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon.

Sam Ehlinger fired his 30th touchdown of the season at the start of the second quarter to Collin Johnson from five yards out after a 71-yard punt return inside the 10 by D’Shawn Jamison to power Texas to a 10-0 halftime lead.

The Longhorn offense stayed hot out of the locker room though as Ehlinger found the end zone again, this time to Keaontay Ingram from 11 yards out.

After Utah got on the scoreboard with a 32-yard field goal, Texas led a 7-play 75-yard drive over nearly five minutes and capped it off with a six yard rushing score to go up 24-3.

The Utes followed that up with their first touchdown of the night on a controversial pitch-and-catch from Tyler Huntley to Demari Simpkins from four yards out to cut the deficit to 24-10.

However, the Texas defense held firm down the stretch as the offense tacked on two more scores to secure the rout and their biggest win over a ranked opponent since their 52-17 win over #10 Texas Tech in 2005.

Sam Ehlinger finished with 201 passing yards along with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. The junior quarterback also rushed for 73 yards on one score. Keaontay Ingram tacked on his fourth 100-yard performance with 108 yards and 1 score.

Texas finishes the season with a 8-5 record as they eclipse the eight win mark for back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2011-2013.

The Longhorns will open the 2020 season on September 5, 2020 against South Florida at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

 
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Good write up. I totally did not expect this outcome but am grateful for it.

I think CTH has shown us something. Two solid coordinator hires, kept recruiting humming along, and now this – a total domination – to head into the off season.

I think this is why you let this play out. We once thought CTH was a great hire. I don't think we were wrong.

IMO, the difference tonight was the pass pressure we were able to generate. And much of it came from the DL, not blitzes although those helped too. Ossai had a coming out party tonight. Break out the piñata, I'm on board!

Play calling was SO much better tonight. Even though CTH won't be doing that next year.

 
Dude has been playing lights out all year. Props to the poster (forgot who) who called him having a break-out year.

Turds to the posters on here who didn't want the Horns to play a bowl game. Maybe they should stick to the Hallmark channel. ?
I'd give a like Icon for the turds comment if I could

.

 
After watching that game last night..all I can say is these two things here. First off holy shit I wasn't expecting this at all defense was everywhere and I dare I say special teams ACTUALLY showed up and SHOWED out!!!!. Secondly. Ossai whooped dat azzz. You mean to tell me this is what Texas had in them all along?!!!. I will say this I don't know about the rest of you in here but Texas came in that game pissed off.

 
OK, OK....I can somewhat see the indifference angle from Utah(although I figured they would more likely come out with their hair on fire trying to prove a point) , but this pisses me off. We start a walk on guy at LB and he is great....we play Ossai  where so many posters said we should all year and he is great....WTF was our highly paid DC doing all year that he could not see what his assistants saw???

This whole season has been a waste as far as I am concerned. We had so much opportunity that was sadly squandered. My huge hope is that Coach Herman gained much insight and knowledge over this experience.

 
Wonder if their vacation started the week of the Pac 12 Championship??

 
If Utah came out flat, indifferent, or on vacation, that is on them. This is another reason not to pay players. If you are going to get paid, you can vacation after the season.  I tend to agree with the Utah HC's assessment...they got outplayed and out-coached. If I'm on any selection committee next year, I'm saying, "Utah, we are going to allow you to "vacation" elsewhere this year." 

All the Utah players and coaches have to look at is Texas' result against Georgia last season as motivation. 

 
The biggest difference in this game was that our defense had the yoke of TO removed. 

 
Just more proof how bad Orlando was.  Herman pissed away the entire 2019 season with Orlando. Hopefully he learned his lesson.

 
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