On a cold, rainy Friday at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, the Texas Longhorns (7-5, 5-4) said goodbye to 16 seniors, and closed week 12 out with a 49-24 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-8, 2-6). Texas shook off a slow start and a quick 14-point deficit but managed to gets things clicking offensively to snap a two-game losing streak. The win ensured the Longhorns their third straight winning season under head coach Tom Herman as the team heads into postseason play.
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger led an offensive attack that tallied over 600 yards of total offense. Ehlinger threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 88 yards. Ehlinger’s performance vaulted him into second place in career total offense at Texas, trailing only Colt MCCoy (14,824).
True freshman running back Roschon Johnson rushed for a career-high three touchdowns, finishing with 107 yards on 23 carries.
Senior wide receiver Devin Duvernay finished his career in burnt orange with a 199-yard receiving performance and one touchdown on six receptions. Duvernay averaged 33 yard per catch in the win.
Texas Tech quarterback Jett Duffey went 36-58 for 399 yards and two touchdowns. The Red Raiders had two 100+ yard receivers in KeSean Carter (150 yds, 1 TD) and Erik Ezukanma (135 yds, 1 TD). The Texas defense held Texas Tech to 71 yards rushing on 24 attempts (3 yards per carry average).
GAME RECAP
Texas Tech scored touchdowns on each of its first two drives to take an early 14-0 lead. With :54 left in the first quarter the Longhorns got on the board, capping a six play, 75-yard drive with a ten yard rushing touchdown by Sam Ehlinger. Cameron Dicker’s extra point attempt was blocked leaving the Red Raiders with a 14-6 lead after on quarter of play.
Following a three and out by Texas Tech early in the second quarter, Devin Duvernay’s 33-yard reception set up Daniel Young’s three-yard touchdown run. The Longhorns went for two and converted successfully, notching the score at 14-14.
On their next drive, the Red Raiders marched to the Texas one yard line but failed to convert on 4th & 1. Texas took over on downs but managed to move the ball only one yard before Chris Naggar punted the ball away. Texas Tech took full advantage of good field position using two plays to find the end zone. Duffey’s second TD pass of the day went to Erik Ezukanma and the Red Raiders led 21-14.
The Longhorns put up the next 14 points. Ehlinger’s 75-yard strike to Devin Duvernay was the longest passing play of the regular season and tied the score at 21-21. Texas followed that drive up with a 13 play, 74-yard drive that ended with Roscvhon Johnson barreling in for a 1-yard TD run to give the Longhorns their first lead of the game.
At the half Texas had amassed 363 yards of offense and led Texas Tech 28-21.
True freshman Jake Smith broke his touchdown drought on Texas’ first possession of the third quarter. Ehlinger’s 35-yard pas to Duvernay set up a 26-yard touchdown pass to Smith for the score. It was his first since the Oklahoma State game (Game 4). The Longhorns extended their lead to 35-21 over the Red Raiders.
After several trips inside the red zone without points to show, Trey Wolff’s 23 yard field goal cut the Texas lead to 35-24 with 6:09 left in the third quarter.
Roschon Johnson’s second touchdown of the game came at the 2:35 mark in the third quarter making the score 42-24 in favor of the Longhorns. His third came almost nine minutes later with 8:50 remaining on the game clock.
As the game clock expired, Texas defeated Texas Tech 49-24.
