Tom Herman made the comment earlier in the week not to judge a team by their performance in game one of the season. That turned out to be sage advice. After a dominant performance against UTEP, the Longhorns (2-0, 1-0) showed their vulnerabilities in a 63-56 overtime win against Texas Tech (1-1, 0-1), their sixth straight at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.
The key to the game headed into the contest centered around which offense would out-perform the other. Texas ultimately got the better of Texas Tech in that department, but in the process the Red Raiders exposed significant defensive vulnerabilities in Chris Ash’s unit. The Longhorns gave up 441 yards of total offense and allowed Red Raider quarterback Alan Bowman to throw for five touchdowns and 325 yards. Texas Tech’s defense corralled the Longhorns in the second half, leaving Texas down 56-41 with a little over three minutes left in the game. Texas fought back, got the offense going again, and came from behind to win their third straight over the Red Raiders.
Sam Ehlinger finished the day with 262 yards passing and 5 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown. Josh Moore led the Texas receivers with 76 yards and three touchdowns. Grad transfer Brenden Schooler had one touchdown reception and caught seven passes for 58 yards. Texas tailback Keaontay Ingram finished with 89 yards on 12 carries.
KeSean Carter and T.J. Vasher each caught two touchdown passes for Texas Tech and SaRodorick Thompson led all rushers with 104 yards and two touchdowns.
GAME RECAP
Texas Tech won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Longhorns took the opening possession and marched 75 yards downfield, with Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger capping the drive with a 2 yard touchdown run.
Texas Tech would waste no time answering, using a six play, 75 yard drive that took just 2:11 off the clock to even the score. The touchdown came courtesy of a bullet thrown from Alan Bowman to KeSean Carter, who was tackled in the end zone.
After a steady dose of Roschon Johnson on the ensuing drive, the Longhorns settled for a 43 yard field goal from Cameron Dicker to give Texas a 10-7 lead with 4:24 left in the first quarter.
The Longhorns forced a Texas Tech punt and capitalized on the possession, with Ehlinger throwing a 31 yard touchdown pass to Josh Moore, who made an incredible catch.
After one quarter, Texas held a 17-7 lead over Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders struck first in the second quarter at the 12:11 mark with KeSean Carter catching a 22 yard touchdown strike, his second of the day, from Alan Bowman. Texas Tech successfully converted an onside kick, but Bowman was picked off by Chris Brown on the first play to give the Longhorns possession at midfield.
Texas would convert Brown’s interception into points, with Sam Ehlinger’s 24 yard run setting up a one yard touchdown rush for Roschon Johnson.
Alan Bowman threw his second touchdown pass of the quarter (third of the day) at the 4:44 mark in to Erik Ezukanma to cut the Texas lead to 24-21.
The special teams woes continued for the Longhorns, as Jacob Morgenstern blocked Ryan Bucjevski’s punt to set up Texas Tech at the Longhorns’ 15 yard line. The Red Raiders failed to convert the block into points, as Alan Bowman threw his second interception of the day to Chris Adimora, who returned the interception 71 yards to the Texas Tech 19 yard line.
Four plays later Brenden Schooler caught his second touchdown pass of the season, this one a three yard strike from Sam Ehlinger.
At the half, the Longhorns held a 31-21 lead over the Red Raiders.
Texas held the opening possession of Texas Tech to three and out, but D’Shawn Jamison mishandled the punt return which was recovered by the Red Raiders for a touchdown.
The special teams rollercoaster would continue, with the Longhorns being the beneficiary this time. Tyler Owens blocked Austin McNamara’s punt, which was recovered by Jahdae Barron for a touchdown to give Texas a 38-28 lead.
Bowman tossed his fourth touchdown pass late in the third quarter to TJ Vasher to pull the Red Raiders within three points at 38-35.
Sam Ehlinger’s third down pass to Brenden Schooler on the following drive was intercepted by Alex Hogan, who returned it to the Texas 10 yard line. One play later SaRodorick Thompson took a 10 yard rush into the end zone, giving Texas Tech a 42-38 lead, their first of the game.
Cameron Dicker’s second field goal came at the 10:47 mark in the fourth quarter and the Red Raider lead was cut to 42-41.
Tech added two more scores courtesy of an 18 yard reception from TJ Vasher and a 75 yard run by SaRodorick Thompson.
Down 56-41, with 3:13 left in the game, Sam Ehlinger manufactured a scoring drive that ended with a 12 yard strike to Brennan Eagles.
Texas recovered the onside kick, down 56-48. Ehlinger capped a scoring drive that went 6 plays for 42 yards and took 1:59 off the game clock by finding Josh Moore for Moore’s second touchdown of the game .
With :40 left in the game Texas went for two. Ehlinger gave the Longhorns life, finding Brennan Eagles for the conversion to tie the game at 56-56.
The Red Raiders punted the ball away as they game clock expired and the teams headed into overtime.
Texas started OT with the first possession and made quick work of it. Keaontay Ingram’s 12 yard rush set up a Sam Ehlinger strike to Josh Moore, his 3rd touchdown of the day, to give the Longhorns a 63-56 lead.
On 3rd & 14, the Longhorns appeared to have recovered Texas Tech’s SaRodorick Thompson’s fumbled after a catch which would have ended the game. After the officials reviewed the play they call an incomplete pass. With 4th & 14 and the game on the line, Alan Bowman was intercepted by Caden Sterns.
FINAL: TEXAS 63, TEXAS TECH 56
Texas (2-0, 1-0) will host TCU (0-1, 0-1) next Saturday at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium.
