Litman Lake
Football and school soccer analyst
ARLINGTON, Texas – Surrounded by cameras and reporters and escorted by a police officer, Quinn Ewers walked throughout the sector towards the tunnel that may result in the Texas locker room. He took within the surrounding scene: the screens at AT&T Stadium have been lit up in scarlet pink with the phrases “OHIO YOU’RE WINNING!” and “CHAMPIONS” in all capital letters. He acknowledged some Longhorn followers who waited for his go, exhibiting their help for the Texas quarterback with horns raised, whereas attempting to disregard the truth that a trophy presentation was about to happen, and never for his crew.
When he reached the top of the turf to make his approach into the bowels of the stadium, Ewers turned, seemed again on the subject and kissed the towel round his neck twice. He had completed a lot on this subject: He had performed for a highschool state championship, received a Big 12 title and maybe performed his final school soccer sport there.
Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in a College Football Playoff semifinal on the Cotton Bowl on Friday evening to advance to the CFP nationwide championship sport in opposition to Notre Dame. This was the second consecutive yr that the Longhorns’ season ended at this juncture. Last time, they have been only one play away from beating Washington. This time, they got here near stopping the Buckeyes, however as soon as once more failed to complete.
Going into the CFP matchup with Ohio State, Texas gamers talked about final yr’s loss to the Huskies and the way that created the tradition for this season. Ewers stated he would do “no matter it takes to get us again right here” and so they needed to take it a step additional.
They nearly succeeded.
Down 21-14 with just below seven minutes remaining within the sport, Ewers, calm and regular as ever, led the Texas offense from its personal 25-yard line to first-and-goal from Ohio State’s 2-yard line. . On the primary play, Jerrick Gibson rushed up the center for no achieve. “We went with a heavy bundle, which is Jerrick’s bundle,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian stated. “We ran it and clearly did not get a lot motion.”
On the second try, Ewers threw the ball to Quintrevion Wisner, who tried to get to the sting however was swallowed by the Ohio State protection for a 7-yard loss. “This is a kind of performs, should you block all the pieces proper, you get ultimately zone, and we did not try this, and we lose fairly a couple of yards,” Sarkisian stated.
On third down, Ewers’ go meant for freshman standout Ryan Wingo was damaged up ultimately zone. “At that time, you are caught behind the eight ball as a result of we knew we have been in four-down territory due to the rating of the sport,” Sarkisian stated.
And on fourth down, Ewers dropped again to go however was rapidly wrapped up by Ohio State defensive finish Jack Sawyer, who sacked the quarterback, picked up the fumble and returned it 83 yards for a landing. Ewers stated he heard Sawyer coming, tried to maneuver away from him and thought he may get the ball away earlier than contact.
“It’s not like I attempted to present them the sport,” Ewers stated. “But I noticed Jack working with the ball down the sideline. It sucks, man. But he is a fantastic participant, a fantastic particular person, a fantastic particular person.
“It simply sucks. It sucks.”
It was a poetic solution to finish issues, although. Ewers started his profession at Ohio State and was Sawyer’s roommate earlier than transferring to Texas after one semester. Asked if the 2 stated something to one another after the sport, Sawyer advised the published that Ewers stated “fuck you” earlier than strolling away laughing.
“That’s my man,” Sawyer stated of Ewers. “Obviously we have been roommates when he was right here. I’ve a number of respect for him and the remainder of the Texas crew.”
As large as Sawyer’s landing was, it wasn’t the one defining second in Friday evening’s Cotton Bowl. Late within the second quarter, one play after Texas had tied the rating at 7-7, Buckeyes working again TreVeyon Henderson caught a go from Will Howard and ran untouched for a 75-yard landing to present his crew a 14-7 lead. on the interval. Part of Texas’ defensive sport plan was to concentrate on Henderson within the open subject — he had an identical sport in opposition to Oregon within the Rose Bowl when he broke out for a 66-yard rating — however the protection failed.
“It’s a disgrace they confirmed up on the display,” Sarkisian stated. “I do not assume anybody anticipated it. It positively stole some momentum.”
Texas had a robust response within the third quarter. Ewers led a game-tying drive, whereas the protection performed lights-out with an interception, stuffing Quinshon Judkins on third-and-1, sacking Howard and breaking apart one other go on third-and-15. At the top of the evening, the Longhorns had two sacks: Ohio State had given up 12 the whole yr, and Howard had but to be sacked in a playoff sport. The unit additionally blindsided star Jeremiah Smith, holding him to only one catch for 3 yards.
“(Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s) sport plan on that state of affairs at No. 4 was wonderful,” defensive finish Jahdae Barron stated.
Ohio State may need been the favourite on this showdown, however heading into the fourth quarter, it seemed like the sport was there for Texas.
Ultimately, nevertheless, Ewers did not execute when he wanted it most and the Longhorns did not get their good end. The senior sign caller completed 23 of 39 for 283 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and was sacked 4 instances. Texas did not run the ball successfully, speeding for 58 yards, one in all its worst showings of the yr.
Now, Ewers, who dreamed of changing into Texas’ beginning quarterback his whole life, will not be enjoying for a nationwide championship. But he’ll develop into a central determine in serving to Sarkisian rebuild a program into an elite competitor.
“I’m tremendous pleased with Quinn,” Sarkisian stated. “I do not know if he would ever stay as much as the requirements of what everybody thinks he needs to be. But on the finish of the day, all he did was present up day by day, work, be a fantastic chief and be a fantastic teammate. And that is an actual credit score to him as a result of human nature, these days, is to take a look at Twitter, to take a look at Instagram, to take a look at social media and written articles and fan message boards and no matter.
“But this man by no means did that. He fought in each state of affairs. He by no means as soon as complained about it. And I believe that is why he has a lot respect from his teammates.”
As for Ewers and his future, it’s speculated that there are profitable affords from NIL to get him into the switch portal. He hasn’t declared for the NFL Draft, however that is reportedly his ideas proper now. He didn’t handle the problem after the sport.
As for the way forward for this system, followers have already turned their consideration to Arch Manning.
“It hurts, it burns proper now,” Sarkisian stated. “But I’m not going to let this sport and a few performs overshadow what we have been in a position to accomplish this season. Yes, we wish to be champions. That’s life. You at all times wish to come out on prime. But there’s a lot we are able to be taught from this season, and there may be a lot to be pleased with.”
Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the writer of “Strong Like a Woman,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her to @LakenLitman.
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