View from the Cheap Seats-Kansas State
Bullet Dodged
Bullet Dodged
Make no mistake, our beloved Longhorns dodged a MAJOR bullet today during “elimination weekend”. The thieves of land, Wildcats and Cyclones were not so lucky and were effectively eliminated from BigXII title contention. With three games remaining, each is mathematically alive but today it’s your TEXAS Longhorns most likely squaring off for the BigXII crown against Mike Gundy’s Okie State Cowboys. Each also faced it’s toughest remaining test of the season though each faces teams that can pull the upset and throw the race into a maddening trip down tie breaker hell.
Through the 1st quarter and 1st drive of the 2nd quarter, TEXAS dominated on both sides of the ball getting out to a 17-0 lead. Including one of the best calls of the game/season. 4th and 1, TEXAS lines up with a obvious QB sneak/push play set up. Except Maalik pitches wide to CJ Baxter who gets a pair of great blocks and puts a “pick up your jock” move on a DB on his way to a 54 yard touchdown. SWEET.
Then on their next 3 drives, TEXAS comes unwound. Defense forces a 3 and out punt. TEXAS starts a drive, moves into KSU territory and on 2nd and 3 (good bombs away spot) Johntay Cook falls down as Maalik throws deep, ball intercepted.
D forces another punt and Worthy logs a 33 yard return setting TEXAS up nicely on KSU’s side of the field. 4th and 2 at KSU’s 12, Red Cat fumbles the snap for a 7 yard loss.
D bows up yet again forces another punt.
Offense sputters and is forced to punt. KSU blocks the punt leading to their 1st score of the night and we go to halftime up 17-7
3rd quarter starts well. After exchanging punts, TEXAS has KSU pinned deep, Howard drops back to pass, Burke with the strip sack, Ford with the recovery at the KSU 5. Brooks takes it in for a red zone TD (those tough to come by) and TEXAS now up 24-7. D forces another punt, TEXAS drives down into the red zone again and has to settle for the FG and a 27-7 lead. It’s step on their throat time.
Not so fast my friend.
The 4th quarter begins and on TEXAS 1st drive, deep in their own end Maalik throws another INT, returned to the 11 giving KSU a short field TD. Next drive Brooks fumbles and suddenly it’s 27-27 in a game that TEXAS had dominated but just couldn’t put away. TEXAS drives and records another Auburn FG but with a 1:30 or so, KSU answers with a FG of their own to tie things up and send the game into OT.
TEXAS opens OT with a FG. KSU, whose passing attack came alive in the 2nd half drives to the 4. TEXAS’ D rises to the challenge and puts heavy pressure on Howard for three straight plays. Including Coach Klienman’s decision to go for it on 4th and 4 instead of playing for another OT. TEXAS comes up with the stop and Sark’s 8th win of the year. More importantly with the way the day played out, TEXAS is now in the drivers seat for a BigXII title berth in Arlington.
Conclusions
TEXAS faced a very disciplined and fundamentally sound team. They found a way to win so that’s a positive. They did their level best to hand KSU a road win behind a 4 turnover performance. As we put the Wildcats in our rear view mirror. TEXAS remains a fairly undisciplined team. Game was marred with far too many false start penalties and one ticky tacky late hit out of bounds call. Sark lost the 2nd half but still found a way to win. Sark’s word was resilient, we’ll buy that. Next two games on the road then a home date with TT. Win those 3 and Arlington is assured. Maybe even a playoff berth. Maalik remains a work in progress, and he will learn from his mistakes. But the biggest concern was after his first INT he really began to press. Hopefully Ewers is ready to return this week. We simply cannot afford the turnovers. Easiest way to beat a more talented team is turnovers.
And full disclosure, KSU missed an extra point and a short FG. They make either, they win in regulation. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
Defense saved TEXAS’ bacon again. 16 drives by KSU (including 1 OT). 7 punts forced, 1 fumble recovered, 1 INT and the game winning 4th down stuff in OT. KSU with 4 TDs and a FG. Only 1 long TD drive, the others short field scores 12 yards, 32 yards and 42 yards. Short fields hurt the D and TEXAS. TEXAS still needs to learn to put teams away.
Is it a bad thing that we enjoyed thieves of land losing their last Bedlam for awhile? ACES losing to Ole Miss and Clemson knocking off ND while UDub beat USC? And Baylor lost too.
Offensive player of the game
Adonia Mitchell. 8 receptions, 148 yards and a TD. And a couple nice blocks.
Honorable Mention He’d have been a CO-POG this week but for his fumble which lead to a KSU TD. Jonathan Brooks with an otherwise great game 22 carries 112 yards and a TD
Defensive Player of the Game
COs this week. Jaylan Fords fumble recovery was a heads up play and gave TEXAS a short field score. Tackle and a half for loss and tied for team lead in tackles.
T’Vondre Sweat Lead a defensive line that snuffed out KSU’s excellent rushing attack. Big man frustrated KSU all day
Stats that Matter
- 2 of 15 TEXAS on 3rd down, cannot sustain drives
- 2 of 14 TEXAS’ D on 3rd down, this wins games
- 10 Penalties on TEXAS, sloppy and undisiplined
- 1 of 4 4 Red Zone chances only 1 TD, 2 FG & fumble
- 33 KSU came to Austin averaging 225 yards per game, TEXAS held them to 33.
On Deck
TCU, once referred to by DKR as “cockroaches”. TCU which played it’s own version of an elimination game Thursday night. They and Texas Tech fighting for a possible bowl bid and they lost in Lubbock. Make no mistake, each of TEXAS’ remaining 3 opponents can make their season knocking off the Horns. We can win this with Maalik but would really like to see Ewers back.
Fighting Mack Brown’s.
Beat up their tomato can game vs Campell. Who in the wide wide world of sports is Campbell? 3 tough games remaining, Duke, Clemson and NCSt. Tar Heels likely just playing for a good bowl game at this point
If we had a playoff vote today
Michigan because we think they beat tOSU
Georgia playing much better of late
UDub Excellent win on the road vs USC
FSU
Needs some help
TEXAS
Oregon
tOSU of course they control their destiny so they just need to keep winning
Bama-Bama and TEXAS both win out. Does the committee not select Bama in favor of a team it lost head to head? And do they not invite 2 time champ Georgia over a 1 loss BigXII or Pac12 champ is UDub falls to Oregon the 2nd time?
Ranking the BigXII
Top Tier Welcomes Okie Lite
TEXAS
Okie Lite started with an ugly loss, now in the drivers seat to get to Arlington
Kansas
OU
Mid Tier likely going bowling
KSU Bowl eligible
WVU Bowl eligible
ISU Needs 1 win to go bowling
Bottom Tier
BYU Needs 1 win to go bowling
TT Needs 2 wins in next 3 to go bowling.
TCU Needs 2 wins in next 3 to go bowling
Houston Needs 2 wins in next 3 to go bowling
UCF Needs 2 wins in next 3 to go bowling
Baylor Needs 3 wins in next 3 to go bowling
Cincinnati Out of bowl contention
Game Highlights
Tribute to Jimmy Buffett.
Found this tribute done at a Va Tech football game to Jimmy as the stadium sang along to Margarittaville. This fits as after this game, the Mrs and I headed to the Blue Goose for a couple rounds of Ritas to wash down fajitas.
