LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas players and coaches were happy about the 45-37 victory against Texas Tech, but there was not a sense of accomplishment from anybody I spoke to after the game. Each person said there are still three games left in the regular season, and after enjoying Saturday’s victory, the plan is to get back to work next week and begin preparing for West Virginia.
Before we go that far, let us recap what was said after the game, and check out your postgame notes:
- Obviously, the biggest story was running back D’Onta Foreman’s 341 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Texas Tech. Foreman was quick to praise his offensive line when asked if anybody could stop him on Saturday: “With the o-line we have, I don’t think so. They opened a lot of holes for me.”
- Foreman said he was unaware of how many yards he had during the game. He learned about his accomplishment when coach Charlie Strong mentioned it during his postgame interview. Later, Strong told the team in the locker room after the win. Players said the locker room went crazy after Strong’s announcement.
- Ricky Williams sends a text message to Foreman every week. The message is always to keep working.
- Foreman said he was upset about his fumble that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown: “I feel like I probably should have went down. Maybe we would have went for it again. I probably could have scored on the next play. In the moment, I was trying to keep fighting for the extra yards, trying to get in the end zone. I wish I could take it back, but I can’t. I know I had to go out there and make up for it.”
- Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gibert said he has never witnessed a performance like Foreman’s: “It’s my first time, and just really proud of our kids. Proud of the guys up front. Those guys paved the way, and D’Onta is a very talented back when the ball’s in his hands. Those holes are there, and somebody’s got to take it to the yard. He’s capable of doing that. He was able to execute that today at a consistent level, a high level. Just a huge team win in all three phases. Everybody contributed. To come on the road in a tough place to place, and pick up a road win.”
- Longhorn left tackle Connor Williams on opening up holes for Foreman: “I know if we get our job done up front, then he’ll make something of it.”
- Gilbert said receiver Collin Johnson showed up today and pulled in some big touchdowns. Johnson had four receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
- When asked if Gilbert considered running Foreman instead of Tyrone Swoopes on fourth-and-1 on Texas Tech’s 26-yard line on his team's final possession, he said, “Just coming downhill. We needed to pick up a first down, and we weren’t able to do that. Just get big, come downhill and that’s what we did. We didn’t execute it.”
- Gilbert said there has been steady growth and improvement with quarterback Shane Buechele. His throws to Johnson were huge, according to Gilbert.
- Texas sophomore linebacker Malik Jefferson came off the bench against Baylor, but started against Texas Tech. Jefferson has responded with his best performances in back-to-back weeks. Here is what Jefferson said about the recent journey: “You just got to humble yourself. In those situations, you have to keep fighting through adversity. You don’t give up. There’s a lot of competition on that field, I understood, I accepted it, and I went to play my role. When I got back in, I knew I had to play different. It was a very humbling experience, and I really appreciate it.”
- In addition, Jefferson said he is playing better: “It humbled me. I had to go back to my roots. I had a long talk with mom, and that always makes you feel a little special. I can definitely thank my parents, and God, for helping me out during the whole process.”
- Jefferson said the team has grown the past couple of weeks because of the competitiveness in practice.
- Buechele said the Longhorns have grown together as a team the past few weeks. He said they realize what they do best, and the players are better at overcoming hard times.
- Here is Buechele on Foreman’s performance: “That’s unbelievable what he does. Running for 340, or whatever he does. It’s a lot of fun being able to watch it. It’s kind of like a silent 340, if that makes sense. You don’t realize how many yards he’s racking up. It’s all yards after contact, and stuff like that. He’s done an unbelievable job.”
- Johnson said his two touchdown receptions were the same route, just different directions.
- When asked about getting an opportunity for significant playing time on Saturday, Johnson said, “I just look at it as I can only control what I can control. Every day in practice, all I could do is bring a good attitude, whether I’m catching two touchdowns, or no touchdowns, I’m just going to approach every game and every practice the same. Today, I was on the positive side. Fortunately, I got two touchdowns.”
- Texas defensive back Kris Boyd said the unit was in Cover 2 during his game-winning interception. Boyd said he let the short route go, dropped back, and then he made a play.
- Boyd said since the Oklahoma loss, Texas has this mindset: “We have to take what’s ours. We’re on mission.” Boyd said the team “wants it” and are pushing for it to happen.
- P.J. Locke said the key to slowing down Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes was applying pressure throughout the game. Sometimes Texas was able to apply pressure by dropping eight players, and working their scramble drill, according to Locke.
- In addition, Locke said he believes the defensive backs are coming together: “We’ve had a lot of negativity coming toward the defensive unit, DBs specifically. We ever kept our head down. We always looked to improvements after every game. We came together, and you guys can see that.”
- This was Paul Boyette’s response when asked if he has seen more resiliency from his team: “Yes, because it just goes back to the preparation in the offseason we had. Those hot days we had in Austin, everybody leaning on each other saying we have to keep pushing, we have to keep going. I think it was reflected today. Everybody just came out and gave (their) all.”
- Texas defensive tackle Poona Ford said nobody on this team has given up, and they want to show everyone that during the next few games.
PLAYER NOTES
(provided by UT)
• D’Onta Foreman rushed for 341 yards on 33 attempts. He now has 1,446 yards on the season (6th). In the game, he became the 19th player in school history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards. He is now 16th in UT history with 2,200 career yards.
• His 33 attempts, 341 yards and three touchdowns were all career highs. The 341 yards were the third-most in school history and the most since Ricky Williams rushed for 350 in 1998. It was just the fourth 300-yard game in school history.
• Foreman surpassed 100 yards rushing for the 10th consecutive game, the longest active streak in the nation and second-longest streak in school history behind Earl Campbell’s (1977) 11. He has now eclipsed the century mark in all eight games this season and 12 times in his career.
• Foreman became the first player at Texas since Hodges Mitchell in 2000 with back-to-back 200-yard rushing games. He is just the third player to ever have back-to-back games with 200 yards rushing.
• Collin Johnson caught two touchdown passes in the first half. They were the first two career TD receptions of his career. It is the sixth time a freshman has caught two touchdown passes in a game in UT history and the first time since Malcolm Williams in 2008.
• Jake Oliver’s career high for receiving yards in a game was 46 entering Saturday. On Texas’ first play from scrimmage, he had a career-long 52-yard reception.
• Shane Buechele has now passed for 2,257 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. He was 20-of-40 for 244 yards and two TDs today.
• Buechele has passed for 200 yards in eight of nine games this season and has had at least one touchdown pass in every game.
• Buechele made his ninth start of the season and won his fifth game. The nine starts are the most ever by a true freshman QB while the five wins are tied for most ever.
• Kris Boyd registered his first career interception, sealing the game with nine seconds left.
TEAM NOTES
(provided by UT)
• Texas improves to 5-4 with the victory. They are now 3-3 in the Big 12 Conference.
• The Longhorns have a record of 50-16 all-time against the Red Raiders and are 20-10 in Lubbock.
• Texas offense finished with a season-high 658 yards, sixth-most in school history. The Longhorns now have six 500-yard games this season, tying the school record for most in a season (also 2005, 2009).
• Texas finished with 414 rushing yards. It was their third 300-yard game of the season, the most in a season since 2007.
• D’Onta Foreman became the 19th player in school history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards in the game.
• Foreman’s 341 yards rushing were the most ever against Texas Tech and the third-most in a game in school history.
• Texas held Texas Tech to 482 yards of total offense on 100 yards (4.82 ypp). After allowing 212 yards on 26 first-quarter plays, Texas held Texas Tech to 270 on the final 74 plays over the last three quarters.
