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 STATE WINS!” and “CHAMPIONS” in all caps. He acknowledged some Longhorn followers who waited for him to cross by, displaying their assist for the Texas quarterback with their horns up, whereas attempting to disregard the truth that a trophy presentation was about to happen, and never for his workforce.
When he reached the top of the turf to make his approach into the bowels of the stadium, Ewers circled, regarded again on the subject, and kissed the towel round his neck twice. He had carried out a lot on this subject – performed for a highschool state championship, received a Massive 12 title, and it may need simply been the place he performed his closing faculty soccer sport.
Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in a School Soccer Playoff semifinal on the Cotton Bowl on Friday night time to advance to the CFP Nationwide Championship sport vs. Notre Dame. This was the second straight yr the Longhorns‘ season ended at this juncture. Final time, they have been one play away from beating Washington. This time, they got here near stopping the Buckeyes, however once more, couldn’t end.
Getting into the CFP conflict with Ohio State, Texas gamers spoke of final yr’s loss to the Huskies and the way it set the tradition in place for this season. Ewers stated he would do “something it took to get us proper again right here,” they usually needed to take it one step additional.
They practically did.
Trailing 21-14 with slightly below seven minutes remaining within the sport, Ewers, as calm and regular as he at all times is, led the Texas offense from its personal 25-yard line to first-and-goal from the Ohio State 2-yard line. On the primary play, Jerrick Gibson rushed up the center for no acquire. “We went to a heavy bundle, which is Jerrick’s bundle,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian stated. “We ran it, and we clearly did not get a lot motion in any respect.”
On the second strive, Ewers pitched the ball to Quintrevion Wisner, who tried to get to the sting however was swallowed up by Ohio State’s protection for a lack of 7 yards. “That is a type of performs, if you happen to block all of it proper, you get in the long run zone, and we did not, and we lose fairly a little bit of yardage,” Sarkisian stated.
On third down, Ewers’ cross meant for freshman standout Ryan Wingo was damaged up in the long run zone. “At that time, you are form of 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 cross however was shortly wrapped up by Ohio State defensive finish Jack Sawyer, who strip-sacked the quarterback, scooped up the fumble and returned it 83 yards for a landing. Ewers stated he felt Sawyer coming, tried to float away from him and thought he might get the ball off earlier than contact.
“It isn’t like I attempted to present them the sport,” Ewers stated. “However I noticed Jack operating with the ball down the sideline. It sucks, man. However he is an amazing participant, nice particular person, nice particular person.
“It simply sucks. It sucks.”
It was a poetic approach for issues to finish, although. Ewers famously began his profession at Ohio State and was roommates with Sawyer earlier than transferring to Texas after one semester. Requested if the 2 stated something to one another after the sport, Sawyer informed the published that Ewers stated, “screw you” earlier than he walked away laughing.
“That is my boy,” Sawyer stated of Ewers. “Clearly, we have been roommates when he was right here. I’ve bought a whole lot of respect for him and the remainder of the Texas workforce.”
As huge as Sawyer’s scoop-and-score landing was, it wasn’t the one defining second in Friday night time’s Cotton Bowl. Late within the second quarter, one play after Texas leveled the rating at 7-7, Buckeyes operating again TreVeyon Henderson caught a cross from Will Howard and proceeded to go untouched for a 75-yard landing to present his workforce a 14-7 edge heading into halftime. A part of Texas’ defensive sport plan was to pay attention to Henderson within the open subject – he had an analogous play in opposition to Oregon within the Rose Bowl when he went off for a 66-yard rating – however the protection busted.
“It is unlucky that they hit the display screen,” Sarkisian stated. “I do not assume anyone was anticipating that. Undoubtedly stole some momentum.”
Texas had a powerful response within the third quarter. Ewers led a game-tying drive, whereas the protection performed lights out with an interception, stuffing Quinshon Judkins on a third-and-1, sacking Howard and breaking apart one other cross on third-and-15. By the top of the night time, the Longhorns had two sacks – Ohio State had given up 12 the entire yr and Howard had but to be sacked in a playoff sport. The unit additionally made star wideout Jeremiah Smith invisible, holding him to only one catch for 3 yards.
“[Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s] sport plan on that state of affairs on No. 4 was superb,” defensive again Jahdae Barron stated.
Ohio State may need been the favourite coming into this showdown, however heading into the fourth quarter, it felt like the sport was there for Texas to take.
In the long run, nevertheless, Ewers could not execute when he wanted to probably the most and the Longhorns didn’t get their good ending. The senior signal-caller completed 23-of-39 for 283 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and was sacked 4 occasions. Texas could not run the ball successfully, speeding for 58 yards, one among its worst outputs of the yr.
Now, Ewers, who dreamed of being the beginning quarterback at Texas his whole life, will not play for a nationwide championship. However he’ll go down as a central determine in serving to Sarkisian rebuild a program into an elite contender.
“I am tremendous happy with Quinn,” Sarkisian stated. “I do not know if he’d ever dwell as much as the requirements of what everyone thinks he is imagined to be. However on the finish of the day, all he did was present up each day and work and be an amazing chief and be an amazing 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 articles written and fan boards and no matter else.
“However this man by no means did that. He fought by way of all the pieces. By no means complained about it one time. And I feel that is why he has a lot respect from his teammates.”
As for Ewers and his future, there’s hypothesis of profitable NIL gives for him to enter the switch portal. He has not declared for the NFL Draft, however that’s reportedly the place his thoughts is at proper now. He didn’t handle the matter after the sport.
As for this system’s future, the fan base has already turned its consideration to Arch Manning.
“It hurts, it stings proper now,” Sarkisian stated. “However I am not going to let this one sport and a pair performs overshadow what we have been in a position to accomplish this season. Sure, we wish to be champions. That is what life is about. You at all times wish to come out on high. However there’s a lot that we are able to be taught from this season, and there is a lot to be happy with from this season.”
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA At the moment and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Girl,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her at @LakenLitman.
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