Two weeks ago, Texas postponed its game against Oklahoma State to the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns wouldn’t let it happen again.
After riding Bijan Robinson to a 31-10 halftime lead at Kansas State, the Longhorns’ defense improved one last time as they saw the No. 13 Wildcats come back with a bang. I was. Keondre Coburn stripped his Adrian Martinez near midfield with 34 seconds remaining, Jaylan Ford pounced on his ball loose, and Texas clinched his 34-27 victory on Saturday night.
“We understood we were never going to lose again away. That’s when the fight started,” said Robinson, who had 209 yards and a score. I understand what I have to do and I have to stop them and do it and that’s what they did.”
Quinn Ewers threw for 197 yards on two TD passes to Xavier Worthy, and Roshon Johnson added a TD run for the Longhorns (6-3, 4-2 Big 12). .
They will begin a three-game finishing gauntlet against No. 7 TCU next week before games against Kansas and Baylor.
“I told everyone, ‘We’re not done yet. We have more to do,'” Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said. “We have a huge opportunity ahead of us this whole November.
Martinez threw for 329 yards and two TDs, but also threw an interception for a touchdown for Texas and a fumble to decide the game. Duce Vaughn had 73 yards rushing and 86 yards receiving a touchdown.
“The guys kept fighting,” said Wildcats coach Chris Kleeman, whose team hasn’t beaten Texas since 2016. That’s a credit to the character and leadership of that room. ”
Momentum swung to Texas when, on the fourth play of the game, Kansas State’s Julius Brentz scored a questionable targeting penalty that knocked the Wildcats’ best covering cornerback off the field for the rest of the game. rice field.
The Longhorns rolled up three straight touchdown drives, all for eight plays and 75 yards. Robinson capped his first on his 36-yard run, Johnson finished his second from nine yards out, and Worthy took advantage of Brentz’s absence to score two TDs. gave the Longhorns his 21-10 lead in the first TD out.
The only time Kansas State (6-3, 4-2) came off the field was when Johnson fumbled at the end of a 37-yard gain. But the Wildcats quickly punted out, with Texas adding a field goal and Martinez being picked off in the final minutes, setting up Worthy’s second touchdown reception and extending the lead to 31–10 at the break. I was.
The Longhorns had 352 yards offense to that point against the Kansas defense, which limited Oklahoma to 217 totals in last week’s 48-0 victory. Robinson was teasing his way out for a 161 on the ground, the best half of his career.
“Bijan Robinson, period,” said Kleeman. “There’s a reason he thinks he’s the one in college he’s the best running in football he’s in the back.”
Kansas State launched a comeback in the second half. Josh Hayes fumbled again and after a series of penalties, Martinez scored from his one yard to make him 31-17.
Martinez then hit Cade Warner 25 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it a touchdown game.
Texas and Kansas quickly traded field goals, but the Wildcats’ kick came after a long drive that drained over six minutes off the clock. They kept him within 34-27 with 4:26 left in the game.
The Wildcats crammed Robinson on third down to regain the ball, and Martinez quickly moved into midfield. But after scoring 4th down on a pass to Vaughan with 34 seconds remaining, the senior quarterback fumbled for the ball, starting Will Howard, who was dynamic against the Cowboys last week.
“We had an opportunity to win in the fourth quarter,” Klieman said. “We made too many mistakes.”
Takeaway
Texas lost two fumbles and failed to convert on 4th down, but otherwise had a nearly unstoppable first-half offense. Second, the Longhorns were able to play just enough to keep Kansas State at bay.
Kansas State made too many mistakes, starting with a Brentz penalty and personal fouls on center Hayden Gillam and linebacker Daniel Green. The Wildcats gave him nine penalties for 85 yards, an exceptional performance for one of the Big 12 disciplined teams.
next
The Longhorns will face the No. 7 TCU next Saturday night.
The Wildcats head to Baylor the same night.
