Kalen DeBoer, Washington plan to 'keep attacking' in second half of Sugar Bowl

Washington and Texas are locked at 21 at halftime of the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl, battling back and forth through the first 30 minutes.

If not for a costly mistake and a late defensive letdown, Washington might be ahead.

But coach Kalen DeBoer wasn’t overly concerned with the mistakes so long as his guys keep their heads down and keep making plays. His team has been lethal when it has mattered.

“I mean we get the ball to start the third quarter here, so that’s big,” DeBoer told the ESPN broadcast crew at halftime. “We’ve just got to keep swinging. Keep playing. We’ve been in these situations so many times, we understand what it takes. Yet we can’t have the costly mistakes. Yet we’ll pick each other up and go make the next play.”

The big miscue came with Washington leading 14-7 early in the second quarter. After Texas went three-and-out, the Longhorns punted it away.

Return man Germie Bernard appeared to have a clear shot at the ball, but he dropped it after initially appearing to secure the catch briefly. Texas jumped on it at the 22-yard line, giving its offense the ball in excellent field position.

Just three plays later the Longhorns punched it in for a tying score on a 17-yard strike from quarterback Quinn Ewers to receiver Jordan Whittington.

Washington would retake the lead with its high-flying passing attack, only to watch Texas match its score in the final minute and a half of the second quarter.

Because of Washington’s quick strike ability, though, DeBoer remains confident in his squad.

“It’s what we do,” DeBoer said. “We’ve got a lot of threats out there, so a lot of different ways to attack. So we’ll just keep with the plan and keep attacking.”

Washington struck on some seriously big plays in the first half, including a 77-yard pass to receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, a 52-yard pass to Rome Odunze and a 29-yard hookup with Bernard. With those kind of weapons, Washington figures to keep pressing with the passing attack in the second half.

At the end of the first half, Washington held a 305-213 edge in total yardage.