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Dedication to the run helps Texas top Baylor 38-27 in regular season finale

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•11/25/22•

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(Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Through three quarters of Texas’ regular season finale versus the Baylor Bears, the Longhorns had rushed 23 times for 77 yards. The discrepancy resulted in the Longhorn defense being on the field for almost 30 minutes with another quarter to play.

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Texas needed to flip the script. Thanks to stellar performances on the ground from Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, both most likely playing their final game at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, Steve Sarkisian’s crew was able to do just that.

Of Texas’ 26 fourth quarter plays, 25 were rushes. The Longhorns gained 131 yards and two scores, with Robinson and Johnson both finding the end zone. Robinson’s 1-yard rush helped the Longhorns retake the lead, while Johnson’s 11-yard scamper that included a hurdle of a BU defender put the game at its final 38-27 tally.

The UT offense took some time to get going, and was often its own worst enemy. Texas’ first offensive series resulted in Quinn Ewers committing intentional grounding in his own end zone, giving the Bears two points. He’d make up for it on the next drive with a short rushing touchdown, the first of his career.

But the Longhorn offense couldn’t stay on the field. Ewers struggled, Robinson was not getting many touches, and normally reliable players were anything but.

When Sarkisian elected to make the run game the priority after BU retook the lead via a scoop-and-score of a Ewers fumble in the fourth quarter, it didn’t matter what defense the Bears were in. Texas just lined up and ran over whoever was in their way. Doing so helped a defense that was arguably overworked in the first half stay rested for the second half.

It was just what Pete Kwiatkowski’s unit needed. The Longhorn defense didn’t allow the Bear offense to score in the second half. Jaylan Ford recorded his fourth interception of the season, and BU quarterback Blake Shapen took blow after blow from Longhorn defenders as the game was nearing its end.

The performance from Longhorn rushers did not go unappreciated. As the seconds were ticking off, most of the 94706 in attendance chanted “Bijan, Bijan, Bijan.” Sarkisian tried to give him a chance at one more touchdown, but the Baylor defense stood strong.

It was too late for it to make a difference. Thanks to Robinson, who completes a 1500+ yard regular season and moved past Jamaal Charles for fourth in school history in rushing yardage, and Johnson, whose unselfish team-first mentality has garnered him praise from Sarkisian at every turn, Texas closed the season with its eighth win.

First Quarter

Top moment: Quinn Ewers three-yard rushing touchdown.  

Featured performer: Quinn Ewers

Stats: Quinn Ewers was 4-of-5 for 83 yards, also rushed for a touchdown after a grounding penalty resulted in a safety on the Longhorns’ first possession. Jaylan Ford had 5 tackles. Jahdae Barron had a TFL and a PBU, and almost a pick six. Robinson had six carries for 21 yards.

Notes: Ewers rushing touchdown was the first of his career. An 11-yard punt by Baylor gave Texas a short field that set up Robinson’s first touchdown. Texas ran its signature wheel-route play to get Keilan Robinson the ball early in the quarter.

Second Quarter

Top moment: Two mishandled snaps for Baylor that led to an 18-play drive ending in just 3 points.

Featured performer: Jaylan Ford

Stats: Baylor had 127 total yards and 25 total plays in the second quarter to Texas’ 9. It accounted for an 11:21 to 3:39 time of possession for Baylor. Shapen was 8-for-11 for 83 yards and a touchdown, including four straight completions including his scoring toss, to end the half.

Notes: Baylor had an 8:41 drive that only resulted in three points after Texas stood strong in the red zone after two mishaps in the run game by Baylor. Two late sacks surrendered by the Texas OL near the end of the half gave Baylor a scoring opportunity they converted via a 14-yard pass from Shapen to Ben Sims. Ewers attempted just three passes. Texas averaged four yards per play.

Third Quarter

Top moment: John Mayers’ missed 40-yard field goal after a 13-play, 34-yard drive that took 5:33 off the clock

Featured performer: Bijan Robinson

Stats: Texas tallied 134 total yards in the quarter to Baylor’s 52. Ewers was 6-of-7 for 82 yards. The Longhorns committed three penalties. Baylor was 1-for-5 on third downs, but 2-for-2 on fourth downs. Baylor was limited to 2.6 yards per play.

Notes: Texas began the half on offense and committed two false start penalties. Texas made up the yardage via a long pass to Jordan Whittington, but the fourth-year player who was honored in senior day fumbled the ball. After the third quarter, Baylor had 276 total yards. They would finish with 280.

Fourth Quarter

Top moment: Jaylan Ford’s interception

Featured performer: Bijan Robinson

Stats: Texas had 25 carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and converted 3-of-4 third down opportunities. Baylor ran 10 plays and gained 4 yards. Ford’s interception was his fourth this season. Texas had one passing yard in the quarter.

Notes: Texas surrendered the lead early in the quarter after Baylor’s Gabe Hall scooped-and-scored off a sack of Ewers near the shadow of the Longhorn goalpost. Texas ran the ball every play after Ewers’ fumble.

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