Texas defense does its part, and more, in rout of Texas Tech
It might be difficult to credit the Texas defense in a game when the No. 7 Longhorns beat rival Texas Tech 57-7 but a closer look at the definitive win in the final scheduled game between the two teams illustrates just how much that side of the ball helped produce the statement victory.
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Two numbers immediately jump off the stat page: Texas Tech managed just 198 total yards of offense and a measly seven points – only in the Longhorns’ season opening win over Rice did an opponent gain less yardage.
“I will say it feels wonderful to see all the guys come along,” Longhorns defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat said. “We’ve built a strong bond and stuff like that and we just believed. Now we see everybody doing what they’ve got to do and their part and we are playing for the Big 12 championship.”
Texas allowed the Red Raiders just 88 passing yards, intercepted Tech quarterback Behren Morton three times, sacked him twice for 20 yards in losses and forced nine punts.
“We were playing at a high level today,” Texas defensive back Jaedae Barron said. “Great energy. And everybody was playing for one another and they knew it was the last home game here and they were playing for a lot of seniors. Everything was there, and everything was clicking for us today. We could have had more turnovers but we will take it.”
But how about this? Texas’ average starting field position was its own 46 yard line, meaning the Longhorns basically started each of its 15 drives with half the field already behind them. Conversely, the Red Raiders’ average starting position was their own 24 – that’s a 22-yard difference – and Tech had six three-and-outs.
“That’s a that’s a good rushing football team and to defend the run the way that we did, to defend the pass that the way that we did and to create the turnovers the way that we did was just fantastic,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.
Combine that with the three interceptions and a turnover on downs late on its final possession in the first half and you see that the defense dictated the game.
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There were times that the Texas defense look as if it knew the plays that were coming and was steps faster to the ball.
“Most definitely,” Barron agreed. “We dialed in on Coach (Pete Kwiatkowski’s) game planning and everybody was engaged. We were so passionate today. There was a lot of emotion.”
Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford was asked after the game if the Longhorns have the best defense in the Big 12.
“I don’t want to burst my bubble,” Ford said. “But we just we go out there and we do what we’re expected to do. We do what we know we’re capable of. That’s kind of what we pride ourselves in. You know, humbly, I think we just show up week in week out and we will continue to do that for this season.”
The Longhorns will have their work cut out for them whether they play No. 13 Oklahoma or No. 23 Oklahoma State on Dec. 2 in Arlington in the Big 12 title game.
“I’m really, really proud of everybody that put in a lot of work to get us to this point,” Sarkisian said. “But like I told the team downstairs, we’re not done – you know we’ve got one more and as much as this feels like a tremendous celebration, which it is, to earn an opportunity to play for a Big 12 championship, we’ve got one more game next Saturday. And it’s going to be a quality opponent.”
