Ehlinger comes to rescue at Tech
LUBBOCK — Texas’ 17point second-half lead over Texas Tech had vanished.
The Jones AT&T Stadium scoreboard that once read “Texas 27, Texas Tech 10” displayed a 34-34 game with 1 minute, 45 seconds left. If not for Sam Ehlinger, Texas might have endured a monumental collapse that doubled as its third consecutive loss.
Texas’ sophomore quarterback led a seven-play, 75yard scoring drive capped by a 29-yard touchdown pass to receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey that deserves consideration as the Longhorns’ play of the year.
The 19th-ranked Longhorns (7-3, 5-2 Big 12) are alive in the Big 12 title race thanks to Ehlinger, Humphrey, and a slew of Texas Tech miscues.
‘Too tall’ Lil’Jordan
Ehlinger never doubted the outcome of his gamewinning throw to Humphrey in the same end-zone corner where Michael Crabtree stomped on the heart of Texas a decade ago.
With 28 seconds left, Ehlinger wound up and uncorked a ball for Humphrey, being defended by 6foot defensive back Demarcus Fields.
The two rose simultaneously, but 6-4 Humphrey ascended higher. He snatched the ball over the top of Fields and dragged him a few yards before diving into the end zone for the game’s final score.
“Oh, I knew he was going to do it,” Ehlinger said. “I’m just, I have so much confidence in him and he’s one of my best friends and I love seeing him just be so happy because he knows what he’s capable of. It’s just really great to see.”
It was the perfect cap to a career night for Humphrey, who set a personal high with 159 receiving yards and a pair of receiving TDs.
Horns on the mend
Texas players injured during the game included cornerback Josh Thompson (ankle sprain), cornerback Davante Davis (ankle sprain/knee pain), safety Caden Sterns (head), running back Keaontay Ingram (hip pointer) and defensive back P.J. Locke (sprained toe).
Coach Tom Herman said he does not believe the injuries to Thompson, Davis and Ingram to be severe, though he won’t know for sure until all three are evaluated. Sterns left the game in the second half after a helmet-to-helmet collision and could be placed in concussion protocol. The freshman safety had difficulty picking himself up from the collision and appeared unbalanced walking off the field with the help of team trainers.
Locke, who suffered his toe injury in the fourth quarter, remained in the game.
Heard a quick study
With junior wideout Collin Johnson (knee) out, senior Jerrod Heard assumed a larger role. He was ready, despite the brief time he had to prepare.
“Critical catches,” Herman said. “Jerrod had been playing slot, H behind LJ (Lil’Jordan Humphrey) basically the whole season and we said, OK, big boy, LJ you’re going to X, Jerrod, you’re going to go and be the starting H but by the way there’s going to be some plays we’re still going to want LJ at H so you’re going to go to X on those plays and you’re going to have to learn all those plays. He did all of that within about 48 hours. He came up really, really big for us in critical moments.”
Heard’s most important grab came during UT’s final drive. On second-and-8 from the Texas 48-yard line, Heard plucked a low pass inches from the ground for an 11-yard pickup. It moved Texas into Tech territory and helped set up Humphrey’s game-winning touchdown reception two plays later.
Heard recorded six catches for 54 yards, exceeding his entire season’s worth of work (three receptions, 29 yards) in one night.