San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Ehlinger’s rally can’t stop disappointment
DALLAS — A couple years ago at AT&T Stadium, in the numbing aftermath of a Big 12 championship loss toOklahoma, SamEhlinger sat and fielded questions and searched for the right answers — at least the ones that felt right.
Along the way he established what felt like a Texas Longhorn presidential platform: “Iwillmake itmy mission to never let this team or this school feel this disappointment again.”
Saturday afternoon, about 20 miles east ofwhere Ehlinger made that vow, No. 22 Texas and Oklahoma met again as they do every October, at the Cotton Bowl. Despite Ehlinger’s otherworldly comeback effort, the Longhorns (2-2, 1-2 Big 12) again failed to keep that promise, falling to the Sooners (2-2, 1-2 Big12) 53-45 inananarchicquadruple-overtime battle that seesawed for almost five hours.
“I have a lot of emotions right now, and I don’t know which one best pinpoints how I’m feeling,” Ehlinger said. “We showed the football team we are there at the end when we stay out of our own way.”
Disciplinewas Texas’ big talking point this week. The lack of it, the need to better drill and instill it.
After all, the Longhorns were still adjusting to a pair of newcoordinators, four newassistants and a slew of new starters following a shortened offseason. The penaltieswould stop, the slop on special teams would be cleaned up, the defense would start covering and tackling and the Ehlinger-led offense would continue to find its footing.
But the same sort of problems that plagued Texas in a narrow overtime win over Texas Tech and a loss toTCUwreakedhavoconthe Horns yet again. UT received 11 penalties for 101 yards, committed three turnovers and allowed six sacks.
“A lot of them are self-inflicted wounds,” Texas coach Tom Herman said. “And I’m disappointed. Again, it’smyjobtomake sure they don’t happen.”
Texas had its opening drive wiped out by junior tailback Keaontay Ingram’s fumble, an ominous sight after his goal-line fumble in the loss to TCU. Soon after that, a busted coverage allowed freshman receiverMarvin Mims to break free and stroll in for a 30yard touchdown reception. Even linebacker DeMarvion Overshown’s early interception of OU redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler wasn’t fully taken advantage of — senior center Derek Kerstetter’s unnecessary roughness penalty on fourth-and-1 turned a potential Ehlingerplungeintoa 34-yardfield goal.
Oklahoma also blocked Ryan Bujcevski’s punt in the second quarter. More accurately: Bujcevski ran directly into sophomore David Ugwoegbu, who smothered the kick and recovered at the UT 5. Ahandful of plays later, junior running back T.J. Pledger darted through a hole for a 5-yard touchdowntoputOklahomaahead17-10.
But Texas never wilted. And Oklahoma never went for the throat.
“Really proud of our guys for their resiliency and execution down the stretch,” Herman said. “But we have to improve on the penalties and we have to improve our special teams play and we certainly have to improve our gap integrity defensively. Andwe have to find ways to defeat man-to-man coverage offensively.
“But we have an opportunity to
still have a really, really good season.”
Texas almost had an unbelievable win, too.
UT’s defense looked gassed heading intothe fourthquarter following the Sooners’ run-heavy 17play, 87-yardscoringdrivethat lasted eight minutes and sent droves of fans out of the boiling stadium.
Then Ehlinger, who accounted for 399 yards of total offense and six touchdowns, conjured some moremagic.
He found receiver JoshuaMoore for a 9-yard touchdown to cutUT’s deficit to 31-24. Texas didn’t have any timeouts remaining, but caught a game-changing break when Rattler’s incomplete thirddown pass stopped the clock and forced a punt with two minutes left.
Ehlinger broke loose for two long runs, then flipped a 2-yard
touchdown pass to Ingramwith 14 seconds left to force overtime.
He opened the first extra period with a 3-yard touchdown rush. Oklahoma tight end Austin Stogner responded by winning a jump ball over Chris Adimora in the end zone. Rattler plunged across the goal line from a yard out, and Ehlinger galloped through the entire OU defense for his 25-yard score.
The third overtime period featured Oklahoma blocking Cameron Dicker’s field goal, which was followed by Sooner kicker Gabe Brkic — 20-for-21 before this try — shanking a game-winner.
The backbreaker came on OU’s second play of the fourth overtime. Rattler sped forward through the pocket and rifled a 25yard touchdown pass to Drake Stoops, son of Bob, who got behind the defense.
Ehlinger’s final pass, on secondand-goal from the OU 19, fluttered over the head of receiver Tarik Black — senior corner Tre Brown flew in to grab it and seal the win, the Sooners’ fourth in five years in this series.
“We have the talent; that’s not the issue,” Ehlinger said.“We have the schemes, that’s not the issue. We always seemto be tripping ourselves up, getting in our own way, making mistakes in crucial times. The best teams don’t do that. It’s unfortunate, but I can’t change the past.”