San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)

Longhorns escape after late collapse

- By Jim Vertuno

AUSTIN — Bert Auburn kicked a 42-yard field goal in overtime and the Texas defense got a key stop on fourth down to earn a 33-30 win over Kansas State on Saturday in a matchup of Big 12 co-leaders.

No. 7 Texas (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) had led 27-7 late in the third quarter before No. 23 Kansas State (6-3, 4-2) stormed back with three touchdown passes from Will Howard.

The Wildcats forced overtime on Chris Tennant's 45-yard field goal with 1 second left. Tennant had earlier missed a short chance to tie with 1:45 to play.

Texas went nowhere on its first possession of overtime before Auburn's go-ahead kick. Kansas State then drove to the Texas 6. Three consecutiv­e plays gained only 2 yards before the Wildcats went for the win instead of the tie and another overtime. Howard was pressured and was slipping down when he lofted a pass that was easily batted down.

The win keeps Texas atop the league standings with an eye on the Big 12 championsh­ip game and the program's first league title since 2009.

“Versatilit­y, resilience, perseveran­ce ... those are all qualities championsh­ip teams have,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “They can make plays at critical moments.”

Jonathon Brooks ran for 112 yards and a touchdown for Texas, which also got a 54-yard scoring run early from C.J. Baxter.

Howard passed for 327 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats, two of them to Phillip Brooks.

Texas appeared in total control midway through the third quarter until consecutiv­e turnovers — an intercepti­on and fumble — set up two quick Howard touchdown passes.

“It tested us. It tested our resilience," Sarkisian said. “It tested our culture to stick together.”

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said he would still go for the win in overtime instead of a field

goal tie if given another chance.

“Our kids always believe we have a shot,” Klieman said. “I'm upset that we lost, but watching what our guys were able to do in the second half was pretty special.”

The Wildcats stubbornly stuck to a running game that was going nowhere in the first half as

Texas steadily built its lead. Even when they rotated in speedy freshman quarterbac­k Avery Johnson, his first full series produced three consecutiv­e handoffs instead of letting him probe for an opening.

The Wildcats moved the ball through the air on a short scoring drive in the second quarter before opening up the offense on Howard's passing in the second half.

Maalik Murphy has managed the last two games at quarterbac­k for Texas but has been erratic and struggled with accuracy and turnovers Saturday. The redshirt freshman completed just 19 of his 37 passes Saturday for 248 yards.

After a quick start Saturday, including a 37-yard first-quarter touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell, he threw a pair of intercepts intercepti­on and two more passes that were dropped by Wildcats defenders.

Starter Quinn Ewers, who has thrown just three intercepti­ons in his 213 attempts this season, has been deemed “week-toweek” by coach Steve Sarkisian with a sprained right throwing shoulder.

“Quinn is moving in the right direction” to return, Sarkisian said. “How quickly I don't know yet.”

 ?? Photos by Tim Warner/Getty Images ?? Maalik Murphy struggled Saturday, throwing a pair of intercepti­ons as Kansas State erased a big second-half deficit in Austin. But a defensive stand in overtime led the Longhorns to victory.
Photos by Tim Warner/Getty Images Maalik Murphy struggled Saturday, throwing a pair of intercepti­ons as Kansas State erased a big second-half deficit in Austin. But a defensive stand in overtime led the Longhorns to victory.
 ?? ?? Jonathon Brooks carried the ball 22 times for 112 yards and scored a touchdown as Texas beat Kansas State in overtime to improve to 8-1 on the season.
Jonathon Brooks carried the ball 22 times for 112 yards and scored a touchdown as Texas beat Kansas State in overtime to improve to 8-1 on the season.

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