Late heroics from the Longhorns secured a 29-26 win against the TCU Horned Frogs, but domination in the second quarter kept Texas ahead when the offense fell short in the second half.
The second quarter has not been the friendliest to the Longhorns since its late September win against Baylor in Waco. In its five ensuing games, Texas was outscored in three games and failed to score multiple times in every game except Oklahoma, where they scored 10 to the Sooners 13. Texas averaged less than a touchdown per quarter during that time despite averaging 9.2 points per quarter in the first, third and fourth in the same span.
In Saturday’s matchup, the Longhorns rallied around their now healthy starting sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers and returned to the second quarter form of September. Ewers, with help from the defense, scored 19 points in four drives, not being stopped once on offense. The Longhorns were humming, averaging nearly six yards per play and converting on 11 first downs.
“It was great to be back out there tonight,” Ewers said. “It felt like I went right in there and was just as comfortable as when I left.”
The team found ways to score from every spot on the field. Three scoring drives started in Texas’ own territory, including a 13 play, 85-yard touchdown drive that started within Texas’s own red zone. Mitchell hauled in his fifth touchdown in four games on a six yard pass from Ewers.
“He is a straight soldier,” junior wide receiver Adonai Mitchell said about Ewers. “To come back and have that type of performance, while you’re still dealing with something, (is) amazing.”
It wasn’t all offense in the second quarter, though, as the Longhorn defense stepped up massively to alleviate any home-field advantage for TCU. The Horned Frogs scored zero points in the second, with only one possession eclipsing three offensive plays. Sophomore cornerback Terrance Brooks corralled his second interception of the season on the first play of TCU’s attempted two minute drill, setting up a fellow Brooks’ touchdown run by sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks 39 seconds later.
“He did thank me,” senior defensive back Jahdae Barron said about Terrance Brooks. Barron was pressuring the quarterback on the errant throw. “We got to thank the lord for that one.”
Jonathon Brooks later exited the game with an injury. Sarkisian will give an update on Monday.
Texas still had a game ahead of them, though, despite the 20 point halftime lead. TCU rattled off 20 points in the fourth quarter, bringing the game within three with Texas’ offense unable to score in the second half apart from a 49 yard field goal by junior kicker Bert Auburn.
“Everybody’s got to play a role on special teams,” Sarkisian said. “That’s where you form those bonds as a team, you come out on the road and you find a way to win these games.”
It was Mitchell who eventually sealed the game for the Longhorns when the momentum was at its lowest. Pinned inside its own territory, only up by three, and a crowd roaring against them, the Georgia transfer made the play of his young Texas career.
On third and 12 from Texas’ own 13, Ewers threw up a prayer to Adonai. He came down with it, and the Longhorns were able to run out the clock three plays later. From despair to victory in one play thanks to the big catch from Texas’s big play receiver.
“Credit to Quinn for giving me a chance,” Mitchell said. “Ultimately, great things happen.”
Another close game for Texas ended in a win, and the Longhorns are atop of the Big 12 with two games to go, heading to Ames next to play the Iowa State Cyclones.
“As always there’s still things to work on,” Sarkisian said. “But it sure feels good to be nine and one.”
