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Author: Tucker Stephenson

Professional football is back in the Alamo City.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in MLB.

SAN ANTONIO —

The San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football have become the toast of the town since opening the season with back-to-back home games at the Alamodome. Attendance has been high and fan support has been rabid for the brand new team, which features several notable names for those familiar with the gridiron history of the Lone Star State.

Homegrown running back Aaron Green, a Madison High School graduate and former TCU Horned Frog, is one of the players who have received a second chance at a pro career with the Commanders. The roster also includes former Longhorns Duke Thomas (CB) and Nick Rose (K).

The general manager is none other than Dallas Cowboys fan favorite Daryl “Moose” Johnston, who added a serious taste of Texas flavor to the roster. In all, 22 Commanders played college football in the Lone Star state. 

The team debuted with a 15-9 win over the San Diego Fleet but came crashing down to Earth a week later when former Lake Travis standout Garrett Gilbert threw for nearly 400 yards in a 37-29 comeback win by the Orlando Apollos.

Even more water was thrown on the fire when it was leaked that financial troubles have already begun to pop up for the AAF, which almost missed its opening-week payroll. The league needed an infusion of cash — $250 million, to be exact — from Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon to stay afloat.

But amid a sea of empty stadiums, San Antonio has averaged nearly 30,000 fans per game and has given the Commanders a true home field advantage. 

Of course, it’s not the first time that San Antonio has been used as a test subject for a professional football team. 

The history dates back to the San Antonio Toros, who entered the Continental Football League in 1967. Since then, the World Football League (1975, San Antonio Wings), American Football Association (1977-1981, San Antonio Charros), United States Football League (1984-85, San Antonio Gunslingers), World League of American Football (1991-92, San Antonio Riders) and Canadian Football League (1995, San Antonio Texans) have all called San Antonio home for a period of time.

The city has also had two Arena Football League teams — the San Antonio Force (1992) and the San Antonio Talons, who debuted in 2011 and folded in 2014. In 2005, the Alamodome also hosted the NFL’s New Orleans Saints while they were displaced due to Hurricane Katrina.

Commanders head coach Mike Riley knows the history of San Antonio football well. He guided the WLAF’s Riders in the early ‘90s.

The AAF is aiming to provide what the WLAF, which later became NFL Europe, did for the NFL, which is to act as a de facto minor league system. Several Commanders have already opened eyes with their play thus far: RB Kenneth Farrow II, WR Mekale McKay, QB Logan Woodside, DT Winston Craig and LB Shaan Washington.

In fact, it was Washington who went viral for his crushing hit on San Diego Fleet QB Mike Bercovici that sent the signal caller’s helmet flying. 

The Commnders’ NFL hopefuls are praying that San Antonio won’t be the last stop of their careers, but for fans, the aspirations are much lower. They just hope the Commanders and the AAF stay around long enough to make a more lasting impression than their predecessors

Dallas Loose Divisional in LA

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

LOS ANGELES — Aiming to clinch their first berth in the NFC Championship in 23 seasons, the Cowboys instead became victims of identity fraud.

Rather than seeing Ezekiel Elliott running free in the Rams secondary, it was Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson that tore apart Dallas’ defense to the tune of 238 rushing yards. Behind its ground attack, Los Angeles kept possession for the majority of the game and recorded a 30-22 win Saturday night at LA Memorial Coliseum.

The Cowboys’ defense, which established itself as one of the NFL’s best all season, was unable to keep the Rams from putting together long, time-consuming drives. 

Despite the struggles, Dallas had a shot to tie the game with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter during a promising march into enemy territory. However, Elliott was stuffed on an unimaginative run play up the middle on fourth-and-1.

Los Angeles got its own fourth-down chance on the ensuing possession and cashed in on a 1-yard plunge across the goal line by Anderson. The score left the Cowboys in desperation mode, as they faced a 30-15 deficit with 7:16 left to play.

Dak Prescott scored on a short run with 2:11 to go to help make it a once-score contest at 30-22, but Garrett chose to kick it deep rather than go with the onside. The outcome was extremely predictable, as the Rams picked up a pair of first downs via the run to ice the victory.

It was a frustrating end to a stellar season for the ‘Boys, but one thing is certain — Dak doubters had little to grumble about during the latter portion of the season. Even in defeat, Prescott outplayed Jared Goff by completing 20 of his 32 throws for 266 yards.

Surprisingly, it was the Cowboys’ defense that turned out to be the weak link when it mattered most.

Dallas relied on a bend-but-don’t-break approach defensively on the first two Los Angeles possessions, which resulted in a pair of Greg Zeurlein field goals. At that point, the Cowboys held a 7-6 lead thanks to an impressive opening drive led by Prescott that was capped by his 29-yard touchdown strike to Amari Cooper.

Each of the Rams’ next two possessions reached the end zone, mostly thanks to a patient running game that began to gash Dallas right up the gut. Anderson ended a nine-play march with a 1-yard plunge, and Gurley, who made his return to the lineup from a knee injury, later broke loose for a 35-yard TD run.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup catches a pass over Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner during the second half in an NFL divisional football playoff game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The Cowboys’ last chance to draw closer before halftime was stopped by a phantom sack on Prescott in which the referees ruled him “in the grasp” despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Dallas trailed 20-7 at intermission but managed to make it a 23-15 game in the third quarter after Elliott muscled his way into the end zone from a yard out and Prescott hit Cooper for the 2-point try.

The Cowboys then got a rare defensive stop thanks to a pair of errant passes from Goff, but Los Angeles’ defensive front answered by meeting Elliott in the backfield on his fourth-down run from the Rams’ 35.

Elliott finished the game with just 47 yards on 20 carries.

Saints VooDoo Eagles in Divisional

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

NEW ORLEANS — The voodoo of Drew Brees brought an end to Nick Foles’ amazing magic act Sunday during an epic clash in New Orleans.

The Saints, who entered as the NFC’s No. 1 seed, took the defending Super Bowl champion’s best punch before turning the tables in time to record a 20-14 victory at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. 

Philadelphia wide receiver Alshon Jeffery committed the evening’s biggest gaffe when he let a late pass from Foles slip through his hands in the red zone. New Orleans’ Marshon Lattimore was right there for the game-clinching interception.

It was a valiant effort by the Eagles, who had every bit of momentum surging in their direction during the first quarter. After Brees’ first throw was intercepted by Cre’Von LeBlanc on a home-run toss to Ted Ginn, Philadelphia marched 76 yards in seven plays to vault ahead.

Foles struck on a play-action pass by dropping in a perfect throw to Jordan Matthews for a 37-yard touchdown toss.

After the Eagles forced a three-and-out by the Saints, Foles directed a 10-play scoring drive that was capped by his own 1-yard dive across the goal line. New Orleans followed with another punt after looking completely out of sync on offense.

Lattimore may have sparked Brees and company with his first pick of Foles, which set up a 12-play, 79-yard march to the end zone. The drive featured a successful fake punt and ended with a clutch 2-yard scoring toss from Brees to Keith Kirkwood on fourth down.

The Saints tacked on a 45-yard field goal by Will Lutz to trim the Eagles’ lead to 14-10 at the half.

New Orleans then began the third period by forcing an immediate punt and embarking on a marathon 18-play, 92-yard drive. Brees hit Michael Thomas on a 2-yard TD pass to help put the Saints ahead 17-14. 

Thomas shredded Philadelphia’s secondary after intermission and finished the night with 12 receptions for 171 yards.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts after a touchdown carry by running back Alvin Kamara, not pictured, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Lutz split his next two field goal tries, and New Orleans’ defense stood tall when it absolutely needed to. Foles had driven the Eagles all the way to the Saints’ 27-yard line when a high pass zipped through Jeffery’s mitts and was snatched by Lattimore at the 19 with 1:51 left on the clock.

It was a bitter ending for Foles and the Eagles, but Brees will carry the Westlake alumni torch this week in an intriguing NFC Championship matchup.

The NFL’s all-time leading passer will look to advance to his second career Super Bowl Sunday when the Rams head to New Orleans for a collision of the conference’s top seeds.

NOTES: Brees is now 2-0 all time in head-to-head postseason games against Foles. The Saints defeated Foles’ Eagles 26-24 in a 2014 wild-card contest in Philadelphia.

Brees is the lone quarterback to have a winning record against Foles in the playoffs.

Sam Ehlinger honors Brees wears Chaps Jersey in Sugar Bowl win.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

By now, Longhorn fans have seen video clips or photographs of Sam Ehlinger paying homage to Drew Brees by donning his throwback Westlake jersey at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

What some may not know is that the idea didn’t come from Ehlinger himself, and the jersey wasn’t found at an Austin-area merchandise shop. Instead, the show of respect came about thanks to an alert teammate from Homestead, Florida.

Senior cornerback Davante Davis was walking near Canal Street prior to the game when he spotted the jersey at a retail shop. After a quick text message to an excited Ehlinger, Davis purchased the item, brought it to Ehlinger and the quarterback reimbursed the $90 price tag. 

Ehlinger wore the jersey during a pregame walk into the stadium, and the former Chaparral put in on once again after Texas had completed a 28-21 upset of the highly-touted Georgia Bulldogs. Not even head coach Tom Herman’s strict dress code policy could stop Ehlinger from honoring the NFL’s all-time passing leader.

“Coming into the Superdome, I had to respect Drew because of all the amazing things he’s done in this building,” Ehlinger said. “I honestly wanted to play like him and have a little magic. That was just paying my respect to him.”

Brees was sent a picture of Ehlinger’s tribute and posted his support on Twitter. He said that he was able to catch most of the second half of the Sugar Bowl and gave his Westlake predecessor credit for guiding the Longhorns’ offense.

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger heads to the locker room before the team’s Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in New Orleans. Ehlinger wore a high school jersey of Westlake High School graduate and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

“He played big, his team played great, but he was obviously the leader and the catalyst for the team,” Brees said. “I’m happy for his success and he’s a great kid.”

Brees, of course, led Westlake to the 1996 UIL Class 5A state championship before departing for Purdue. Ehlinger left Westlake two decades later and finished his prep career as the program’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Brees said he’s known Ehlinger for years and marveled at how the signal caller has handled the spotlight of being the Longhorns’ starter.

“I feel like I’ve seen him grow up a little bit, just knowing him since middle school and high school and some of his goals and aspirations,” Brees said. “I think he’s always envisioned himself being in that position, playing for the University of Texas — the hometown team — and leading them at quarterback. He’s done a phenomenal job of that in his first two years. He’s still young. His future is very bright.”

That opinion is shared by many that watched Ehlinger earn the Sugar Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player award after becoming the first Texas quarterback since Vince Young to rush for three touchdowns in a bowl game.

But even after witnessing Ehlinger rise to national prominence in his own backyard, Brees still seemed more surprised that the sophomore could actually find one of his No. 15 Chaps jerseys.

“Did he have to get that specially made or put a call in to the coach or AD and borrow it?” Brees asked reporters in a press conference the day after the Sugar Bowl. “I don’t know. It was cool.”

Westlake High School has since remedied the problem of a potential lack of inventory. It announced on Jan. 9 that the team store inside Chaparral Stadium has ordered throwback Brees jerseys to sell, as well as versions with Ehlinger’s No. 4 and Nick Foles’ No. 7.

Perhaps Davis should ask for a portion of the proceeds.

Clemson Roll Tide:44-16

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in Football.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Clemson took out a full year’s worth of frustration on Alabama Monday night in one of the most stunning championship game beat-downs in recent history.

The Tigers (15-0) got better as the night elapsed and rolled the Tide 44-16 at Levi’s Stadium to claim the program’s second national title in three seasons. The contest also served as the birth of a new college football megastar in Clemson true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who absolutely shredded Alabama’s defense by going 20-of-32 passing for 347 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s amazing,” Lawrence said. “I just love everyone that’s been a part of this journey. It’s really unbelievable.”

The 2019 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship got off to a dubious start for the Crimson Tide when Tua Tagovailoa was picked off by A.J. Terrell, who motored 44 yards the other way for a touchdown. 

Tagovailoa immediately bounced back with a 62-yard scoring toss to Jerry Jeudy, and after the two teams once again traded scores in the first quarter, the nationwide audience surely thought that an instant classic was in the making.

But Dabo Swinney’s Tigers had a different storyline in mind.

Alabama (14-1) tacked on a field goal early in the second quarter, but after that, it was all Clemson. The Tigers buried the Tide under an avalanche of 30 unanswered points — much to the delight of any college football fan fed up with seeing Nick Saban’s sour mug on their television set every January.

Clemson was untouchable during its surge, which saw Travis Etienne tally a 1-yard TD run and catch a 5-yard scoring strike from Lawrence before the Tigers added a field goal to take a 31-16 lead into the half.

Alabama still had a chance to rally after receiving the third-quarter kickoff, and the combination of Tagovailoa and Damien Harris quickly moved the Crimson Tide into the red zone. Clemson’s defense bowed its back and forced a field goal attempt, but Saban rolled the dice and dialed up a high-risk fake. It was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage, and from there, the Tigers clerly smelled blood and began to pour it on.

Lawrence went to the air and hit fellow freshman Justyn Ross for a 74-yard bomb to extend the lead, and after another fourth-down stop from Clemson’s defense, the QB capped the next drive with a 5-yard TD throw to Tee Higgins.

Once more the Tide drove into Tiger territory only to be turned away with nothing to show for it. Following a third straight turnover on downs, Clemson put the finishing touches on its blowout win by controlling the ball, keeping the clock moving and giving its starters a well-deserved curtain call.

“Alabama is Alabama, but I felt like we had the better team,” Swinney said afterward. “Our guys came in with the mindset that we were going to play on the balls of our feet and we were going to attack — and we did.”

The Tigers and Tide are now 2-2 when meeting in the new CFP, but Clemson holds a 2-1 edge with the title on the line. With their lopsided victory on Monday, the Tigers became the first NCAA Division I FBS team to finish a season with a perfect 15-0 record since 1897.

Philly Special Post Season

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

CHICAGO — Against all odds, Nick Foles just keeps on delivering in the clutch.

Playing against one of the NFL’s fiercest defenses on the road, Foles led the game-winning touchdown drive to help the Eagles upend the Bears 16-15 at Solider Field. True to form, the Westlake alum was calm and collected in even the most pressure-packed moments, as he fired a side-arm pass to Golden Tate on fourth-and-goal to put the defending Super Bowl champions in the lead.

But the NFC wild-card matchup had plenty more drama in store for both fan bases in the final minute.

After a solid kick return by Tarik Cohen, Mitchell Trubisky fired a pass to Allen Robinson down the right sideline to put Chicago in field-goal territory at the Eagles’ 33-yard line. Following a timeout, Trubisky whipped an 8-yard toss to Robinson to make it an even shorter kick.

What happened next was an unforgettable moment in NFL postseason lore.

In what has been dubbed the “double-doink,” placekicker Cody Parkey saw his opportunity to become a beloved Chicago hero push wide before striking the left upright and caroming off the crossbar and back into the field of play. The faces of Trubisky and Bears head coach Matt Nagy said everything — their jaws simply dropped in stunned silence as Philadelphia went wild.

Upon further review, slow-motion replay shows that Eagles defensive lineman Treyvon Hester got a hand on the kick, which may have altered its trajectory. However, Parkey’s struggles this season have been well documented, and the final boot could have been headed for infamy regardless of Hester’s efforts.

It was a frenetic finish to a game that began as a battle of the two defenses. 

The Bears headed into halftime with a slim 6-3 lead following a dubious decision by the referees on a pass to Anthony Miller. The receiver clearly made the catch and then fumbled, but there was no clear recovery by either team. It was ruled an incompletion, and Chicago saw a chance at a touchdown wiped away.

Foles directed a seven-play, 83-yard scoring drive on Philly’s first possession of the second half that was capped by his 10-yard TD toss to rookie tight end Dallas Goedert.

The Bears opened the fourth quarter with their third field goal to pull within one at 10-9, and following a three-and-out by the Eagles, Trubisky led his team to a go-ahead score, which came on a 22-yard pass to Robinson. 

Down 15-10, Foles got the ball back and led yet another improbable march toward the end zone. The reigning Super Bowl MVP found Alshon Jeffery, Goedert, Nelson Agholor and Zach Ertz before hitting Tate for a TD that kept the Eagles’ season alive.

Trubisky showed some mental toughness of his own down the stretch and was more than serviceable in his first career playoff start, as he threw for 303 yards and no interceptions.

In the end, though, Foles’ magic was enough to catapult Philadelphia into a divisional round matchup with the Saints this Sunday in New Orleans. One former Chaparral standout — either Foles or Drew Brees — will guide his team into the NFC Championship.

Cowboys Win Playoff Game.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL. 1 Comment on Cowboys Win Playoff Game.

ARLINGTON — It turns out stellar defense and a strong running game can still get it done on the gridiron.

The Dallas Cowboys proved that once again Saturday night after beating the Seattle Seahawks 24-22 at AT&T Stadium in an NFC wild-card playoff battle. Unlike the 2006 postseason meeting up north, it never came down to a last-second field goal, but rather a key third down and an onside kick.

On the biggest play of the game, Dak Prescott faced a third-and-14 from Seattle’s 17-yard line and made a determined run up the gut on a quarterback draw to move the chains before being upended at the 1. The scamper all but sealed the victory, and one play later, Prescott plunged across the goal line to help increase the Cowboys’ lead to two scores at 24-14.

Russell Wilson directed a quick touchdown drive the other way and converted a 2-point try to pull Seattle within striking distance at 24-22, but former Longhorn Michael Dickson’s dropkick onside attempt was easily handled by Cole Beasley to seal Dallas’ first postseason win since a 2014 wild card triumph against the Lions.

All of the late drama unfolded as Seattle’s veteran kicker, Sebastian Janikowski, watched from the sidelines with a pulled hamstring that he suffered just before halftime.

The Cowboys and Seahawks entered the game as mirror images of each other, but Dallas proved that its ground-and-pound philosophy was the superior version. Ezekiel Elliott outgained Seattle’s running back committee of Chris Carson, Mike Davis and Rashaad Penny 137 yards to 59 and also ran in a score early in the fourth quarter to give his team a 17-14 advantage.

The Cowboys’ defense was dominant, as it forced six three-and-outs in the contest and limited the Seahawks’ explosive plays. Other than a 28-yard run by Penny in the second quarter and a few pinpoint passes by Wilson to Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin, Seattle’s offense was completely held in check.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates his first down near the goal line against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of the NFC wild-card NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and counterpart Jaylon Smith patrolled the field and combined for 17 total tackles. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie stayed glued to Seattle’s wideouts and in yet another outstanding game, while the defensive line had its way with the Seahawks’ front five.

And then there’s Prescott. The oft-criticized quarterback was 22-of-33 passing for 226 yards, one TD and one interception, although the pick came on what likely should have been a pass interference call in the red zone.

It was only fitting that Prescott was able to punch it in when it mattered most to cap his first career playoff win. The clutch performance came on the heels of a confidence-building fourth quarter win over the Giants in a game that appeared meaningless at the time.

Dallas fans now hope the Week 17 comeback marked a major turning point for the third-year pro from Mississippi State, who has helped his team win eight of its last nine contests. Prescott’s contributions have been vital, as the Cowboys are a remarkable 10-0 this year when scoring 20 or more points.

Dallas will try to advance to its first NFC Championship since 1995 when it travels to Los Angeles to take on Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald and the Rams this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CT.

Texans fall to Colts in Wildcard Round

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

By Tucker Stephenson
HOUSTON — Another year, another disappointment for the Houston Texans.

And this time they can’t blame their struggles on an injured starting quarterback.

Houston flamed out in spectacular fashion Saturday afternoon against AFC South rival Indianapolis during a listless 21-7 loss at NRG Stadium. Led by a resurgent Andrew Luck, the Colts reached the end zone on three of their first four possessions to register an early knockout in enemy territory.

Meanwhile, the usually-explosive Deshaun Watson was out of rhythm, especially when trying to find his No. 1 weapon, Deandre Hopkins. The All-Pro wide receiver hauled in just five of his 10 targets for 37 yards and was clearly the focal point of Indianapolis’ secondary, which usually had a safety playing over the top on Hopkins’ side.

Former Red Raider Keke Coutee caught a touchdown pass from Watson in the fourth quarter, but that was the only time that the Texans were able to cash in points during a frustrating outing. Houston’s next drive reached the Colts’ 24 but turned the ball over on downs after Watson’s pass for Vincent Smith on fourth and long fell incomplete.

Indianapolis then gave Houston a steady diet of Marlon Mack until Luck lined up in the victory formation for three consecutive snaps. Mack finished with 148 yards and a score on 24 carries. 

The Texans fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, but J.J. Watt provided a glimmer of hope when he halted a potential third straight scoring drive by deflecting a pass that was picked off by defensive tackle Brandon Dunn. However, Houston went three and out, and the resulting punt eventually led to an 18-yard TD pass from Luck to Dontrelle Inman.

The two defenses then traded stops for the majority of the second half, allowing the Colts to protect their lead and advance to an AFC Divisional round matchup with Patrick Mahomes and the high-powered Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

For the Texans, it will be another long wait as their reputation for being “next year’s contenders” continues. Houston is now 3-5 in the postseason all-time and will no doubt look to retool its O-line this offseason in an effort to gear up for a run in 2019.

SUGAR IS SWEET

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

By Tucker Stephenson

NEW ORLEANS — After a full month of hype, everyone wearing the burnt orange and white couldn’t wait to get a piece of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Even Bevo himself.

Texas’ mascot nearly maimed Georgia’s favorite pooch, Uga, during an ill-advised pregame meeting, and the Longhorns finished the job over the next several hours by outmuscling the Bulldogs for a 28-21 win in the 2019 Sugar Bowl. Head coach Tom Herman’s team showed confidence and urgency from the very first snap and ultimately left The Big Easy with the program’s biggest postseason prize in a decade.

And with regard to the obvious question surrounding Texas football, quarterback Sam Ehlinger — the game’s Most Outstanding Player — answered it during the postgame ceremony.

“Longhorn nation,” Ehlinger said, “we’re baaaaaaack!”

It was a nearly flawless start for the Longhorns (10-4), who rattled off 17 consecutive points to take control of the contest. The Bulldogs (11-3) eventually pulled to within two scores with plenty of time remaining in the fourth quarter, but Texas’ defense rose to the occasion and got the stop it needed thanks to a key sack by linebacker Gary Johnson.

The Longhorns survived a penalty-plagued final minute to snag an onside kick that sealed a major upset — in Las Vegas’ eyes, at least.

“We pride ourselves in our physicality,” Herman said after the game. “At this point in our program, that’s how we’re going to win games. That’s always how we’re going to win games.”

Texas moved swiftly after receiving the opening kickoff, marching 75 yards in 10 plays and scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by Ehlinger — the first of three scores on the ground from the Westlake alum.

The Longhorns then got a short field after Georgia punter Jake Carmada’s knee touched the ground as he reached for a low snap. Cameron Dicker capped the brief drive with a 37-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs survived another disaster courtesy of Carmada — this time a shanked punt that traveled all of 11 yards — but they weren’t so lucky following a fumble by running back D’Andre Swift that was covered up by defensive lineman Gerald Wilbon. The takeaway resulted in more Texas points when Ehlinger ducked under the Georgia rush on third-and-goal from the 9 and bullied his way across the goal line.

Georgia showed signs of life by answering with a 12-play touchdown drive, but Dicker tacked on a 30-yard field goal prior to intermission to give the Horns a 20-7 edge.

The Texas defense kept that lead intact for much of the second half, as P.J. Locke III opened the third quarter with an interception and the Longhorns then forced back-to-back Georgia punts.

Ehlinger then led a determined 14-play, 70-yard drive that eventually found the end zone after four consecutive runs from the 1 by the sophomore signal caller. It was the second fourth-down conversion of the possession, which proved to be a crucial one for Texas.

“Our No. 1 goal coming to New Orleans to participate in the Sugar Bowl was to win the game,” Herman said. “We weren’t just happy being here. We were going to win the game and do everything it took to win it.”

Following a successful 2-point conversion pass, the Longhorns held a commanding 28-7 advantage with 11:49 left to play. 

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm notched a pair of late TD tosses to try and spark a rally, but the last one was mostly cosmetic. Texas’ Collin Johnson easily handled the Bulldogs’ desperation onside attempt with 14 seconds left, and the Longhorns lined up in the victory formation.

“I’m just so proud of how hard our guys played,” Herman said. “They played hard early, they played hard late, they overcame some adversity and it was a complete team effort.”

Ehlinger became the first Longhorn quarterback to rush for three scores in a bowl game since Vince Young did so in the 2006 National Championship Game. Ehlinger finished with 241 total yards — 169 through the air, 64 on the ground and 8 on a pass from Lil’Jordan Humphrey. 

As a team, Texas ran for 178 yards on 49 carries. Graduate transfer Tre Watson led the way with 91 yards on 18 totes.

Ehlinger and the Longhorns’ youth movement, including freshmen B.J. Foster, Joseph Ossai, Keaontay Ingram and Sam Cosmi — were on display all night long, but the senior class also left a lasting impression in its final college game. Elijah Rodriguez, Patrick Vahe and Andrew Beck helped pave the way for the running game, while Locke, Gary Johnson, Chris Nelson, Anthony Wheeler, Kris Boyd and Davante Davis helped put the brakes on the SEC’s third-ranked offense.

“They are going to go down as the most influential senior class, certainly of our tenure here, because of the culture they have instilled and the culture that they have upheld as well,” Herman said. “That locker room has finally become a player-led team instead of a coach-fed team.”

And Then there were Three

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

 

Three Austin-area teams have been carving up opponents like a Christmas ham so far in the 2018 UIL football playoffs.

And each one is doing so in its own unique way.

Westlake, Lake Travis and Liberty Hill have all reached the state semifinals this week and all three look like legitimate title contenders. Here’s a look at how every squad has steamrolled its way into the final four.

Doing it with defense

The Chaparral’s (13-1) are the champions of District 25-6A and proud owners of an impressive 44-14 victory over Lake Travis in the regular season. Since the Class 6A Division II postseason began, Westlake’s scoring is down from 47.3 points per game to 32.8 points per outing,but it hasn’t mattered yet.

That’s because the Chaps are smothering opposing offenses, having just recorded back-to-back playoff shutouts for the first time in program history. Last week in the regional title game against San Antonio Brandeis, Westlake saddled the Broncos early and held them to a measly52 yards of offense and three first downs during a 26-0 victory.

The week before, head coach Todd Dodge’s team shut down Edinburg Vela 28-0.

Of course, there’s a reason the Chaparrals aren’t lighting up the scoreboard as much as they did through the first 11weeks of the season. In addition to an increase in the quality of its opponents, injuries have plagued Westlake recently.

Quarterback Taylor Anderson and running backs Tripp Graham and Jax Crockett have all been sidelined, while center Blake Webster was lost to a season-ending injury more than a month ago.

Still, behind a disciplined and tough defense, the Chaps have built a 12-game winning streak that includes a hard-nosed 28-14 win over a physical Schertz Clemens team in the bi-district round and a 49-7 romp over San Antonio Brennan in an area matchup.

The only thing standing in the way of a trip to the 6A-II championship game is a contest against Beaumont West Brook(12-2) this Saturday at 4 p.m. at Legacy Stadium in Katy.

Airing it out

The Cavaliers aren’t just glad to have star wide receiver Garrett Wilson back — they’re ecstatic.

Opposing defensive coordinators? Not so much.

Wilson gave Judson fits last week during a38-21 triumph in the Region IV-6A Division I title game that saw the wideout make eight grabs for 139 yards and three touchdowns. Two games prior to that,the recent Army All-American torched San Antonio Madison to the tune of 169yards and three total scores on another eight grabs as Lake Travis waltzed to a56-35 area playoff win in New Braunfels.

Wilson’s reemergence helped the Cavs banish the Rockets for a second consecutive season. It was key to the game plan, as Judson has one of the better defensive lines in the state of Texas, including stud DE/DT DeMarvin Leal — a Texas A&M commit.

Junior quarterback Hudson Card, a Texas pledge, was still able to pick apart the Rockets’ secondary and finished with311 yards and four scores, with one TD going to Kyle Eaves.

Lake Travis, which hasn’t flinched since suffering a 30-point loss to district foe Westlake, has now won seven straight games. That includes runaway postseason victories over Smithson Valley (45-14)and Weslaco (56-14) in the bi-district and regional semifinal rounds.

Card even tied the school record for most TD passes in a single game (7) against Weslaco, joining Garrett Gilbert and Matthew Baldwin in that category.

The Cavaliers have now booked a date with Galena Park North Shore (14-0) this Saturday at 2 p.m. at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Ground and pound

The Panthers (12-1) and their vaunted Slot-T rushing attack has to bring a tear to the eye of any football fan who longs for the days of “3 yards and a cloud of dust.”

Except in Liberty Hill’s case, it’s often more like “30 yards and a hail of artificial turf pellets.”

Running back Kyle Harrison is always a threat to take the ball the distance, as the 5-7, 150-pound senior has rushed for an absurd 2,607 yards and 37 touchdowns. As a team, the Panthers have kept the ball on the ground 681 times for a total of 6,601 yards.

In the age of spread offenses and air raid attacks, Liberty Hill has thrown the ball a grand total of 32 times this season. However, that doesn’t mean that head coach Jeff Walker’s team won’t chuck it in key situations.

In fact, during last week’s 35-17 victory over La Vernia in the Class 4A Division I regional final in San Marcos,quarterback Jacob Cearley caught the Bears hibernating on a 61-yard TD pass to Harrison that helped the Panthers rally from a 17-14 fourth-quarter deficit.The pass sparked a string of 21 unanswered points in the final stanza.

Just don’t expect to see Cearley lining up in the shotgun anytime soon.

The Panthers’ path to the Class 4A-Isemifinals also includes a 35-21 win over Sealy in the regional semifinals and triumphs against Bay City (62-14) and Gonzales (56-28) in the opening two rounds.

Harrison and company will look to keep churning out rushing yards and moving the chains this Friday against unbeaten Carthage (14-0) at the Berry Center in Cypress. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.