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Author: Tucker Stephenson

March Madness in Texas

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NCAA BASKETBALL.

By Tucker Stephenson

With the exception of Macho Man Randy Savage, nothing says “madness” quite like the month of March.

The best tournament in all of sports is once again approaching, and the state of Texas will no doubt be well represented. Beginning with the Big 12, here’s a look at the locks, bubble teams and schools that will need to win their respective conference tourneys in order to earn an invite to the big dance.

BIG 12

LOCKS: Texas Tech, Baylor

The Red Raiders have spent much of the season in or near the top 10 and will be competing in the NCAA Tournament this March. Texas Tech is fresh off of an eye-opening 91-62 win over Kansas at home and is led by sophomore guard Jarrett Culver (18.0 points per game), who is a hometown product from Lubbock Coronado High School.

The Bears are Texas’ second best bet from the Big 12 to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, as Baylor holds quality conference wins against Iowa State (twice), Texas Tech and Oklahoma (twice). The Bears can add to that résumé down the stretch against Texas, Kansas State and Kansas, but they already appear to be in the field of 68.

ON THE BUBBLE: Texas, TCU

The Longhorns have endured a roller-coaster ride this season. Head coach Shaka Smart’s team holds impressive victories against North Carolina, K-State, Oklahoma, Kansas and Baylor. Then again, Texas has also dropped games to Radford, Providence and Oklahoma State. A large portion of the Longhorns’ case could rest upon the status of suspended guard Kerwin Roach and whether or not he is reinstated by the school.

The Horned Frogs don’t have much in the way of non-conference wins, but they’ve been more than competitive in a deep Big 12. TCU managed to sweep Iowa State in a pair of meetings and has also knocked off Baylor and Texas. Jamie Dixon, now in his third year at the helm of the program, could be a dark horse candidate for conference coach of the year.

Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver (23) goes to the basket defended by Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle (21) and forward Brady Manek (35) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

LOCK: Houston

The Cougars aren’t just a mortal lock to make the tournament, they’ll also likely be the top seed from the entire state. Houston has dominated its conference opponents and owned a 26-1 overall record and a lofty No. 8 ranking in the nation as of Feb. 25. The Cougars are led by the tandem of Corey Davis Jr. (15.7 points per game) and Armori Brooks (14.1 points per game). Houston is coached by Kelvin Sampson, who is a former assistant with the NBA’s Houston Rockets and a former head coach at Oklahoma.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: SMU

SEC

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Texas A&M’s only shot is to win the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Otherwise, it’s on to baseball season in Aggieland.

BEST OF THE REST

SUN BELT CONFERENCE: There are a few conferences with just one available bid, and their league tournaments will determine who will advance. In the Sun Belt, Texas State is the current leader and will be the favorite to earn a spot in the big dance. However, a strong challenge from George State and/or Georgia Southern is likely, and UT-Arlington is hoping to play the role of spoiler from its fourth-place position.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None

CONFERENCE USA: UTSA has a shot to advance from Conference USA, as does North Texas, but Old Dominion is the odds-on favorite to run the table in the conference tournament. The Roadrunners are among a four-team pack fighting for second place behind Old Dominion, and the Mean Green are one of only two 20-win teams in Conference USA.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Rice, UTEP

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE: Sam Houston State has built a comfortable lead in the race for the Southland’s regular season crown and looks ready to make more noise in the league’s postseason tournament. Abilene Christian and Lamar aren’t out of the conversation by a long shot, though. Abilene Christian is already over the 20-win mark, while Lamar headed into the home stretch of its season schedule riding a five-game conference winning streak.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word

SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern appear to be the biggest roadblocks for one another in each program’s quest for the SWAC’s lone NCAA Tournament bid. Prairie View A&M looks as though it will win the regular season conference crown, while Texas Southern is hoping to turn the tables in conference tourney.

IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Lastly, UT Rio Grande Valley will need a miracle in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament to unseat heavy favorite New Mexico. UT Rio Grande Valley has had a respectable season and is in the middle of the pack in the league standings, but there isn’t any room for error.

Longhorns Youth on Mound Strength in 2019.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in College Baseball, TEXAS SPORTS.

AUSTIN — With a legacy of live arms that includes Burt Hooton, Greg Swindell and Roger Clemens, the Longhorns realize that the greatest equalizer of all is usually the man on the mound.

But after a return trip to the College World Series, Texas’ rotation seems to be under major construction in 2019.

Two of head coach David Pierce’s most reliable hurlers — Nolan Kingham and Chase Shurgart — are no longer with the program, leaving Blair Henley as the most experienced returnee. Henley, a junior right-hander from Fort Worth, posted a 3.32 ERA last season on his way to earning All-Big 12 second team recognition.

Most expect Pierce to rely on depth during the early season until a handful of reliable pitchers separate themselves from the pack. If that doesn’t happen, then it could be all hands on deck for the entire year.

Also figuring into the potential starting rotation will be sophomore right-hander Bryce Elder, freshman right-hander Coy Cobb, sophomore right-hander Matt Whelan and freshman right-hander Ty Madden. Elder, who played his high school ball in Decatur, is off to a solid start with a 0.64 ERA in his first 14 innings of work.

There are plenty of options in the bullpen, including sophomore right-hander Kamron Fields, who got some quality playing time in the CWS last season as a collegiate newcomer and is also set to play some outfield for Texas. 

Redshirt freshman Cole Quintanilla, a native of nearby Cedar Park, has done his best to prove he can be trusted in multiple situations. The 6-foot-5 righty has already collected a win and a save in his first four appearances — all without surrendering a run.

In addition to Fields and Quintanilla, Tristan Stevens, Brandon Ivey, Donny Diaz, Mason Bryant and Nico O’Donnell have each seen more than one appearance in the first two weeks of 2019. Bryant is a 6-foot-5, right-handed freshman from Austin McCallum, while Ivey, a senior southpaw from Houston, is the lone senior of the bunch.

One of the most intriguing prospects in senior Matteo Bocchi, who is from Parma, Italy. The 6-foot-4 right-hander tossed three scoreless innings during the Longhorns’ 8-6 loss to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and could be a wild card as the season progresses.

The good news is there’s still some time to figure out who will figure into the mix when Big 12 play rolls around. Texas is set to open conference play in Austin on March 15-17 with a three-game series against Texas Tech.

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.