Steve Sarkisian turns CFP hopes over to Texas running backs as Quinn Ewers hobbles through major Kentucky win
Longhorns close out Kentucky Wildcats with 15-play drive all on the ground to improve to 10-1
The casual T-shirt fans who just look at the final score will see No. 3 Texas beat Kentucky 31-14 and be move along.
Those who watched, or more likely endured it, will have much stronger feelings.
Texas had six fumbles. Quarterback Quinn Ewers had the ball slip out of his hand and it went right into the Wildcats’ hands for a pick-six. Meanwhile, Kentucky fumbled it six times and gave up six sacks.
But when it mattered most, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian chose to keep the ball on the ground and just pound away with brute force. Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue combined to run the ball 15 straight times for an 85-yard drive that chewed up 8 minutes, 22 seconds and secured the knockout punch.
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The Longhorns are now 10-1 and stand one win away from advancing to the SEC championship game in their first year in the league. All that’s left is to knock off rival Texas A&M in next week’s Lone Star Showdown at Kyle Field in College Station.
Texas A&M will have its hands full Saturday against Auburn, though. On ESPN’s “College GameDay,” former Alabama coach Nick Saban said Jordan-Hare Stadium “is haunted” considering how many wild games and crazy upsets he’s suffered on the Plains.
Wisner finished with a career-high 158 yards on 26 carries while Blue had 96 yards on 15 carries. They both had one touchdown each, and Ewers threw two touchdowns to tight end Gunnar Helm (3 and 17 yards).
Ewers participated in UT’s senior day festivities, which may or may not mean he’s planning on going into the NFL draft early next spring. The junior from Southlake could return for another year should he choose.
If this was Ewers’ last home game, it was sure memorable. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 191 yards but was hobbled for about three quarters with a minor lower leg problem. Sarkisian said Ewers “just got rolled up on” and would be OK.
Texas’ defense had no problem handling Kentucky (4-7, 1-7 SEC) and its two quarterbacks. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. had 10 tackles, six solo, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Jelani McDonald and Andrew Mukuba both had interceptions. The Wildcats managed just 21 yards on the ground and 232 total.
