Offensive line keeps Quinn Ewers clean while powering Texas football to win over Alabama.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers strolled into the media room at Bryant-Denny Stadium after Texas’ resounding 34-24 win Saturday night with nary a limp nor hardly a spot on his all-white road jersey.
He felt good, and he knew where to direct the credit after playing the entire game without getting sacked.
“It started with those guys up front,” Ewers said, immediately praising his offensive line. “I couldn't be more proud of those guys. And whatever they want, they got it.”
Those are big words from Ewers, who’s enjoying the benefits of some profitable NIL deals. But right tackle Christian Jones shrugged off any temptations much like he did the Alabama pass rushers.
“Hey, I mean, that's that's cool, but that's our job,” Jones said. “I appreciate it, but essentially, that's our goal every game.”
Texas' front line of left tackle Kelvin Bank Jr., center Jake Majors, guards Hayden Conner, DJ Campbell and Cole Hutson and Jones at the other tackle spot must have reached most of their goals, especially in the crimson cauldron of Tuscaloosa. They didn’t allow Ewers to get sacked in 38 pass attempts, and an Alabama pass rush that regularly features NFL-level players had just three quarterback hits.
Ewers ended with 349 yards passing and three touchdowns on 63% passing, and his receivers noticed the extra time they had to execute their routes.
“They blocked it out really good and gave Quinn plenty of time, and Quinn made the plays that he had to make,” said Xavier Worthy, who had five catches for 75 yards.
While Texas didn’t run the ball with much efficiency, grinding out 105 yards rushing on 37 carries, the line did its part to close out the game. Texas ate up the final 7 minutes, 14 seconds of the clock and ended the game with 454 total yards.
“Our tackles had really good games,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Kelvin and Christian both protected well, as well as internally. And then at the end, to be able to run it when they knew we were going to run it was huge.
“Everyone want wants to look at running stats. I recognize that, but you have to be able to run the football when they know you're going to run the football and, clearly, that's what that last drive was. We finished the game.”
Horns turning up the takeaways
After forcing just 14 turnovers last season, Texas already has five through two games. Jahdae Barron and Jerrin Thompson each had an interception, but Texas still needs to work on capitalizing on its chances; linebacker Jaylan Ford dropped a potential interception in the end zone late in the first half that allowed the Tide to kick a field goal, and the Longhorns got their hands on a couple of other throws against Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
According to Barron, their film study revealed some opportunities against Milroe, who was making just his third start.
“We knew we could disguise him,” said Barron, a senior nickel back. “Milroe is a great athlete, a great kid, but we capitalized when we needed to when he had mistakes.”
On the other side of the ball, Texas has yet to commit a turnover in two games.
Team almost escapes without any injuries
It appeared that Texas avoided any injuries until freshman running back CJ Baxter went down with an apparent leg or ankle injury late in the game. Trainers carted him off the sideline, but a team official said they didn’t know the extent of the injury immediately after the game. Baxter started the game and ran for 31 yards on 11 carries, and Jonathon Brooks led the team with 57 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
Kickers team up in support of small businesses
Texas kicker Bert Auburn and his Alabama counterpart, Will Reichard, are each on the watch list for the Lou Groza Award, which honors the nation’s best kicker. Reichard nailed all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 51-yarder in the second half, while Auburn made two of his three tries, all in the first half. The two recently filmed a Goldman Sachs commercial together in support of the reauthorization of the Small Business Administration, which is a federal agency that helps entrepreneurs "start, grow, expand or recover," according to the SBA website.
Odds and ends
Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders led Texas with 114 yards on five catches, which set a career high for receiving yards in a game by the junior. … Sarkisian hasn’t shied away from fourth-down attempts so far. The Longhorns are 3-for-6 on fourth downs in their two games. … Worthy once again proved effective on a trick play. The junior threw a downfield dart to Adonai Mitchell on a double pass in the second quarter that drew a pass interference call on Terrion Arnold. It’s the third time in Worthy’s career that he’s tried a pass, and each play has been positive for Texas. He drew a pass interference call against Kansas State in 2021 and threw a 33-yard touchdown against West Virginia last season. … Safety Jalen Catalon had a team-high seven tackles, including six solo stops. Fellow safety Kitan Crawford got his most extended action of the season and finished with five tackles. … Texas fans in attendance included the school’s “Minister of Culture” Matthew McConaughey as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Senator John Cornyn. … Texas snapped Alabama's 21-game home winning streak, which led all FBS teams.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Longhorns offensive line keeps Quinn Ewers clean in win at Alabama
