By Colby Gordon
Texas may have played its best half of the season Saturday in its 27-24 win over Kansas State, and some halftime talks by teams leaders may have contributed to that.
Trailing, 14-7, to the Wildcats entering the break, three team leaders [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]— quarterback Sam Ehlinger, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach and center Zach Shackelford — addressed the team in the locker room in addition to coaches.
“It was pretty calm,” Shackelford said. “A couple of guys spoke. We just knew we had to go out there and execute. I told the guys we just have to relax, go out there and play football. I think we did a good job of handling adversity, coming together and playing football.”
Players said the message from their teammates was direct, low-key and essentially reminded everyone there was still a long way to go.
“Everyone was just trying to bring everyone together, letting us know we’re still in the game,” wide receiver Devin Duvernay said. “It (the team’s pursuit of postseason goals, including a run at the Big 12 championship) is not over. We just have to go out there and do what we know how to do so we can win. We’re up against the ropes (in the Big 12 race) and can’t lose anymore.”
The Longhorns dominated the second half against K-State, their only miscues coming on an interception by Ehlinger and allowing a 98-yard kick return for a score, before winning the game on Cameron Dicker’s 26-yard field goal with no time left.
“I think it was the best game we played, as we were complimentary in all three phases of the game,” Roach said. “We all helped out each other.”
Defensive lineman Keondre Coburn pointed to another factor for UT’s stellar play.
“I think that’s the most healthy we’ve been in a long time,” he said, “so that probably is the best half we’ve played.”
Another factor was UT’s run game going for 214 yards and averaging nearly 6 yards per carry. Running back Keaontay Ingram finished with 139 rushing yards and two touchdowns, continuing a strong three-game stretch during which he has accumulated more than 310 yards.
“I think he can do that every game,” Ehlinger said of Ingram. “That’s something I’ve seen from him since last spring. For him to tap into that was really, really good.”
The run game allowed the Longhorns to burn nearly seven minutes of clock on their final drive that led to Dicker’s game-winning field goal, ensuring K-State would not get the ball back.
“I’m very excited about the run game,” said Ehlinger, who finished with 263 yards and a passing touchdown. “You ask any defensive coordinator in the country, and the No. 1 thing they want to do is stop the run. As an offense, you don’t want that to happen — you want to be able to have the run game as your foundation. When we’re running the ball well our offense flows and it’s hard for a defense to stop us. The way the offensive line performed and the way the backs performed, it’s really exciting.”
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