Longhorns Oust Iowa State

The Longhorns took a big step towards becoming the team Texans expect to take the field next year. Saturday against Iowa State, Texas won itself its first close game.

Nothing throughout Saturday’s victory came easily. The defense, a bright spot throughout the year that’s stifled prolific offenses like Baylor and Oklahoma, couldn’t contain an Iowa State team that had struggled to an 0-3 start in the Big 12. The Longhorns allowed more than 500 total yards to the Cyclones but ended up capitalizing on turnovers: returning one interception for a touchdown, and using another to set up an easy score for their offense.

Tyrone Swoopes had his finest moments as a quarterback. The sophomore ran the ball effectively against the Cyclones’ slow defense. He had 95 yards on the ground, and passed for an additional 321. But Swoopes’ defining moments came when they counted most – late in the fourth quarter.

With just over 5 minutes left and the score knotted 38-38, the Longhorns took possession on their own 25 yard line. Swoopes engineered a perfect ten play, four minute drive during which he passed for 31 yards, ran for 29, and set up Malcolm Brown for a go-ahead 4 yard touchdown run that put the Longhorns up seven with just 1:19 left in the game. Texas couldn’t hold the lead, however, and surrendered an 80-year scoring drive of their own. With 38 seconds left, the score was back to 45-45.

At this point, Charlie Strong might have thought it best to play conservatively and take the game to overtime. Instead, he took a chance on his young QB and went for the win. On the first play of the drive, Swoopes unleashed a powerful pass that found Jaxson Shipley downfield, putting the Longhorns in position for a potential 50 yard game-winning field goal.

Again, Strong had a decision to make. Does he try to gain a few yards for a more manageable kick, or does he go for the end zone? Strong opted for the latter, and Swoopes threw a brilliant touch pass down the sidelines to John Harris that landed the team at the 7. Texas brought out Nick Rose to kick the 21-yarder from the left hash mark, and he slotted it in easily for the win.

It was the Longhorns’ most exciting game of the season, and should go a long way toward building confidence in the Texas offense. Not only do they believe in themselves, but they know that their coach does as well.