There was loads of chatter heading into this recreation. Arizona State gamers weren’t afraid to hold forth within the days main as much as the matchup, with quarterback Sam Leavitt saying he needed to show he was a greater quarterback than Quinn Ewers and working again Cam Skattebo saying no person may cease him.
For many of the day, they had been proper. Leavitt and Skattebo put collectively a tricky and scrappy efficiency, however ultimately, Texas prevailed with an exhilarating 39-31 double-overtime win within the Peach Bowl on New 12 months’s Day. Now the Longhorns will transfer on to the School Soccer Playoff semifinals, the place they may face the winner of Oregon-Ohio State within the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.
Regardless of the win, Texas struggled to run the ball in opposition to the Solar Devils, one thing they did so efficiently in opposition to Clemson within the opening spherical of the CFP. The Longhorns managed simply 53 yards on the bottom vs. ASU, their third-worst dashing whole this season. Ewers was up and down, making a number of jaw-dropping throws, but additionally some questionable ones.
Texas has struggled with placing opponents away this season, which plagued the Longhorns once more on this recreation. The Horns squandered a 24-8 lead with 10:17 remaining, and at one level, Arizona State scored 16 unanswered factors to pressure time beyond regulation. Texas had an opportunity to win in regulation with a walk-off area aim, however Bert Auburn’s 38-yard try hit the left upright as time expired.
The Solar Devils scored first in time beyond regulation when a Leavitt 16-yard scramble was adopted by a bulldozing landing run from Skattebo. Ewers leveled the rating with a 28-yard dart to receiver Matthew Golden, after which Texas took the lead on the following possession when Ewers hit tight finish Gunnar Helm on the primary play and Golden made the two-point conversion. Arizona State needed to rating a landing on its subsequent drive, however Leavitt’s cross was intercepted by Andrew Mukuba to finish the sport.
“What a swing of feelings all through this complete recreation,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian instructed the published after the ultimate whistle. “One factor that is been true about our workforce all yr has been resiliency. We proceed to struggle again, no matter what odds we’re up in opposition to. Some nice performs there in time beyond regulation.
“We stubbed our toe a little bit. We have to play higher soccer than we performed at the moment. However certainly, our struggle was fairly unbelievable.”
Listed here are a number of takeaways from Texas’ win over Arizona State:
Early distinction
After Arizona State opened the sport with a 12-play drive that led to a area aim, Texas responded by exhibiting off its pace and explosiveness. Ewers related with Golden – who led all receivers with 149 yards and a landing – for 54 yards after which discovered DeAndre Moore for a 23-yard landing cross on the following play to take a fast 7-3 lead. The Longhorns’ protection pressured ASU to go three-and-out on the following possession after which Silas Bolden took a punt 75 yards to the home.
Texas scored 14 factors in 66 seconds on simply two offensive performs.
The whirlwind begin shocked the Solar Devils. Leavitt was getting visibly annoyed together with his teammates and TV cameras caught gamers jawing at one another. After Skattebo was stopped on fourth-and-2 to start out the second quarter, the working again threw his helmet in anger on the sideline.
Nonetheless, the vibe modified popping out of halftime as Arizona State settled down. The Solar Devils discovered some confidence, however initially struggled to attain factors as Texas’ top-rated protection made numerous performs, together with its third goal-line stand in 4 video games within the third quarter. The Solar Devils discovered a method to come again with a pretend punt on fourth down and heroics from Skattebo, which finally pressured time beyond regulation.
Performs of the sport
After a gradual begin, Skattebo supplied a spark within the fourth quarter.
Texas took a 24-8 lead on a landing run to start out the fourth quarter, however every part modified on the following drive. Going through fourth-and-2 from the UT 42-yard line, Skattebo took a pitch from Leavitt and heaved a 42-yard landing cross to Malik McClain, which was adopted by a profitable two-point conversion.
Ewers was intercepted on the following drive, and when ASU acquired the ball again, Leavitt threw a 62-yard bomb to Skattebo. The Solar Devils discovered themselves on the 8-yard line because of a Texas penalty, after which three performs later, Skattebo rushed up the center for a landing after which tied the sport 24-24 with a two-point conversion.
Key stat
How efficient was Skattebo? Between working, catching and passing, the Solar Devils’ senior working again accounted for 284 yards, which was equal to 75% of Texas’ whole offensive output (375 yards) within the recreation.
Even within the loss, maybe Skattebo was proper when he mentioned earlier than the sport that “there’s no person who can cease me.” He performed the vast majority of snaps and, based on the published, at one level he was “vomiting profusely” on the sideline, presumably attributable to exhaustion.
However he rallied in a large manner and Arizona State would not have had an opportunity with out him.
What’s subsequent for Texas?
The Longhorns will now await the winner of this night’s Rose Bowl and can face both Ohio State or Oregon within the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA At the moment and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Lady,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Observe her at @LakenLitman.
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