(AP Photo/Eric Gay). Texas mascot Bevo XV is walked to the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Texas and Notre Dame, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, in Austin, Texas.
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The Texas quarterback broke a tackle, burst up the middle and stretched the ball across the line as the Longhorns earned a huge victory for their embattled coach, Charlie Strong, after two losing seasons. Whether the Longhorns had the passing game to hit Drue Tranquill and Avery Sebastian was an open question considering Tyrone Swoopes’ career inaccuracies and Shane Buechele’s lack of a college career at all.
The true freshman quarterback signaled the beginning of a new, seemingly better era in Texas football Sunday with a thrilling 50-47 double-overtime victory over No. 10 Notre Dame in Austin, Texas.
True freshman Shane Buechele showed that he’s a ideal fit to run this offense, completing 16 of 26 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. “You knew (Buechele) could handle it”. Kizer, who replaced Zaire a year ago, is a much more polished passer with the bigger National Football League upside – but he’s got the bigger college upside, too. The attempt was blocked, scooped up and ran down to the opposing end zone for two points.
KEY PLAY: On third-and-1 from the 16 in the second overtime, Swoopes – in for the “18-wheeler” power run package – kept on the right side. Swoopes scored the winning touchdown on a 6-yard run on the next play. Swoopes has been booed by Texas fans the last two seasons and was treated to a chorus of “Swooooooopes” from the Texas-record crowd of 102,315.
“[The atmosphere] just felt different”, Swoopes said.
Notre Dame’s Shaun Crawford turned what would have been a three-point Irish deficit into a tie score when he returned a blocked point-after attempt by Jarron Jones 98 yards with 3 minutes, 29 seconds of regulation time left. “But it’s a great start”.
Notre Dame: Coach Brian Kelly will have to consider scrapping the quarterback rotation between Kizer and Malik Zaire that sapped momentum and helped dig the Irish into a big hole.
Kelly’s decision to go for two points too early in the 2014 loss to Northwestern in overtime (43-40) and Clemson past year (24-22) prompted much criticism about the strategy.
It was a huge win for Texas coach Strong, who is fighting for his job with a new quarterback and a new offense after two seasons of more losses than wins.
The two teams traded touchdowns during the first overtime, but the second overtime would give Texas the win.
“We have wonderful alma mater and they came back and they just tell us we’ve got to keep going and get us back to where we are supposed to be and I think that’s what we’re trying to do this year”. “I’ve been in this game a long time and I know when someone gets hit in the head – and he was certainly hit in the head in that play in the end-zone”.
“No”, Strong said, laughing, “because I’ve still got a few more to go, so I don’t have any relief. But it’s a great start”.
A penalty would have given Notre Dame 1st-and-goal.
This game was well attended by scouts – about 10 NFL teams were represented – and Kizer showed why he belongs in the conversation when it comes to the top QBs in college football.
“We saw Swoopes was going to run the ball pretty much every time, so it’s getting guys to understand that”, linebacker James Onwualu said. He finished with 53 yards on 13 carries and was a dynamic change of pace when he came on for Buechele. Two plays later, Swoopes scored from 6 yards out, and the celebration was on.
Notre Dame roared from behind in the final quarter and a half behind Kizer’s five touchdown passes.
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When asked about the discussions he had with the officials regarding that play Kelly’s only response was, “Heated”.
