Coach Steve Sarkisian told his team that “Run to win” after their SEC title game loss to Georgia, and it seemed like a mantra that paid off against Clemson on Saturday. Texas ran for 292 yards, its highest total of the season, behind Jaydon Blue’s career-high 146 yards. The Longhorns’ running backs struggled earlier this season, but Sarkisian emphasized the importance of ball security and physical play in practice.
Blue, who had lost four fumbles this season, was a key factor in the team’s success. He reeled off two scoring runs on audibles called by quarterback Quinn Ewers, who finished 17-of-24 passing for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Longhorns’ defense also stepped up, despite injuries to key linemen.
“We needed to run the football to win this game,” Sarkisian said, “and we’re going to need to run the football to advance in these playoffs.” Despite allowing 412 yards, including 336 yards through the air, Texas emerged victorious. The team’s resilience and ability to respond to adversity were highlighted by Blue’s performance.
“We needed to make those plays when it mattered,” Sarkisian said of his defense. “To me, that’s a sign of a great defense.” With a quarterfinal trip to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, Texas will look to continue its momentum as they head back to Atlanta to face Arizona State.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/43100304/texas-answers-sarkisian-challenge-rbs-explode-cfp-win