“That’s the standard right there.”
AUSTIN, Texas — Midway through the first quarter of Saturday’s matchup between the Texas Longhorns and UTSA Roadrunners, the outcome was still in doubt — the Longhorns did lead 7-0, but redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers had just throw a bad interception on the first play of the team’s second drive, forcing the defense back on the field in a sudden-change situation.
After UTSA gained nine combined yards on consecutive runs, the Roadrunnners faced an important 3rd and 1 looking to sustain their third drive and put some pressure on the opposing defense. Lined up in 31 personnel, UTSA ran a gap scheme hoping to run behind a triple team on Texas super senior defensive tackle Alfred Collins.
Collins beat the triple team and combined with two other Longhorns to make the play, which led to a fourth-down stop and a turnover on downs. Texas never looked back in the 56-7 win.
AC went Beastmode @alfredcollins99 pic.twitter.com/5SbhnAG7Gf
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 16, 2024
“It’s all about mentality,” Collins said on Monday. “I knew they were going to run behind the double team or triple team, so I knew I had to beat it.”
On fourth down, Texas super senior cornerback Jahdae Barron set the edge and kept the runner inside on the pitch play to allow super senior linebacker David Gbenda and redshirt junior safety Michael Taaffe to close on the football and make the tackle.
Running a fourth-down play at Texas CB Jahdae Barron hoping he won’t be assignment sound is just bad football. Here it leads to a turnover on downs for UTSA because Barron is too good to get beat on this toss. pic.twitter.com/Y0mcjtle5f
— Wescott Eberts (@SBN_Wescott) September 16, 2024
It’s the type of complementary football that Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian wants his team to play — if the offense makes a mistake, it’s on the defense to step up and ensure the opposing offense doesn’t take advantage by gaining momentum.
“The standard is the standard,” Collins said.