1 of 5 | Ohio State defensive finish Jack Sawyer (R) celebrates with teammates after returning a fumble for an 83-yard landing towards Texas within the Cotton Bowl on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photograph by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photograph
Jan. 10 (UPI) — Jack Sawyer knocked the ball out of Quinn Ewers’ throwing hand, scooped it off the AT&T Stadium turf and rumbled for an 83-yard landing, fueling Ohio State’s win over Texas on Friday within the Cotton Bowl.
The 28-14 School Soccer Playoff semifinal victory in Arlington, Texas, helped the Buckeyes clinch the ultimate ticket to the title sport, the place they’ll face Notre Dame in 10 days in Atlanta.
“I noticed the ball come out proper to me after I made the sort out,” Sawyer mentioned on the ESPN broadcast. “I used to be simply considering to remain on my ft as a result of I virtually blacked out after I scooped it and noticed the inexperienced grass in entrance of me.”
The eighth-seeded Buckeyes (13-2) by no means trailed, however allowed a number of Longhorns (13-3) rallies within the second half. The No. 5 Longhorns have been marching to tie the rating for a 3rd time late within the fourth quarter, getting the ball to the Buckeyes’ 1-yard line earlier than being pushed again.
Sawyer then swarmed Ewers for his game-breaking play. The senior defensive finish’s 83-yard landing was the longest fumble return for a rating in School Soccer Playoff historical past.
“We talked about earlier than the sport, ‘do you need to depart a legacy behind and change into a legend?'” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day mentioned. “He simply turned a legend at Ohio State.”
The Buckeyes held a slim edge in whole yards — 370 to 341 — however totaled 4 sacks and compelled two turnovers. Working again Quinshon Judkins scored twice. Quarterback Will Howard accomplished 24 of 33 passes for 289 yards, one rating and an interception for the Buckeyes
Ohio State scored on its first drive of the sport. Judkins ended that 10-play, 64-yard possession with a 9-yard run halfway by the primary quarter.
Neither crew scored once more till the ultimate 30 seconds of the half.
Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers threw an 18-yard landing move to working again Jaydon Blue with 29 seconds remaining within the half, however the Buckeyes stole again the momentum on the very subsequent play from scrimmage.
Howard threw a display screen move to TreyVeyon Henderson on that play. The Buckeyes’ working again caught the feed, turned and motored 75 yards to the tip zone for the longest play the Longhorns allowed this season. The landing allowed the Buckeyes to hold a 14-7 lead into the break.
Howard threw an interception to Longhorns linebacker David Gneba on the primary drive of the second half. The Longhorns did not capitalize on that turnover, however their protection iced the Buckeyes once more on their subsequent drive. Ewers hit Blue with a 26-yard landing move about 5 minutes later to assist the Longhorns tie the rating for a second time.
The Buckeyes gathered themselves and responded with a 7:45 drive within the fourth quarter. Judkins ended the possession with a 1-yard landing run, giving the lead again to the Buckeyes.
Ewers and the Longhorns shortly marched deep into Buckeyes territory on the following drive, however stalled within the pink zone. Sawyer ended the possession together with his sack of the Longhorns quarterback earlier than scooping up the free ball and rumbling for his game-breaking landing.
Buckeyes security Caleb Downs intercepted Ewers on the following drive to seal the victory. Ewers accomplished 23 of 39 passes for 289 yards and two scores, along with his two turnovers.
They may play the No. 7 Combating Irish within the title sport at 7:30 p.m. EST Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
