Texas Longhorns Turn To Run Late Game vs. Houston Cougars Following Quinn Ewers Injury

A C.J. Baxter touchdown run in the fourth quarter provided to be the breaking point for the Longhorns in a 31-24 win for Houston

Maybe the injury to Texas quaterback Quinn Ewers is a blip on the radar. Steve Sarkisian will have a more precise indication tomorrow when the team returns to Austin. 

Perhaps redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy can fill the void similar to that of Hudson Card in his Ewers' place should the shoulder strain sideline him for several weeks. After all, fans clamored for the California kid to have a shot as QB1 after his performance in the Orange-White Game. 

Regardless of which passer suits up next Saturday when the No. 8 Longhorns return to Royal-Memorial Stadium to take on BYU, Steve Sarkisian has to commit to the ground game. It was the reason Texas secured the 31-24 win over Houston at TDECU Stadium Saturday afternoon and avoided a College Football Playoff aspirations upset. 

“I’m happy to know when I wake up tomorrow morning we’ll be 6-1 and not 5-2,” Sarkisian said. “That’s the first part. The second part I think holds true to the way we practiced and prepared. I thought we had a great week of practice, great week of preparation, and I thought we played that way at the start of the football game to jump ahead, 21-0. But the lesson learned here is we have to have a killer instinct.”

Texas (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) jumped out to an early 21-0 lead thanks to two touchdown passes from Ewers and a 1-yard run from Savion Red. 

But the Cougars weren't going down without a fight. They waited two-plus decades to serve as division rivals against the Longhorns following the disbandment of the Southwest Conference in 1996. Even Sarkisian knew UH (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) would throw them the kitchen sink. 

Donovan Smith threw two touchdown passes before halftime to bring the Cougars within a score. He found Matthew Golden a second time to a 3-yard score to tie the game at 21. 

Then came the Ewers' injury and a choice by Sarkisian: trust Murphy's arm in his first career appearance or try to run out the clock. The third-year coach went with his gut and chose the latter. 

Wise choice, Sark. 

Texas Longhorns running back C.J. Baxter (No. 4) broke past a pair of Houston Cougars defenders at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas  :: Mikala Compton/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

C.J. Baxter broke the 24-all tie with a 16-yard run to the pylon with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Baxter finished with 42 yards on six carries, while Jonathon Brooks totaled 99 yards on 20 attempts. 

And the run game proved to be the difference in the Bayou City. Houston outgained Texas outgained 392-360 in total yards, but the Longhorns bested the Cougars on the ground 141-14. 

“This offseason we focused in on finishing the fourth quarter and finishing games,” Brooks said. “Not getting down ourselves like that because we know what we are capable of." 

Brooks has been the dominant runner in place of the departed Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. Baxter, a five-star standout from Florida, continues to make strides on the ground. 

Murphy, who finished with one completion for seven yards, could be a driving force Texas' offense needs should he start next week in place of Ewers, but the night is young and the verdict is a mystery. With West Virginia falling at home to Oklahoma State, the Longhorns jump in the driver's seat for second place and a potential Red River rematch in Arlington. 

The Longhorns survived a scare but came with a more significant concern in Ewers' status. But as Baxter crossed the goal line to secure the victory, Sarkisian found his answer on how Texas must play to stay ahead. 

Run.

“We found a way to win,” Sarkisian said. “We’re not there yet, but championship teams find a way to win games that are ugly, and we found a way to win an ugly game today.”