Redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers’ return from injury couldn’t have come at a more opportune time as he led the University of Texas (UT) Longhorns to an enthralling 49-0 victory over the Oklahoma (OU) Sooners in the 118th Red River Showdown in Dallas on Saturday.
Ewers, a Dallas-Fort Worth native, resumed his duties as Steve Sarkisian’s field general to the tune of 289 yards, four touchdowns and an interception on 21-of-31 passing, Austin ABC affiliate KVUE reported.
UT ended a four-game skid to the Sooners that dated back to the 2018 Big XII Championship Game, as well as recorded their most lopsided win in the storied matchup.
According to KVUE, Ewers’ stellar performance was complemented by that of his junior running back and Heisman Award hopeful Bijan Robinson. Robinson toted the ball 22 times for 130 yards and a pair of scores.
“In all three phases, we executed at a high level, and the result was the result,” Sarkisian said, Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported.
Sarkisian added that the victory made up for “[letting] one get away last year.”
Per KXAN, sophomore tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders hauled in two touchdown passes as part of a five-reception, 71-yard outing.
The station reported that UT’s defense limited the Sooners to just 195 total yards, including a paltry 39 yards through the air. The unit also logged three sacks and two interceptions.
“We haven’t given up explosive plays … Creating a couple of turnovers, that was huge for us,” Sarkisian said, KXAN reported.
An Associated Press (AP) report that was ran by Austin FOX affiliate KTBC said the 92,100-seat Cotton Bowl reached full capacity with the usual seas of people in burnt orange and crimson divided at the 50-yard line.
It was the UT side of the venue that made much of the day’s noise as virtually everything went the Longhorns’ way the whole afternoon.
Midway through the third quarter, it became clear that the Golden Hat, the accolade awarded to the winner of the annual game, was headed to Austin for the first time in four years.
Sports Illustrated (SI) reported that by trouncing OU, the Longhorns, who’ll host the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, reentered the AP poll at the 22nd spot.