This was what I’ve been waiting to see from this team. Yes, I know it’s Sam Houston and yes, critics will pile on Texas for bullying a crappy team, but this is what really good teams do against overmatched opponents … they make it look easy, they blow the game open and they break the other team’s will before the first half is over. It’s what I wanted to see from Texas last week against UTEP, but this was the type of performance that should give the Texas team some much-needed confidence heading into the bye week and heading into SEC play.
Other random thoughts from the game …
Easy first drive to march down the field for a touchdown. Nice mix of run and pass. Need to see a lot more of that tonight.
After two defensive drives, I’m already convinced this is a complete mismatch between the UT defense and the SHSU offense. Three-and-out on SHSU’s second drive, with Trey Moore capping it off with a sack. Texas is just way to athletic for this SHSU offense.
Second offensive drive, more of the same with Texas moving the ball through the air and playing bully ball with the ground game to go up 14-0.
Time of death in this one, whatever time it was that Texas scored its first touchdown of the game.
Sark said he wanted to see better blocking on the perimeter and that happened on several plays in this one.
Speaking of blocking, nice hustle by D.J. Campbell on that long catch-and-run by Ryan Niblett late in the second quarter. The big fella was 40 yards downfield and he was absolutely moving.
After five drives of this game by each team, Texas had outgained SHSU 361 yards to 17 and the score was 31-0.
Sam Houston State with its first first down of the game with 1:12 remaining in the first half.
Fitting end to the first half with Jelani McDonald getting a pick on a Hail Mary attempt.
First half stats of notes … Arch Manning 14-17 for 227 yards and 1 TD (213.9 rating) and 5 carries for 11 yards and 2 rushing TDs; Jerrick Gibson 7 rushes for 44 yards and 1 TD; DeAndre Moore 5 catches 79 yards on 5 targets; Texas with 10 players on offense with plays longer than 10 yards; Texas 361 yards of offense to just 50 for Sam Houston; Texas 16 first downs to 2 for Sam Houston; Texas 4-5 on third downs; Texas averaging 9.8 yards per snap; Colin Simmons and Tre Moore with 1 sack apiece.
Ryan Freaking Wingo. There it is. What a throw by Arch Manning on the Horns’ first drive of the third quarter to drop it right over Wingo’s shoulder for a 53-yard touchdown. Great protection up front. The throw was near perfect other than Wingo having to make a slight adjustment, and Wingo made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch while running at full speed. Beautiful.
Ryan Niblett with some big plays in the return game for the second straight week. Texas is going to need some of that in conference play.
I’ve never seen that side of Arch where he was THAT fired up. In the face of defenders, on the sideline with his teammates, on the sideline with Sark, Arch was as animated as I’ve ever seen him.
Nice wheels by Matthew Caldwell on that 50-yard run to close out the third quarter. Showed some good athleticism on that one.
I needed a nap today to keep me from nodding off in the second half. The only real suspense in this one in the second half was how high Texas would go on the scoreboard, and whether or not Sam Houston could avoid the shutout.
After some of the heat Texas took for a lackluster showing against UTEP, this was exactly what the doctor ordered. On to the bye week.
