Georgia football saved its worst for last with a sour performance in the Sugar Bowl. Bevo’s strategy for Texas was to run right at Georgia, and that is what they did. The pregame video of the Texas mascot turned out to be foreshadowing of how the Sugar Bowl would go for the Bulldogs.
HOOK 'EM! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/PbvjWQOR5b
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) January 2, 2019
Texas
Once the game started, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger took the same approach with outstanding results. Ehlinger ran for three touchdowns, as the Texas defense held Georgia’s offense in check. The Longhorns earned their first 10-win season since 2009 by beating the Bulldogs 28-21 in the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday night. ”We’re back!” Ehlinger shouted to a raucous contingent of Texas fans after winning the game’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Ehlinger was the star of a gritty win, running for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter, a 9-yard score in the second, and a 1-yard TD in the fourth. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound sophomore finished with 64 yards rushing on 21 carries and also threw for 169 yards.
Georgia
The Bulldogs were playing without star defensive back Deandre Baker and linebacker De’Andre Walker, and it showed. Ehlinger bruised the Georgia defense, throwing for 169 yards and rushing for three touchdowns. The Longhorns rushed for 180 yards in the win. However, while the Georgia offense was at full strength, they did not play well. Quarterback Jake Fromm threw for three touchdowns, but he didn’t seem in sync with his receivers most of the night. Receivers could not seem to catch, and the line could not seem to handle Texas up front. The Bulldogs also averaged just 2.4 yards per rush.
Takeaway
Georgia did not seem to want to be there. Texas was the more focused team, and they simply wanted the win more than Georgia did. After losing a heartbreaker to Alabama, the SEC runner-ups could have just not been motivated to play in a game not associated with the playoff. Several Bulldogs went to Twitter to show their disgust with the committee. The players had the perfect chance to show they are indeed a top-four team, but they fell short of that along with their goals for the season.
Texas, however, capped off an incredible season with Tom Herman getting his signature win over an SEC powerhouse. It’s a validating win for Texas, which was the physically dominant team while playing one of the SEC’s best programs. It’s fair to say the Longhorns are ahead of schedule under Herman and expectations will skyrocket going forward.
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