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DOUBLE presents
COVERAGE Wednesday, November 25, 2015
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Wednesday, November 25, 2015
SCENARIOS
By Jillian Kushner @jilliankushner
DON Th cal ca 20 lo could We there team If t Raide
Texas wins if…
The offense can move the ball. One of the biggest hits in the 38-20 loss at West Virginia was losing sophomore running back D’Onta Foreman to injury. He has since undergone surgery on the injured finger, but his status for Thursday’s game against Texas Tech is unknown. Foreman will either be out or will play when he is not 100 percent healthy. Regardless, Texas’ offense needs to find a way to make up for this loss. The Longhorns have a talented running back in senior Johnathan Gray, who ran for 56 of Texas’ 277 rushing yards against West Virginia. Another offensive option is for Texas to throw the ball. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard was 11-for-18 against West Virginia with two interceptions. While these incompletions were the fault of both the quarterback and wide receivers, the receivers dropped too many balls. Texas has a handful of talented receivers on the roster who never touch the field. Texas needs to swap out players if the starting receivers drop balls or appear exhausted. Heard could make some big plays downfield with freshmen receivers Ryan Newsome and DeAndre McNeal, which would make up for Foreman’s absence. The Longhorns don’t need to rely solely on the four receivers they have used all season. Heard and the coaching staff need to focus on the passing game if the running game is not working Thursday. The defense can make stops. Texas Tech can put up a lot of points in 60 minutes. The Red Raiders scored 52 points in their loss to TCU. Texas Tech put up 66 points gainst Iowa State — the team that shut out the Longhorns. The Red Raiders are the No. 1 pass offense in the Big 12, No. 2 in points per game and No. 3 in yards per game. Texas Tech’s 6-5 record is misleading — this is a better team than it seems on paper. Texas has to stop this fast-moving offense. The Longhorn defense allowed a combined 58 points in the past two games. Texas Tech put up 59 points against Kansas State last week alone. The Texas defense needs to be aggressive early and constantly throughout the game. This Texas Tech team will tire a defense and use that to its advantage.
SLOW Tex Red R Rachel Zein | Daily Texan file photo terba Junior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes picks up a loose ball and amon runs toward the endzone for a touchdown in Texas’ 59-20 yards win over Kansas on Nov. 7. Tex
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Texas loses if…
It continues to play like it has the last three games. While Texas defeated winless Kansas 59-20, that type of play would result in a loss against most other teams. The 24-0 shut-out loss at Iowa State and the 18-point loss at West Virginia exposed Texas’ weaknesses. If the Longhorns play like they have been, the Red Raiders will target those weaknesses.
DOUBLE
presents
COVERAGE Vol. 10, Issue 12
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Double Coverage Editor....................................Nick Castillo Design Editor...................................................Iliana Storch Photo Editor.......................................................Amy Zhang Copy Editor..............................................Blanche Schaefer
EDITOR’S NOTE The Texas seniors play their final home game on Thanksgiving. The Longhorns need to win their final two games to ensure bowl eligibility. But defeating Texas Tech won’t be an easy task. The Red Raiders provide a difficult challenge with their offensive prowess. Sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown for 3,911 yards and 31 touchdowns, while senior running back DeAndre Washington has rushed for 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns. Texas’ defense will need to stop the No. 3 offense in the nation Thursday if the Longhorns want to make a bowl game and win the seniors’ last home game.
Cover Photo........................................................Amy Zhang Writers: Jacob Martella Claire Cruz
Akshay Mirchandani
Jori Epstein
Blanche Schaefer
Jason Epstein Jillian Kushner
Ezra Siegel Aaron Torres
fourstarevents@trudys.com
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Wednesday, November 25, 2015
KEYS TO THE GAME By Akshay Mirchandani @amirchandani41
DON’T TURN BALL OVER The Longhorns beat West Virginia in nearly every statistical category, but turned the ball over five times in their 3820 loss. That proved to be the difference, and Texas simply couldn’t overcome that many turnovers. West Virginia is No. 2 in the Big 12 in turnover margin, but there’s no reason for Texas to be giving the ball to the other team five times. If the Longhorns do that against Texas Tech, the potent Red Raider offense will put up points in a hurry. SLOW DOWN THE RED RAIDERS Texas Tech’s offense is among the best in the Big 12. The Red Raiders are No. 3 in total offense with sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Mahomes is No. 2 among Big 12 players in total offense, accounting for 393.2 yards per game. Texas Tech also has senior running back DeAndre Wash-
ington, who is No. 3 in the Big 12 with 116.5 yards per game. Texas needs to make the Red Raiders one-dimensional and force them to either go to the run or pass. The Red Raiders will torch the Longhorns if they are able to use a balanced attack. Tech’s record may look mediocre on paper, but this is a team that can put up points early and often. The Texas defense must try to contain the Red Raiders, because there’s no way the Texas offense can win a shootout with Tech. FINAL HOME GAME The Longhorns have to remember this is their final home game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium this season. After this, Texas travels to Waco to play Baylor. Theoretically, this is the last truly winnable game for the Longhorns. Who knows what the attendance will look like since it’s a Thanksgiving game at night for a 4-6 team, but Texas needs to end its home schedule on a high note.
PLAYERS TO WATCH By Blanche Schaefer @schaefer_bb
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Sophomore Patrick Mahomes has turned into one of the nation’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Mahomes is third in the nation and second in the Big 12 in total offense with 4,325 total yards. He’s the top passer in the Big 12 with 3,911 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also has 414 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Mahomes threw 13 picks over 11 games — his worst was a fourinterception, 233-yard effort in a 63-27 Texas Tech loss to Oklahoma. He came back the next week and put up 480 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma State, in addition to running for 47 yards and one score. Mahomes is at the top of the conference with an average of 355.5 passing yards per game. The Longhorn pass defense gives up an average of 234.5 yards per game — these numbers don’t look good for the notoriously weak Texas secondary. Running back DeAndre Washington Senior DeAndre Washington is the Red Raiders’ top running back. He’s the No. 3 rusher in the Big 12 with 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns. Washington also ranks No. 2 in the conference with 1,572 all-purpose yards. He picked up a season-high 248 rush yards in a 59-44 Texas Tech win over Kansas State. He ran in three scores and averaged 9.2 yards per carry in one of his best performances this season. The Longhorn defense has allowed opponents to run for 687 yards over the past three games. Texas will have to tighten up its coverage and make key tackles to stop Washington and the Red Raider offense. Wide receiver Jakeem Grant Texas Tech runs a true air-raid offense, and senior receiver Jakeem Grant is a big factor to its success. Grant is Texas Tech’s leading receiver with 1,038 yards and six touchdowns. He’s averaging
Jenna VonHofe | Daily Texan file photo
Texas Tech quarterback then-freshman Patrick Mahomes sets back to pass in the Red Raiders’ 34-13 loss to the Longhorns on Nov. 1, 2014.
94.4 yards per game and 13.3 yards per reception. Grant is a threat as a receiver and on special teams as a kick returner. He’s accumulated 896 kick return yards and averages 26.4 yards per return. Grant gashed Oklahoma State on Halloween with a 100yard return for a touchdown — he racked up 210 all-purpose yards against the Cowboys in the first quarter alone. Texas’ special teams play has struggled this season, and the secondary isn’t the strongest facet of the team, either. Containing Grant could be one of the toughest tasks the Texas defense has faced this season. Linebacker Pete Robertson Senior linebacker Pete Robertson anchors the Texas Tech defense. He leads the Red Raiders with 13 tackles for loss for total losses of 40 yards — good for a No. 4 ranking in the Big 12. He’s also registered five sacks for a loss of 23 yards. Texas quarterbacks have been sacked 27 times so far this season. The Longhorn offensive line has been inconsistent at best, and Robertson will look to take advantage of that to get at redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard.
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Wednesday, Nov
GOODBYE, SENIORS By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74
Thursday night represents the coming of an end for 24 seniors – one last time the burnt orange-and-white-clad fans will cheer them on, one last rendition of ‘The Eyes of Texas,’ and one final trot off the field at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. “It’s been a crazy ride,” senior linebacker Peter Jinkens said. “We had a whole lot of ups and downs in my four years here, but I wouldn’t change anything.” This senior class has played through changing times at Texas. They came to Austin as the No. 1-rated 2012 recruiting class in the nation, according to Scout. com. But they lost several teammates to transfer and dismissals. They played in the de-facto Big 12 championship in 2013, lost to Baylor 30-10 and saw former head coach Mack Brown retire after losing their bowl game to Oregon 30-7. Then, head coach Charlie Strong was hired in 2014. Strong’s first season with the Longhorns didn’t go well — they limped to a 6-7 finish. This season followed the same trend. Texas sits at 4-6 and needs to win its final two games to make a bowl. “It’s been a tough road for our senior class,” Strong said. “You think about it, when they signed on here, I don’t know what they were ranked in the recruiting class, but they had a vision. They had a lot of high goals. It hasn’t happened for them, but you just want them to go out the right way on Thursday night.” Winning their final home game won’t be easy — Texas Tech brings the third-
ranked offense in the nation to Austin on Thursday. Sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown for 3,911 yards and 31 touchdowns, while senior running back DeAndre Washington has rushed for 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns. Strong said he wants to win this game and the final game against Baylor for the senior class. “When a young man gets to his senior year, you just want to make sure that they go out the right way,” Strong said. “You would like to have a winning season for them, and that’s still in place for us if we go out and get these next two.” Junior safety Dylan Haines also wants to make a bowl game for his senior teammates. Haines said he’ll remember these seniors as some of the best he’s played with. “Just to have guys above me and have guys around me that also try to lead,” Haines said. “Duke Thomas, Taylor Doyle, J-Gray, all the guys just stood for a lot of the right things. [They] did things the right way, something that hasn’t always been done here … A lot of great players, and a lot of great young men, and a lot of great teammates.” Senior tight end Alex De La Torre said he’s enjoyed his time as a Longhorn despite the up-and-down seasons and the potential to miss a bowl game this season. “I wouldn’t take it back at all,” De La Torre said. “I’ve loved every experience, especially these past two years. I’ve learned to deal with adversity in a constructive way. It’s life lessons. It’s going to help you deal with tough times. If a bad season is the worst thing in your
We had a whole lot of ups and downs in my four years here, but I wouldn’t change anything. —Peter Jinkens, Senior linebacker
life, then you’re doing pretty good.” The senior class signed to play for Texas 1,393 days ago, and Thursday they’ll play their last home game. Although they’re focused on trying to beat Texas Tech, they know the emotion of their last game in Austin will be there. “It’s all football on Thursday night,” senior center Taylor Doyle said. “After the game I may get home and just get a half-gallon of Blue Bell and tear up.”
Some of Texas (66), Taylor Do
vember 25, 2015
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s’ seniors this season include: Shiro Davis (1), Daje Johnson (4), Marcus Johnson (7), Peter Jinkens (19), Duke Thomas (21), Nick Rose (23), Johnathan Gray (32), Sedrick Flowers oyle (74), and Desmond ‘Tank’ Jackson (99). Photos by Joshua Guerra, Thalia Juarez, Ethan Oblak, Stephanie Tacy, Jenna VonHofe, Rachel Zein and Amy Zhang
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TEXAN STAFF PICKS
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NICK CASTILLO
CLAIRE CRUZ
JORI EPSTEIN
JASON EPSTEIN
Overall Record
67-33
68-32
61-39
Last Issue’s Record
6-4
7-3
Texas 28-27
Baylor vs. TCU
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
JILLIAN KUSHNER
JACOB MARTELLA
AKSHAY MIRCHANDANI
BLANCHE SCHAEFER
59-41
66-34
69-31
71-29
58-42
65-35
61-39
7-3
6-4
7-3
7-3
8-2
4-6
6-4
4-6
Texas Tech 45-28
Texas 38-31
Texas Tech 37-30
Texas Tech 35-21
Texas 24-23
Texas Tech 38-24
Texas 31-28
Texas Tech 34-23
Texas Tech 35-17
Baylor
Baylor
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Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma St.
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Ohio St. vs. Michigan
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Notre Dame vs. Stanford
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UCLA vs. USC
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Alabama vs. Auburn
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Ole Miss vs. Mississippi St.
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Florida St. vs. Florida
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Navy vs. Houston
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Texas Tech vs. Texas
Mississippi St. Mississippi St.
EZRA SIEGEL
AARON TORRES
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GAMES TO WATCH By Jacob Martella @ViewFromTheBox
No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 9 Oklahoma State Saturday — 7 p.m. — ABC The annual Bedlam game holds a special kind of magnitude this year. Oklahoma comes into its annual rivalry game with momentum and a shot at a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Sooners trounced Baylor on the road and withstood a fierce comeback by TCU at home. But getting by Oklahoma State on the road might be their toughest test yet. Despite getting crushed by Baylor last week, the Cowboys’ sophomore quarterback Mason Rudolph has been electric, throwing for 3,591 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Plus, anything can happen in a rivalry game. This Saturday night showdown is a must-see this weekend.
No. 7 Baylor at No. 15 TCU Friday — 6:30 p.m. — ESPN The state of Texas’ version of the Holy War stood as the de facto Big 12 title game before the season started. Now, this game is relegated to the conference’s second-biggest game of the weekend behind Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State. But everything is still on the line for these two teams. A win for Baylor keeps the Bears’ Big 12 title and playoff hopes alive in the event Oklahoma State wins. A win for TCU gives the Horned Frogs revenge for the last-second loss to Baylor last year and a better ranking after a tough couple weeks. So the luster might not be what it could have been, but expect one heck of a game as you eat those Thanksgiving leftovers.
No. 8 Ohio State at No. 12 Michigan Saturday — 11 a.m. — ABC Like Baylor vs. TCU, this game is in a much different spot than it appeared before the season began. Michigan was expected to struggle under first-year head coach Jim Harbuagh. But here the Wolverines are, just a muffed punt away from having one loss and being in the playoff discussion. Meanwhile, Ohio State fans are saying “O-H! N-O!” after a last-second loss to Michigan State on Saturday. But the issues go deeper than a “1” in the loss column. Junior running back Ezekiel Elliott threw the coaching staff under the bus after the defeat and announced that he would not be back in 2016. If this is a sign of a rift in the Buckeyes’ locker room, the Wolverines stand a good chance of winning their first game in this series since 2011.
No. 4 Notre Dame at No. 13 Stanford Saturday — 6:30 p.m. — FOX This might be the best game nobody is talking about. It could also have the biggest playoff implications of any game on the weekend schedule. Notre Dame overcame a close loss at Clemson and the loss of junior quarterback Malik Zaire to hold the No. 4 spot in the playoff committee’s rankings. But the Fighting Irish have only played one ranked team — Temple — in their last four games. Stanford, on the other hand, sits with two losses but could alter the playoff rankings. A Stanford win keeps its long-shot hopes of a playoff spot alive. Even if you’re watching another game Saturday night, definitely keep an eye on this one.
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