Texas coach Steve Sarkisian saw his Longhorns and quarterback Quinn Ewers bounce back after a tough loss to Georgia last week.
Ewers overcame an early tipped pass that led to an interception, completing 17 consecutive passes for a total of 288 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday. The fifth-ranked Longhorns defeated No. 25 Vanderbilt 27-24 in their first Southeastern Conference road game.
Sarkisian described this win as one about “culture” and “toughness.”
“We knew it was going to take 60 minutes against this style of team, and it’s always good to get a road win. That was a good football team,” Sarkisian said, referring to Vanderbilt. “They weren’t 25th in the country by accident.”
Vanderbilt (5-3, 2-2) ended a three-game winning streak in its first game ranked in the Top 25 since the 2012 Music City Bowl. This marked their first regular-season game as a ranked team since October 18, 2008.
Vanderbilt had a chance late in the game as Diego Pavia threw for two touchdowns after Texas led 24-10 in the third quarter. Pavia’s second touchdown pass, an 8-yarder to Eli Stowers with 46 seconds left, brought Vanderbilt within 27-24.
Texas recovered Vanderbilt’s attempt at an onside kick to secure the win. “I’m heartbroken about coming up short,” said Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea.
The Longhorns started off slow, as a holding penalty on the opening kickoff was followed by a tipped pass from Ewers that was intercepted by Martel Hight. Vanderbilt only needed five plays before Pavia scrambled for an 18-yard touchdown, giving them a 7-0 lead.
He threw a 3-yard touchdown to Matthew Golden on Texas’s next drive and later connected with DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 27-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, putting Texas ahead 14-7, a lead they would maintain.
Arch Manning did not play after being in the game against Georgia.
“He played really well,” Sarkisian said of Ewers. “If he plays like that for the rest of the year, we’re going to be okay. We’re going to be just fine.”
Ewers found Moore again for a 25-yard catch-and-run along the left sideline, increasing the lead to 21-7 in the second quarter. He didn’t miss a pass until the final minute of the first half.
Pavia threw for 143 yards and rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown. After Miles Capers intercepted a pass, Pavia tried to bring Vanderbilt back, finding Junior Sherrill for a 3-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal late in the third quarter.
Texas linebacker Liona Lefau intercepted Pavia’s pass on fourth-and-2 with 5:05 left, which led to Bert Auburn’s second field goal with 3:11 remaining.
“We obviously came up short, and that was unfortunate,” Lea said.
