A goal-line score for the ages: An anatomy of Ohio State University’s game-winning defensive stop that secured victory over Texas in the CFP semifinals
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A goal-line score for the ages: An anatomy of Ohio State University’s game-winning defensive stop that secured victory over Texas in the CFP semifinals

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

In case opposing offenses haven’t learned yet, scoring a touchdown near the goal line is a difficult task for Ohio State’s defense.

The Buckeyes proved that for the first time this season with their first top-five win of the year against Penn State in early November. Ohio State did it again later that month against Michigan, a goal-line stand that ended with Jack Sawyer beating Davis Warren in a game Buckeye Nation would like to forget.

Then, on the second-biggest stretch of the season, they did it for the third time, proving once again that they have a defense that will bend but not break to beat Texas 28-14 and earn a spot in the league to secure the national championship game.

With the Buckeyes up 21-14 with 6:58 left, they needed another stop to secure the win. Texas began the drive at its 25-yard line. Four plays and less than two minutes later, the Longhorns had the ball at the Ohio State 13-yard line.

After consecutive defensive pass interference penalties, Texas had the ball at the 1-yard line and had a chance to tie the game with just under four minutes left.

At that moment, goal-line stand mode was activated for Ohio State’s defense:

16:00 – 1st-and-goal: Jerrick Gibson runs for no gain

Texas uses its goal-line package and runs right at JT Tuimoloau, but even with an injured ankle, the defense pushes his blocker aside and stops the Longhorns running back at the line of scrimmage.

“I’m telling you, you can try (running the ball at the goal line), but it’s difficult,” Chris Fowler said after the game.

He was right.

3:19 – 2nd-and-goal: Quintrevion Wisner gains a 7-yard loss

Texas tried to play nice, using two wide receivers and using a pistol formation to play against Ohio State. Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom show their instincts and both step into the backfield. Downs, though stiff-armed, did enough to stop Wisner before Ransom dropped him seven yards behind the line of scrimmage.

2:36 – 3rd-and-goal: Quinn Ewers’ incomplete pass

Under center didn’t work. Pistol didn’t look. This time, Texas went shotgun with three wide receivers on the outside. Sawyer is pulled past his opposing offensive lineman from the inside despite being held somewhat, forcing Ewers to throw an incompletion intended for Ryan Wingo.

2:29 – 4th and goal: Jack Sawyer’s strip-sack scoop-and-score

In a competitive game for Texas, Ewers is once again in the shotgun, this time with four receivers on the perimeter. Sawyer easily passes the right tackle, runs over Ewers, takes the ball and takes it 83 yards for a game-winning touchdown.

Pandemonium ensued.

“Shit, I guess just doesn’t fall like Will. I’m kidding. I’m just kidding,” Sawyer said after the game. “But seriously, I hit about 30 and when I look back I’m like, ‘I hope I got some blockers.’ I’m running out of breath here.’ But they walked side by side with me. That also speaks volumes about who this team is. We always support each other. It was a special moment. I love Ohio State. I love Ohio State football. Man, like I said a thousand times after the game: God is great. He has put this team in such a great position. I’m just really lucky to be able to compete in the national championship in my last year here.”

Everything is certainly bigger in Texas, and Sawyer cemented his name forever in Columbus with one of the greatest plays in Ohio State’s storied history, completing an iconic, game-winning goal-line stand for the Buckeye defense.

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