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The Cowboys were stuffed on third down.
Freshman running back Travis Miller was given the ball on an end around sweep but was blown up by Texas defender Emmanuel Acho.
Instead of lining up for the punt from the Texas 45 yard line, the Cowboys hurried back to the line and quick snapped the ball.
Pass completed, senior quarterback Zac Robinson to freshman Justin Blackmon for seven yards and a first down.
Despite the 41-14 loss to Texas, coaches said they felt the team had to convert fourth down conversions against Texas to stay in the game, but freshman guard Lane Taylor said he thinks the faith in the offense is because of the continued improvement of the offensive line.
“They wanted to go for it on fourth down,” Taylor said. “I think they are really more comfortable with us. Early on they were rotating a lot of guys and you don’t know if so and so knows the plays or exactly the steps to do. They feel more comfortable late in the season that us as unit we are capable of that.”
It might seem hard to imagine an offensive line with four senior starters, including All-American Russell Okung, struggling. But coaches said they were not happy with how the unit was progressing.
After substituting Taylor into the starting lineup instead of junior Anthony Morgan, Robinson said the offensive line, which has given up only four sacks on the year, is playing their best football of the season.
“They have really started playing well the past four or five weeks,” Robinson said. “They are a big reason we do what we do on offense. Them being able to pass protect and run block has been great for us ever since I have been here.”
Senior defensive end Jeremiah Price said going against Okung in practice has helped him become a better player this season.
“I don’t think we have played an offensive line as good as our own,” Price said. “Going against Russell, who is the No.1 tackle in the nation, it’s pretty hard to find someone that is close or better than him.”
As the No. 18 Cowboys (6-2, 3-1) head to Iowa State (5-4, 2-3) Saturday, senior offensive lineman Brady Bond said it’s imperative the Cowboys put the loss behind them and get ready to play the Cyclones.
“(Texas) beat us once, don’t let them beat us twice,” Bond said. “We are getting ready to move on and play a good Iowa State team that knocked off a good Nebraska team earlier in the year.”
But Robinson said if any unit will be ready come Saturday, he knows he can trust his protectors to be ready to go.
“There are a lot of guys that have been here and played in a lot of games,” Robinson said. “They have been through it all and they know what it takes to get it done.”
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