2012 Alamo Bowl: Texas’ defense dominates late in win over Oregon State

Texas Longhorns defensive end Alex Okafor (80) smiles while on the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the red river rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma beat Texas 63-21. (Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

Mack Brown earned his 150th career win in the final game of his 15th season at the helm of Texas in overcoming two 10-point deficits to beat Oregon State, 31-27, in dramatic fashion.

In a twist that must be giving Longhorns fans everywhere cause to really celebrate, it was the Longhorns defense the stood tallest in a season that had been perceived largely as a disappointment. Led by game MVP Alex Okafor, Texas sacked Beavers quarterback Cody Vaz a whopping 10 times. Okafor himself totaled an Alamo Bowl-record 4.5 of them himself.

After falling back early, Olympian Marquise Goodwin took a reverse 64 yards to the house. With all the momentum in their favor, however, the Beavers still managed to answer with a field goal and a touchdown run by Terron Ward to go back up by 10.

Enter stage left, quarterback David Ash. His backup, Case McCoy, had been sent home the day before the game amidst allegations of sexual abuse, so the show was all his, and Ash delivered in a big way.

Ash threw touchdown strikes to Jonathan Gray for 15 yards and to Goodwin for 36 in the fourth quarter to net his Horns their first lead of the night.

Fittingly, with very little time remaining and only one more shot at a score, the Texas defensive line stood tallest, sacking Vaz once again on fourth down to end the game.

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