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David Gbenda intercepts Will Howard in crucial spot for first turnover of Cotton Bowl
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David Gbenda’s interception of Will Howard early in the second half just might have been a game-saver and a season-saver for Texas on Friday night.
With Ohio State having scored a touchdown late in the first half to take a 14-7 lead and driving early in the second half, things were turning sideways quickly for the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff semifinal in Arlington, Texas. Another Buckeyes touchdown or even a field goal could’ve made things really difficult for Texas in a game where points are at a premium.
Instead, the Longhorns senior linebacker picked off Howard for the first turnover of the game. Sure, Texas was still trailing by the same 14-7 score. But the pick stabilized things for Steve Sarkisian’s team, as it tried to hang in there against the favored Buckeyes with a trip to the national title game against Notre Dame hanging in the balance.
Gbenda has been an impact player for Texas this season. He came into Friday night’s game with 60 tackles, 32 of them solo, but he didn’t have an interception yet this season — until making a huge pick with Texas’s season on the line and the game tipping toward Ohio State.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
