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Missed PAT dooms Texas QB Heard's magical comeback in loss to Cal
Cal quarterback Jared Goff couldn't believe what he just saw and said the unprintable words that a full house of Texas Longhorns fans, players and coaches were surely saying right along with him.
Oh my!
Well, he said at least one of those two words. But who could blame him for his word choice after watching Texas' redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard rally the Horns with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a blazing, 45-yard touchdown run with 1:11 to play to cut Cal's lead to a single point, 45-44 with the extra point attempt to follow.
"Extra points are automatic," Texas coach Charlie Strong said afterward. "I didn't even look."
Not so fast.
Texas kicker Nick Rose shanked the attempt. It missed badly wide right. Goff walked off the Cal sideline holding his helmet above his head in disbelief. Texas players couldn't believe it. After a tumultuous week in which Texas fired its athletic director and began the healing process with an alienated fan base, Heard and the Horns had given them an effort that hasn't been seen in Austin in years.
Heard, who started his first collegiate game last week in taking over for the stalled Tyrone Swoopes stood toe to toe with the much ballyhooed Goff, who was 27-for-37 for 268 yards and a touchdown. Heard finished 20-of-31 for 364 yards, and he rushed for another 163 yards.
It certainly it appeared as though he had given Texas a chance to go to overtime if the defense could step up with a stop in the final minute.
But it wasn't meant to be.
