Jack Sawyer’s Scoop-and-Score: The Play That Turned Him into an Ohio State Legend
Confetti rained down on him as he stood with raised arms and shut eyes, seeming to say, “See? I told you I could do it!”
That had always been a dream come true for Sawyer, who as a kid in a scarlet-and-gray jersey played catch behind his yard. A dream came into reality during a Friday night college football playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.
Changing of Game
With just more than two minutes remaining, Texas was an inch away from tying the game and maybe heading into overtime. But Sawyer was thinking otherwise. He came off like an action-movie superhero and zipped around Texas’s right tackle before he launched himself at quarterback Quinn Ewers, his former Ohio State roommate.
The ball popped loose, and Sawyer snatched it up like a hungry kid grabbing the last slice of pizza. Then, with nothing but green turf ahead, he sprinted 83 yards for a touchdown that will be replayed in Columbus for decades.
“When I saw nothing but green in front of me, I almost blacked out,” Sawyer said after the game.
Ohio State would go on to defeat Texas 28-14, and Sawyer became an instant Buckeye legend.
“You want to leave a legacy? You want to become a legend? You make a play like that,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day told ESPN. “Jack just became a legend.”
Why Sawyer Stayed for ‘One Last Ride’
A guy like Sawyer, he could have gone into the NFL last year and made his millions and millions, but that sting of those three in a row against Michigan, no championships.
“I wanted to go to the NFL as much as the next guy,” Sawyer said over the summer. “But walking around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and seeing all the championship banners—it ate away at me. I couldn’t leave without winning one for Ohio State.”
Last year’s Cotton Bowl ended in heartbreak with a loss to Missouri, and Sawyer vowed not to let his college career end that way.
A Second Chance at Glory
Six weeks ago, Sawyer had a chance to shine against Michigan, intercepting a pass at the goal line. But Ohio State couldn’t capitalize, and Michigan went on to win with a last-second field goal. To make matters worse, Michigan players planted their flag at midfield, and an enraged Sawyer and his teammates ripped it out, leading to a five-minute brawl broken up by police armed with pepper spray.
With the expanded 12-team playoff, Sawyer and Ohio State got one more shot. This time, he wasn’t going to let it slip away. His scoop-and-score play not only sealed the win but also secured Ohio State’s spot in the national championship game.
Old Roommates, New Rivals
Quinn Ewers, who started his career at Ohio State before transferring to Texas, reflected on the play that ended his team’s season.
“I didn’t give him the game on purpose,” Ewers said. “Jack’s a great player, a great person. It sucks, but he made a great play.”
Sawyer’s 83-yard fumble recovery was the longest in Cotton Bowl and CFP history. As Ohio State quarterback Will Howard took a knee to end the game, Coach Day ran onto the field and jumped into Sawyer’s arms.
“There’s no one who loves being a Buckeye more than Jack,” Day said. “This is a guy who has always dreamed of a moment like this. To see him have it tonight—it’s like family.”
One Game Left
Sawyer and Day know the job isn’t finished. With one game left against Notre Dame for the national title, the Buckeyes are one win away from completing their journey.
“I love Columbus, I love Ohio, and I love Ohio State football,” Sawyer said. “To play in the national championship in my final year—there’s no better feeling.”
As Coach Day put it: “If you want to be a legend, be like Jack Sawyer.”
Source: ESPN
