I think the Zeke 80 yard score deserves attention. In my opinion, it's flying under the radar as the "team play" of the game. Watch it in 1 second intervals from the snap if you're as crazy as me, and look at the blocking. Like a full 3 LB blitz, this defensive scheme demands that everyone know their assignment, trust peers, work together as a unit, and win big if you can outsmart the house.
Notes:
- Tech doesn't bite or shift with trips up top, good for them, but it still takes 2 defenders out of the equation
- Farris doesn't get distracted or bite on the pressure from the obvious charging DE (or delayed safety either) to pick up a block. In fact, he is actually staring at the opposite side DE (or perhaps Boren) before the snap. He stays on assignment and pulls to pick up a critical block.
- Elflein cleans his man out of the equation (for 10 yards before Zeke is past them and clearly bound for paydirt)
- Boren also does good work on the right side to open the obvious hole
- Decker is not distracted by the DE that Farris picks up. Instead he and Price clean up a DT and LB. 2 more out of the equation
- Vannett keeps his man out of the backfield to prevent a TFL.
- Samuel picks up said safety and Cardale correctly reads the handoff with the DE approaching. The DE doesn't even realize he has overrun the play before a TD is imminent. (Sidenote: if Jones had kept and beat the DE it would have still been a nice gain had the 2 receivers blocked well, but Zeke was clearly the right choice.)
- This leaves 1 defender for Zeke to worry about. At :05, it's already over. I'll take Zeke full speed ahead every time in 1 on 1.
That was disciplined brilliance. Last year that would have been led to 2nd and 14. What a difference a year makes.