Jackson Answered the Call Against Texas to Save Title Run
The image of Elijah Jackson swatting away a final Sugar Bowl pass, from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers to Adonai Mitchell, to seal the Washington's first appearance in a CFP national championship game forever will be etched in Husky lore.
As the Huskies junior cornerback came from behind in the end zone to defend the 6-foot-4 Texas wide receiver, who was three inches taller, instinct took over.
"I feel like I just leaped and floated up," Jackson said this week in recalling the play. "In a video, it seems higher. But in my head, it's just a regular jump."
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Jackson surrendered the lone Longhorns touchdown pass of the game — coincidentally to Mitchell — to bring Texas to within 34-28 with 7:23 left.
Mitchell beat Jackson to the back right corner of the end zone and jumped to high-point a perfectly thrown ball by Ewers, arguably one he should've also thrown on the final play, to cap off a 10-play, 72-yard drive.
Leading 37-31 with 1:09 remaining, not many thought the UW defense would have to make a final stop like this.
Yet after an injury to Dillon Johnson stopped the clock with 50 seconds remaining as the Husky running back was tackled and injured on a third-and-5 play halted for no gain, it became clear Jackson and the rest of the defense would have to take the field one last time.
"Our defense does a good job of knowing, because of the previous weeks, it's never over until it's over," Jackson said. "It was unfortunate for one of our brothers to go down, but we knew we had to lock in for him."
After all, in the final three games of the regular season, the UW defense either had to make a stop to win the game or force a punt to give the offense a chance at a game-winning drive.
Against Utah, senior safety Dominique Hampton sealed a 35-28 UW win with an interception on the Utes' final possession.
The following Saturday against Oregon State, the Husky defense never let the Beavers get into UW territory, forcing a change of possession on downs that led to a 22-20 victory in Corvallis.
In the regular-season finale against Washington State, after allowing a game-tying touchdown with 5:58 left to play, the UW defense gave up just 13 yards and forced a punt that set up a 42-yard walk-off Grady Gross field goal for a 24-21 win.
If it seems as if there is a theme, there is.
"It's like a SWAT team mentality," Jackson said. "When we're up, we're up. No excuses. No explanations. When we get out there, we put the game on our backs and we had to do it for the offense, which had a great, great game."
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