This time Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith knew exactly what to do late in the game when his offense had the ball.
Feed his rookie running back Dameon Pierce the ball over and over again. The former Florida Gator, who had played games before at TIAA Bank Field during his college career, touched the ball seven out of the 12 plays and scored on a one-yard run to give Houston a 13-6 lead.
That score would stand as the Texans (1-3-1) got their ninth straight victory over Jacksonville (look up record) and their first victory of the season.
“He has had a consistent impact on our team,” said coach Smith about Pierce after earning his first win as the Texans head coach. “When he came into the building, we knew that he is going to finish. He is going to show toughness, and he is going to make plays.
“He is going to make you miss in the open field and doing what a number one running back should do. On a day like today, we needed to lean on the run, and I thought he was outstanding.”
Pierce missed his second 100-yard game by one yard as he finished the day with 99 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. His career high in carries is the most by a Texans running back since Mark Ingram carried the same amount against the same team in Week 1 of 2021.
He has rushed for 412 yards on the season, the third most by a Texans rookie in franchise history throughout the first five weeks of the season.
Over the last couple of weeks, the Texans’ offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has learned that Pierce is a running back who gets stronger the longer the game goes on.
Texans rookie RB Dameon Pierce on his 20-yd run in the fourth quarter where he broke multiple tackles:
“Go country boy, go.” #WeAreTexans #Sarge #TexansWire pic.twitter.com/582oED308n— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 9, 2022
When they needed him the most, he stepped up to keep a late fourth-quarter drive alive with a 20-yard run that looked like one of those tough runs you see in the video game.
On second and five from the Jags’ 22-yard line, Pierce had an out-of-body experience run that reminded his family and friends in attendance about the November 2021 game against Florida State, where he had his helmet ripped off as he ran through defenders on his way to the end zone.
Pierce took the handoff from quarterback Davis Mills and broke through five Jacksonville defenders on his way to a 20-yard run to put the Texans on the two-yard line. A couple of plays later, he would score to give the Texans the lead and, eventually, the win.
“Go country boy, go,” Pierced answered when asked what was on his mind as he made the highlighted run. “I was trying to get that touchdown. I know I had those big boys coming eventually to rally behind me, so I was just trying to fight to get in the end zone.”
When asked about his emotions after he completed the run. Pierce elaborated a little more on what he was thinking.
“I ain’t going to lie, I really felt I was tired at first,” said Pierce after the game. “After I caught my breath a little bit, I realized we needed a surge. We were just looking for somebody to make a play.”
Houston will have a week off before they head to Las Vegas on October 23rd to take on the Raiders.
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