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4-Star RB Keaontay Ingram still strong with Texas, impresses in win

GILMER, Tex. -- For a minute there, things got a little dicey for Keaontay Ingram and his Carthage team in Saturday’s big 4A clash with Gilmer.

The Bulldogs’ offensive gameplan was geared more towards its passing attack in the first half, but after heading to the locker rooms down by a couple of scores at the break, Ingram took over the game in the second half. He finished with 225 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, in addition to the first half touchdown reception he had as Carthage ended a 28-game home winning streak for Gilmer.

“It’s a four quarter game - we knew we were alright,” he said. “Nobody was out of line, but we came back in the second half with a whole different attitude. We have to play for all four quarters and that’s what we did tonight.”

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Ingram’s gaudy rushing numbers are all the more impressive when considering the majority of those yards and scores came primarily in the second half, as he was battling through leg cramps late in the game. After turning the ball over on downs in its first possession in the third quarter, a Carthage interception by Mekhi Colbert changed the momentum, and Ingram took things over from there.

“You don’t wanna lose, we do not want to lose,” he said. “And I think that we showed up tonight.”

His performance is more encouraging evidence for Texas Longhorns fans and coaches, as Ingram has been committed since May and is one of the favorites to finish 2018 as the top running back in the state.

IN HIS WORDS

On where things stand with commitment to Texas

“Things are going good,” he said. “We have a good relationship and it’s getting stronger and stronger by the day. I feel like the program is changing, so I feel excited about that.”

On what Ingram has seen in the Longhorns’ games this season

“I’m happy with what I’ve seen,” he said. “There’s still a lot of young guys, there still a lot of work that’s being done and they had a couple of guys injured as well. So that’s nothing to worry about - we’re still growing as a team over there so we’re gonna be alright.”

RIVALS REACTION

Ingram said that he has yet to think about when he might want to take his official visit to Texas, and that he’s also still unsure if he’ll choose to take an official anywhere else this fall. Ingram hasn’t been in Austin since early spring, and said that teams like LSU, Texas A&M, and USC, among others, are still recruiting him.

Despite other top programs still trying to work him over and him somewhat leaving the door open to possibly taking official visits elsewhere, the prevailing feeling is that he’s comfortable with where things are at right now in relation to his commitment.

“Right now in my recruitment, they’re not too much of a factor,” he said of other programs. “Not at all.”

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