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Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Hunter Luepke’s breakout game marred by botched handoff

Originally posted on Inside The Star
By Richard Paolinelli | Last updated 12/27/23

The debate will rage on for some time. And until Dak Prescott or Hunter Luepke offers an explanation we'll never know for sure.

Did Luepke fail to secure the handoff? Did he expect to get the ball and just botched handling it, or did he think Prescott was pulling it back?

Looking at the replay from several angles only leads to multiple answers to those questions.

The bottom line: The handoff exchange was muffed by both players and Prescott was charged with the fumble.

It also cost Dallas, at minimum, three points in a two-point loss.

Up to that play, Luepke had been having a breakout game. After that play, he disappeared from the game plan.

His fellow rookies – aside from another solid performance by Brandon Aubrey – fared little better in Sunday's loss.

Mazi Smith

(1st Round – Michigan – Defensive Tackle)

Smith got his second start of the season and was second among the team's defensive tackles in snaps with 26 on defense.

Smith finished with one tackle – six yards downfield on Raheem Mostert in the first quarter. He also had six defensive snaps.

Smith had no other official snaps and no other notable plays in the game.

Luke Schoonmaker

(2nd Round – Michigan – Tight End)

Schoonmaker had 13 offensive snaps and 13 more on special teams. He appears to have fallen to TE3 on the depth chart behind Jake Ferguson (55 offensive snaps) and Peyton Hendershot (16/16).

He caught the only pass he was targeted on for four yards. He did have one special teams tackle on a punt return.

DeMarvion Overshown

(3rd Round – Texas – Linebacker)

Overshown continues to rehab from a pre-season knee injury suffered in Seattle.

Viliami Fehoko

(4th Round – San Jose State – Edge)

Fehoko was inactive once again. He has yet to see any action in a regular season game this year.

Asim Richards

(5th Round – North Carolina – Offensive Tackle)

After being inactive for six straight games, Richards was active against Miami partially due to Tyron Smith's absence.

He has been inactive in eight of the Cowboys' 15 games this season. Richards had four snaps on special teams on Sunday.

Eric Scott Jr.

(6th Round – New Mexico – Defensive Back)

Scott was inactive once again. He has yet to see any action in a regular season game this year.

Deuce Vaughn

(6th Round – Kansas State – Running Back)

Vaughn was inactive for the sixth straight game and ninth overall for the year. He has 38 rushing yards and 11 receiving yards for the year.

Barring an injury, Vaughn's time as the darling of Dallas appears to be over.

Jalen Brooks

(7th Round – South Carolina – Wide Receiver)

Brooks was inactive, the 10th time in 15 games he has not suited up. Brooks has five catches for 63 yards on the season.

T.J. Bass

(UDFA – Oregon – Guard)

Bass saw limited action in Sunday's loss. He played two snaps at guard on offense and another four on special teams.

As much as Chuma Edoga struggled on Sunday, perhaps Bass might have been the better option to start instead.

Hunter Luepke

(UDFA – North Dakota State – Running Back)

Luepke was on the cusp of having a breakout day. On the Cowboys' game-opening drive, he converted two third-and-1 rushes into first downs and a total of three rushing yards.

Luepke then caught an eight-yard pass two plays later.

On first-and-goal from the one, Luepke appeared to have scored his second career touchdown. Except Prescott's handoff to Luepke misfired.

Luepke was in the endzone. The football was lying at the two and the Dolphins recovered the ball.

Luepke never touched the ball again.

It remains to be seen if the Cowboys go back to him in the games ahead. He proved – the botched handoff at the goal line notwithstanding – that he can convert short-yardage plays.