Live In-Game Updates: FINAL: Longhorns 41, UTSA 20
AUSTIN — The No. 21 Texas Longhorns and UTSA Roadrunners meet Saturday in Austin for the first all-time meeting between the two programs.
The Longhorns (1-1) are coming off a gut-wrenching 20-19 loss to the then top-ranked Alabama Crimson last week. But, despite the loss, the Horns were vaulted into the AP poll and are now ranked for the first time this season.
The Roadrunners (1-1) have been in two tight games to begin the year, falling 37-35 to the Houston Cougars in a season-opening double-overtime loss before topping Army last week in overtime, 41-38.
UTSA is coming off a program-best 12-2 record last season under coach Jeff Traylor. The Runners won their first C-USA title in school history but eventually lost in the Frisco Bowl to San Diego State
UTSA is led once again by quarterback Frank Harris, who is in his fourth year as the starting signal-caller. A primary reason for UTSA’s success, he’s coming off a career-best year that saw him post 33 total touchdowns and over 3,700 yards of total offense.
Make sure to keep it locked in with LonghornsCountry.com as we provide live in-game updates and breaking news from Austin for Saturday’s matchup against UTSA.
The Roadrunners have won the toss and will defer to the second half. Texas will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
Bijan Robinson takes the first carry of the game five yards before getting stuffed on the second rush. His third touch also resulted in nothing, but the Longhorns went for it on fourth-and-short on another Robinson run.
Keilan Robinson got in on the early fun with a 10-yard catch-and-run for the first down.
Hudson Card looked for Xavier Worthy on a deep shot but the battle for the ball forced it to fall incomplete. He looked for him again one play later, but the deep pass resulted in a third-down incompletion as well.
Punter Daniel Trejo sent it away for a touchback.
change of possession
Harris connects with tight end Oscar Cardenas for an 11-yard gain on UTSA's second play from scrimmage.
He found Cardenas again for a seven-yard gain on third down to pick up the first. The Longhorns defense then stuffed running back Brenden Brady on the next play before Harris scrambled for 10 yards on his own.
The Roadrunners nearly had a huge opening touchdown on a Harris deep ball to Joshua Cephus, but the offensive line was called for an illegal shift which negated the score.
A few plays later, Harris threw a strike to receiver Zakhari Franklin for a 10-yard pickup on 3rd and 3.
Harris escaped a would-be sack to pick up a few yards at the Texas 15-yard line as the Roadrunners faced another third down, which they converted on another catch from Franklin.
Harris darted a pass right at the goal line that was caught by Cephus, but he stopped at the one-yard line by Texas' Anthony Cook. D'Shawn Jamison came up the deflection on 3rd and goal.
The Roadrunners elected to go for it on 4th and goal, but a false start killed any chance they had at a touchdown.
FIELD GOAL UTSA: The Roadrunners put together a lengthy 20-play, 74-yard drive that ended with kicker Jared Sackett nailing a 24-yard field goal. UTSA took a 3-0 lead after having the ball for 8:27.
change of possession
Card begins Texas' second posession with a completion to Worthy, who runs 19 yards for a first down.
Bijan nearly broke free for a big gain on the next play but was stopped short for a three-yard gain.
Roschon Johnson got in on the action, breaking tackles and reversing field for an impressive four-yard run.
Card looked deep for Worthy on the next play but the ball was slightly overthrown as he was unable to make the catch in the end zone.
Jordan Whittington took a short touch pass a few plays later for an 11-yard gain.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: UTSA 3, Texas 0
Johnson came away with an impressive one-handed catch who picked up 19 yards on the catch-and-run.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Then on the next play, Johnson came with another grab and sped his way into the end zone for an 11-yard score. Texas took a 7-3 lead.
Will Stone's kick travelled out of bounds, giving the Roadrunners a short field at their own 35-yard line.
change of possession
Harris darted for 11 yards before completing a nine-yard pass to Cephus as the Runners were already in the red zone.
Brady then bumped off tacklers to convert the third-and-short and set UTSA up at the 11-yard line.
Harris looked for Franklin on a fade in the right corner of the end zone, hut
TOUCHDOWN UTSA: Brady muscles his way into the end zone for a two-yard run as the Runners take a 10-7 lead after an 11-play, 65-yard drive.
The Roadrunners pulled off a surprise onside kick after the touchdown and immediately made the most of it.
TOUCHDOWN UTSA: The Runners completely took the life out of DKR with a trick pass-play that saw Brady receive the backward pass and toss a 35-yard touchdown to Franklin. Her grabbed it out of the reach of Watts for the score. UTSA built a 17-7 lead.
change of possession
Card found Worthy on a pass toward the left sideline that picked up 12 yards. He then connected with Whittington for a 15-yard pickup on the next play.
The Longhorns went with their first wildcat look of the game, as Johnson handed off to Bijan for a seven-yards gain. Johnson then hurdled a defender in highlight fashion on a 16-yard carry out of another wildcat look.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: The Horns answer UTSA's momentum shift with one of their own, as a Bijan and Roschon-led drive ends with the former dashing to the right pylon for a three-yard touchdown.
change of possession
Harris was met with pressure from Demarvion Overshown and others but still found Cephus for a 17-yard gain with a throw on the run.
But the drive stalled after a false start on third down halted any momentum, as the Roadrunners punted for the first time in the half.
change of possession
Bijan caught his first pass of the night and ran 19 yards after spinning and juking around multiple defenders.
Penalties eventually halted the drive as the Horns creeped closer, having to settle for a Bert Auburn field goal attempt.
FIELD GOAL TEXAS: Auburn nailed a 44-yarder to tie things up at 17-17 right before halftime.
HALFTIME: Texas 17, UTSA 17
THIRD QUARTER
The Roadrunners begin the second half with a seven-play, 26-yard drive that was killed by a delay of game penalty. UTSA punted for just the second time on the night.
change of possession
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Bijan darts up the middle of the UTSA defense on the second play of the drive for a 78-yard touchdown to give the Longhorns a 24-17 lead.
change of possession
The Runners were aiming to seize some momentum back with a potential third-down conversion, but Jamison came up with a crucial pass deflection to halt the drive and force a three-and-out.
change of possession
On the first play of the next drive, Card found Whittington for a 26-yard gain.
But the Longhorn were unable to do anything in the three plays following that as Trejo was brought on to punt.
The Roadrunners put together a 13-play, 86-yard drive that nearly ended with a touchdown in the right corner of the end zone, but the call was overturned after it was determined that Franklin didn't maintain possession.
FIELD GOAL UTSA: Sackett tacks on a 30-yard field goal to make it a 24-20 game with Texas in the lead.
change of possession
The Longhorns went three-and-out before handing it back to the Roadrunners.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Luckily for the Longhorns offense, safety Jahdae Barron made up for the three-and-out with a pick-six.
change of possession
The Roadrunners put together a 10-play, 51-yard drive but were sent off the field after turning it over on downs.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Robinson gets his third score of the night on a 41-yard scamper to the end zone. The Horns were now up 38-20 after a short five-play drive that included a 32-yard run from Card.
change of possession
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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