Texas Longhorns Have Two TDs Negated By Penalty, Hold Slim Lead vs. Iowa State Cyclones at Halftime
The Texas Longhorns have gotten off to fast starts and slow finishes in three of their last four games, but the script has flipped through the first half of Saturday's meeting with the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames.
No. 7 Texas (9-1) got a 50-yard field goal from Bert Auburn at the end of the half and led Iowa State (6-4) by a slim 6-3 margin headed into halftime.
However, the Longhorns had just 56 total yards in the first quarter, the fewest they've had in a quarter this season. Texas was hurt bad by flags, committing six penalties for 49 yards, two of which negated game-changing touchdowns by Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers made some poor throws and took some questionable sacks, but was solid overall. He finished the first half 13 of 20 passing for 163 yards.
Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) carries the ball in the first half of the Longhorns' game against the Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023
© Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman
Once the Longhorns finally started to catch an offensive rhythm to begin the second quarter, a holding penalty by Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. negated a Ewers 23-yard touchdown to Mitchell. The Longhorns instead had to settle for a 39-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 despite starting the drive at the Iowa State 33-yard line after a big punt return from Worthy.
Texas put together another solid drive on the ensuing possession after the Cyclones missed a 51-yard field goal, but Worthy fumbled at the Iowa State nine-yard line following a 19-yard run. The Longhorns' red zone woes just kept piling on.
It only got more frustrating for Texas fans after this. The Longhorns defense continued its strong play and forced a three-and-out, and Worthy took the ensuing punt all the way back for a touchdown ... except a block in the back penalty negated yet another touchdown.
Instead of a 10-3 lead, Texas was backed up at its own 10-yard line with 2:25 left in the first half, but Ewers made big throws to Sanders and Jordan Whittington to get Texas away from its own goal line. The Longhorns were putting together another solid drive, but true to theme of the first half, an intentional grounding penalty from Ewers stalled the drive and forced Auburn to kick a career-long 50-yard field goal, but he nailed it to give Texas the lead.
The Cyclones will receive the second-half kickoff.
