© Scott Wachter, USA TODAY
Live In-Game Updates: FINAL: Longhorns 52, ULM 10
The Texas Longhorns hit the ground running for the 2022 season Saturday night, as the Horns host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for a 7 p.m. start.
The Longhorns enter the year unranked for the first time since 2016 after a 5-7 season in 2021. But the second year under coach Steve Sarkisian brings major expectations of improvement, as both sides of the ball are set to take a step forward if Texas' newest transfer additions are any indication.
All eyes will be on arguably the biggest transfer of them all, as quarterback Quinn Ewers is set to make his Longhorns debut. He won the position battle over Hudson Card, who started last year's season opener against Louisiana before relinquishing the spot to Casey Thompson.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson is also set to begin his junior year and is expected to be one of the country's best players as he aims toward a run at Heisman contention.
The Warhawks enter Saturday's game after a 4-8 record in 2021. Coach Terry Bowden begins his second season with the program.
Follow along with LonghornsCountry.com as we provide live in-game updates of Saturday's game against the Warhawks.
ULM has won the toss and will receive the opening kick.
FIRST QUARTER:
The Warhawks' first play is snuffed way behind the line of scrimmage, brining up a 2nd and 21.
ULM quarterback Chandler Rogers tried to complete it to receiver Boogie Knight, but the Longhorns defense forced the incompletion with a group effort on third-and-long.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: D'Shawn Jamison blocked the ensuing punt, as Keilan Robinson picks it up and runs it in for the games first score. The Horns take an early 7-0 lead.
change of possession
The Warhawks begin the next drive on their own 25-yard line.
Rogers connects with tight end Rylan Green for the first down depute a huge hit from Texas safety Anthony Cook.
But faced with another third down, Rogers couldn't shake free as Barryn Sorrell came up with the sack to force a punt.
change of possession
Ewers took a deep shot a Worthy on Texas' first offensive drive before tossing an interception on the next play. The Warhawks had just come up with a huge early stop.
change of possession
ULM will begin its next drive at the Texas 42-yard line.
Rogers was faced with quick pressure on the drives first place, but lofted a pass to receiver Tyrone Howell, who made an impressive toe-tapping catch.
Faced with another third down, Rogers ran a run-pass option and found Knight for the first down.
Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown nearly came up with an interception two plays later, bringing up a third down for ULM.
But Rogers delivered his best throw at this point in the night, finding receiver Dariyan Wiley for a 23-yard gain.
Overshown got home to Rogers on the ensuing 3rd and goal to force a field goal from ULM.
FIELD GOAL ULM: The Warhawks take advantage of the Ewers interception to tack on their first points of the night. Texas leads 7-3.
change of possession
Texas will begin its second offensive drive at its own 36-yard line.
Bijan Robinson break through for his first big carry of the day, taking it up the middle for a 21-yard gain.
But the Warhawks snuffed out Robinson on the next two plays, bringing up a fourth down for Texas. The Longhorns went for it, as Ewers connected with tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders for a five-yard gain.
Robinson then ran for another 13 yards on the next play.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: After converting on earlier fourth down, Ewers found Sanders wide open again for a 19-yard score.
change of possession
The Warhawks retuned the short kickoff and will start at their own 15-yard line.
Rogers converts with his legs on the ensuing third down, picking up 12 yards for the first. The fist quarter comes to a close.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Texas 14, ULM 3
SECOND QUARTER
The Warhawks begin the second failing to convert on the next set of downs and will punt to Xavier Worthy.
Worthy picked up the bouncing punt but doesn't get very far, as the Longhorns will begin at their 27-yard line.
change of possession
Ewers connects with Worthy for his first catch as he picks up five yards.
The connection continues for the next play, as Worthy gets his third-straight catch of the drive.
Casey Cain gets in on the action in a big way, picking up a catch-and-run of 43 yards to set Texas up in the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: After Cain's big gain, Roschon Johnson darts his way into the end zone from 16 yards out for this first score of the season. Texas leads ULM 21-3.
change of possession
Rogers finds Knight with a toe-tapping completion along the right sideline for a first down.
But the Longhorns prevented Rogers from escaping the pocket on third down and forced another punt.
change of possession
Worthy reverses field on the ensuing punt and takes it 21 yards to the Texas 37-yard line. Fifteen yards were added on after a late hit by ULM.
Robinson picks up a catch on the drives first play before picking up 11 yards on the next play.
Ewers then found Worthy for a 19-yard completion, setting the Horns up at the 10-yard line. But an ensuing false start set them back five yards.
After the penalty, the ULM pass-rush got home to Ewers and took him down for a nine-yard sack.
Ewers looked Worthy's way on the long 3rd and goal, but the pass came late as Worthy was too far into the back of the end zone.
FIELD GOAL TEXAS: Bert Auburn connects on the field goal to give extend Texas' lead to 24-3 with three minutes left in the half.
change of possession
ULM will begin at its own 25-yard line after the touchback.
The Warhawks couldn't muster anything with their next possession, as they were forced to punt after a three-and-out.
change of possession
The Longhorns began the next drive with a screen pass to Bijan Robinson, who scurried his way for 16 yards.
Ewers then unloaded a deep bomb to Worthy, but overthrew him.
Faced with another fourth down, the Longhorns found similar results. Ewers connected with Sanders again for his second fourth-down conversion of the half.
Auburn almsot had his second field goal, but a bobbled hold from Hudson Card forced the kick to shank to the right in the final seconds of the half.
HALFTIME: Texas 24, ULM 3
THIRD QUARTER
The Longhorns take the short kick to begin the second half and will begin at their own 48-yard line.
Ewers connects with receiver Jordan Whittington on a short throw, as the Horns pick up the first down on third-and-medium.
Ewers then found Sanders for a nifty throw off a scramble, as the dynamic tight end ran for 25 yards.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Ewers finds Bijan Robinson on the right side of the field, as the Longhorns' top weapon made his way into the end zone for a 16-yard score. Texas was now up 31-3.
change of possession
The Warhawks begin their next drive at their own 25-yard line.
But the drive ended quickly, as another sack from Sorrell forced a three-and-out.
change of possession
The Longhorns begin their next possession just outside of enemy territory at the 50-yard line.
Ewers missed Worthy on another deep shot, but connected with Sanders and Whittington for nice gains to set the Longhorns up for another score.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Robinson finished off the quick drive with his second score of the game. He bullied his way through the ULM defense for a nine-yard touchdown, as Texas extended its lead to 38-3.
change of possession
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: After a few minimal gains by ULM, Texas snatched swept in for another non-offensive score as D'Shawn Jamison picked off Rogers and ran it back for a touchdown. Texas extended its lead to 45-3.
change of possession
Another possession yielded nothing for ULM, as the Warhawks went three-and-out again.
Jamison resumed punt-returning duties and fielded this one at the Texas 40-yard line, where the Longhorns would start their next drive.
change of possession
Hudson Card now replaces Ewers at quarterback with under five minutes left in the third quarter.
But the Longhorns weren't able to muster any yardage on his first possession, going three-and-out.
change of possession
Card threw two incompletions and was sacked as the third quarter came to a close.
END OF THIRD: Texas 45, ULM 3
FOURTH QUARTER
ULM's next drive went six plays for 21 yards before the Warhawks turned it over on downs.
change of possession
The Longhorns and Card got the ball back and put together the first scoring drive since Ewers exited.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Jonathon Brooks had five carries on the drive before his sixth resulted in a 19-yard touchdown. Texas had extended its lead to 52-3.
change of possession
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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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