Inside the numbers: Mississippi State-Texas first half stats
Mississippi State and top-ranked Texas have reached halftime at DK-Royal Memorial Stadium and the Longhorns hold a 14-6 advantage.
Texas wasted little time denting the scoreboard on its first possession of the game. After forcing a turnover on downs, Texas marched 72 yards in just five plays to take a 7-0 lead with 6:06 remaining in the first quarter. Texas tailback Jaydon Blue capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
In the second quarter, Mississippi State’s Zakari Tillman partially blocked a Texas punt to set up the offense in great field position at the Longhorns 37 yard line. Kyle Ferrie later drilled a 45-yard field goal and State trailed 7-3 with 9:24 remaining in the first half.
On the Bulldogs’ next possession, they reached the red zone for the first time in the opening half. But State had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Ferrie and trailed 7-6 with 1:56 left in the half.
However, Texas wasn’t done and made the most of its final drive of the half. The Longhorns went 75 yards in 1:27 and on third down, Arch Manning connected with DeAndre Moore for a 49-yard touchdown pass, giving Texas a 14-6 lead with 29 seconds left in the opening half.
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In the first half, the Bulldogs had 171 yards of offense with 115 coming on the ground. State has nine first down and were 4 of 10 on third down. The Bulldogs held the ball for 21:03 of the first half and had four penalties for 35 yards.
Texas totaled 212 yards of offense in the opening half with 202 coming through the air. The Longhorns had 10 first downs and were 2 of 6 on third down. Texas held the ball for just 8:57 of the first half and had two penalties for 20 yards.
Individually, Mississippi State freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren was 5 of 10 passing for 56 yards and is making his first career start. Johnnie Daniels paced the ground game with 10 carries for 56 yards while Kevin Coleman had two catches for 19 yards.
For Texas, Manning was 15 of 19 for 202 yards and one touchdown. Blue had five rushing attempts for 15 yards and a touchdown while Isaiah Bond had four catches for 73 yards.
