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Bijan Robinson scores first touchdown of Steve Sarkisian era

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•09/04/21•

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When the question of “who will score the first touchdown of the Steve Sarkisian era” arose, most guessed sophomore running back Bijan Robinson. On Saturday, those guesses proved correct.

On the Longhorns’ second offensive drive against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, Robinson capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive that took 5:43 off the clock with an 18-yard touchdown reception from Hudson Card.

The “mesh” play call from 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) identifies the running back as the primary option. Robinson was left uncovered, Card delivered an accurate ball, and Robinson waltzed into the north end zone for the first touchdown of the young season.

Card converted several first downs to keep the drive alive, including a 4th-and-6 scramble on the Louisiana 40. He was 2-of-3 for 27 yards on the scoring drive.

Robinson touched the ball six times on the 11-play drive, with his touchdown catch serving as his second reception of the drive.

Texas took the lead 7-3 as a result after allowing a Louisiana field goal on the Ragin’ Cajuns’ previous drive. Both teams traded three-and-outs to start the game.

The first score of Sarkisian’s predecessor, Tom Herman, came via a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Holton Hill against the Maryland Terrapins. The first offensive score under Herman was a Shane Buechele to Armanti Foreman 33-yard touchdown pass.

The first score of the Charlie Strong era was a one-yard run by Malcolm Brown against the North Texas Mean Green in 2014.

Ricky Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner who is being honored at halftime in recognition of the renaming of the Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium playing surface to Campbell-Williams Field, scored the first touchdown under former head coach Mack Brown in 1998 against the New Mexico State Aggies. Williams began his Heisman campaign with a four-yard score in the first quarter of the season-opener.

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