LIVE BLOG: Texas opens the season versus Louisiana-Monroe
The 2022 season is finally here, and the Texas Longhorns will host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium to open the second year of the Steve Sarkisian era. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will air on Longhorn Network.
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Pregame updates
First to the field: Ja’Tavion Sanders
In pregame warmups, the only quarterbacks on the field are Quinn Ewers, Hudson Card, and Charles Wright.
Steve Sarkisian’s gameday outfit is a white long sleeve under a white vest with gray pants and white shoes.
Though he wasn’t present in pregame warmups, Maalik Murphy is suited up and looks as if he is the third-string quarterback. QB pecking order: Quinn Ewers – Hudson Card – Maalik Murphy – Ben Ballard – Charles Wright.
Roschon Johnson doesn’t have any sort of wrap or brace on his foot. He’s dressed to play.
Captains: DeMarvion Overshown, Bijan Robinson, Ovie Oghoufo, and Roschon Johnson
Alfred Collins is dressed to play. So is Luke Brockermeyer.
Jordan Whittington is taking reps at XWR in pregame warmups.
Behind Ja’Tavion Sanders, Gunnar Helm is the second tight end in 12 personnel looks in pregame warmups. No sign of Jahleel Billingsley.
First quarter
Texas wins the toss and defers. Will Stone kicks off, it’s a touchback.
Before a second ticks off the clock, ULM is charged with a delay of game. The Longhorns force a three and out to start things off after swarm tackling a rusher for a loss on second down. Jaylon Guilbeau, who started, gets the PBU on third down.
D’Shawn Jamison blocks the punt. Keilan Robinson recovers and scores. Bert Auburn hits the extra point. 7-0 Texas
Starting from the 25 on their second drive, the Warhawks gain a first down with a Chandler Rogers completion to Rylan Green. Barryn Sorrell with the sack to stall the drive and force a punt.
The Longhorns’ drive begins with a Bijan Robinson rush, then is followed by an incompletion. On third down, Quinn Ewers is intercepted.
Starting on the Texas 42, Rogers completes a pass to Tyrone Howell as he gets hammered by Sorrell. Third down is a Rogers completion to Boogie Knight for a first down. On another third and long, Rogers finds a receiver inside the five to make it first and goal. Texas makes it third and goal, and Overshown records a tackle for loss on Rogers. ULM hits a 25-yard field goal. 7-3 Texas.
For drive two, Robinson starts with a huge rush to get into Warhawk territory. The Longhorns get into third and five, but can’t get the first. On fourth down, Ewers finds Ja’Tavion Sanders for a first. Touchdown, Ja’Tavion Sanders! 14-3 Texas
Rogers picks up a first down with his legs to close out the first quarter.
Second quarter
Another third down for the ULM offense, and Jamier Johnson makes sure that the Warhawks have to punt yet again.
After a couple of short passes and a penalty to start the drive, Ewers finds Gunnar Helm for a first. He then finds Casey Cain for a huge gain before Roschon Johnson rushes it in from 16-yards out. 21-3 Texas
ULM starts on the 13 after a penalty on the kickoff. They gain a first down on the ground, then another with a pass from Rogers to Knight. Facing third and 10 on the 35, Overshown grabs Rogers’ shoelace to bring him down before the sticks and force another punt. Then, Xavier Worthy returns the ball 39 yards into Warhawk territory.
Bijan Robinson with some strong running to take the Longhorns inside the 30, then Ewers finds Worthy to make it first and goal. Texas goes backward after a false start and a sack. On third and long, Ewers can’t find Worthy in the end zone. Bert Auburn hits a 41-yard attempt. 24-3 Texas
Rogers begins the series with another rush. Facing third down, Moro Ojomo makes a third down stop, and Texas calls a timeout. ULM lines up to go for it but calls a timeout and will bring on the punt unit.
With 1:26 and two timeouts, the offense takes the field. A screen pass to Robinson gets the Longhorns into ULM territory, but Kelvin Banks is slow to get up. He jogs off under his own power. He’s back in the game. Texas faces third and ten with a minute left and runs the ball. On fourth down, Ewers finds Sanders for a first down and puts Texas in field goal territory. A quick completion gets Texas in closer. The snap is mishandled by Isaac Pearson, and the kick is no good.
Halftime: Texas 24, ULM 3
Third quarter
Texas begins near midfield after another pooch kick is returned by Whittington to the Texas 38. He helps Texas pick up a first down in ULM territory. Ewers then moves round the pocket to find Sanders for a big gain into the red zone. Then, he finds Robinson on a swing pass for a score from 16 yards out. PAT good. 31-3 Texas
On the ensuing Warhawk drive, Sorrell and Ojomo meet at the quarterback to stop the drive in its tracks.
Robinson opens the series with a rush, then Ewers misses Worthy downfield when it looks like the turf monster got him. Ewers then finds Whittington for a first down inside the ULM 35. Ewers then hits Sanders inside the 10, and the Longhorns are in business again.
Bijan Robinson scores from nine yards out. 38-3 Texas
ULM opens the drive against a Longhorn defense with a lot of second stringers with a quick pass. A RPO puts it at third and short, but ULM gets the first. A back-shoulder throw puts ULM across the 50. Rogers throws a deflected pass, and D’Shawn Jamison returns it to the house. 45-3 Texas
ULM quickly gets to a third down after taking possession, and a sack from Keondre Coburn changes possession.
Upon return to play, Hudson Card is at quarterback with the first offense. He’s sacked, then Isaac Pearson drops the punt. He gets it away, but it’s a stinker.
ULM takes over with second-stringers in against a lot of second-string defenders. Ethan Burke gets another tackle, and it brings up fourth down. ULM goes for it, but a penalty messes up the attempt. ULM punts.
On the first play for the Longhorns after the punt, Card is sacked. With three true freshman OL on the field on third and very long, Card hits Gabe Sulser well short of the sticks at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth quarter
ULM still has the starting QB in, and he rushes for a few yards. He also completes a pass but Ryan Watts delivers a big blow to the receiver at the catch. A few plays later on third and long, a short completion brings up fourth down. Rogers is almost wrangled in the backfield, but Devin Richardson tackles him short of the sticks to change possession.
With Card at QB, Johnson carries for a few yards. Texas moves the ball down the field, even with Jonathon Brooks at tailback, to gain a first down inside the ULM 35. Facing third and medium, Brooks is stopped short of line, but the Longhorns stay on the field. Card finds Sulser for a first to keep the drive alive. Then, Brooks rushes it in from 19-yards out for the score. 52-3 Texas.
Starting inside their own 20, the Warhawks run two plays and reach third and medium. ULM gets a huge gain and into Texas territory, with plenty of lower-on-the-depth-chart players now in the game. From 23 yards out, ULM scores their first touchdown of the night. 52-10 Texas
Charles Wright enters the game at QB behind five freshmen OL. Texas goes three and out.
ULM takes possession, and moves into UT territory, but the Longhorns win.
52-10 Texas
