Xavier Worthy sparks Longhorn passing game in win over WVU
On one of the first plays of the game versus Texas Tech in Lubbock last Saturday, Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy sustained an injury to his lower leg. He continued to play through it until late in the first half, when he left the game and did not return to a contest the Longhorns would eventually lose.
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This week, while playing through his dings versus West Virginia, Worthy proved why he is so valuable to the Longhorn passing attack with a seven-catch, 119-yard, two-touchdown performance, plus a passing touchdown.
“I thought Xavier had a tremendous game tonight,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Accounted for three touchdowns and over 100 yards receiving.”
Worthy caught one touchdown in the first quarter when Hudson Card stood in the pocket and delivered a ball from 15 yards out. Later in the first, Sarkisian pulled a play from his bag of tricks to help Worthy score in a different way.
With the Longhorn offense on the WVU 33, Card quickly lined up under center and took the snap. He lateralled to Worthy on a play that resembled a bubble screen. Much to the shock of the Mountaineer defense, Worthy then looked downfield. What he saw was a wide open Ja’Tavion Sanders. Worthy made an on-target throw to No. 0 to give Texas a 14-0 lead.
“Perfect ball by X, honestly,” Sanders said.
Players the quality of Worthy tend to be the beneficiary of off bounces of the ball from time to time, too. That held true early in the third quarter when Texas exited halftime with a 28-7 lead, and were driving in an attempt to grow the margin.
Card took a snap on the WVU 44, but was flushed from the pocket. He rolled left and started looking downfield despite having room to run in front of him.
He wanted Worthy in the end zone.
Worthy was covered tightly, but Card still heaved it. A WVU defender tipped the ball into the air, where it floated for what seemed like seconds. Worthy jumped into position under the ball to make the play, and hauled it in before it hit the ground for his third overall touchdown.
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“Probably wasn’t the smartest decision on my part,” Card said. “I tried to give X a chance, and he came down with it. Credit to him, he made it.”
Worthy’s performance was his fifth 100-plus receiving yard game as a Longhorn and the first of the 2022 season. It was his ninth game with a receiving touchdown, and he now has three on the year.
Five other Texas players hauled in passes. Sanders had five catches for 78 yards and two scores. Birthday boy Jordan Whittington had three catches for 58 yards. Keilan Robinson added three receptions for 26 yards, and Bijan Robinson hauled in two passes for 34 yards. Roschon Johnson rounded out the receiving numbers with two catches for 21 yards.
Overall, Card was 21-of-27 for 303 yards and three scores in one of his best performances in burnt orange.
“I thought JT had a really good game,” Sarkisian said. “Jordan Whittington had some really good catches. I thought Hudson played a really good football game for us tonight.”
The party started thanks to Worthy, who helped the Longhorn passing yard total reach 336 though multiple methods.
