Arch Manning dazzles in relief of injured Quinn Ewers

Arch Manning scored early and often, accounting for five touchdowns after entering UTSA game for an hurt Quinn Ewers.

He’s the most famous backup quarterback in college football. But until Saturday night, Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning was more famous for his family name than his play on the football field. That started to change after a dominant performance in relief of Quinn Ewers.

Manning entered Saturday night’s game against UTSA early in the second quarter after Ewers suffered what is being called an ‘abdomen strain.’ It didn’t take long for Arch to make an impact.

With the offense on the 19-yard-line, Manning hit DeAndre Moore for a TD. One play, one TD.

After Robert Henry’s 53-yard TD, the Texas offense took over on its own 25-yard-line. After a Quintrevion Wisner’s 8-yard run, Manning electrified the crowd with a 67-yard TD run off of a zone read. Fitting since it was the longest TD run by a QB since Vince Young.

Before the half, Manning hit Isaiah Bond on a 51-yard catch and run touchdown to build a 28-7 lead at the break. Arch then hit freshman Ryan Wingo on a 75-yard bomb in the third quarter and Johntay Cook II in the fourth on a 12-yard score. Manning then gave way to third string QB Trey Owens. Manning was complimentary of his team after the game.

“It helps when you have great players around you and good coaches. Isaiah Bond, Ryan Wingo, the O-line, they all played really well. They make it a little bit easier for me. Obviously there’s a lot to improve on and grow from, but I’m glad I got to get in there and get hit again and feel what it’s like.” — Arch Manning

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game the staff will have to determine the severity of Ewers injury, but nothing seems broken.

“I think Quinn’s in pretty good spirits. I talked to him on the sidelines there. He was playing such good football. My hope is this isn’t a long-term thing, that we’ll get him back, because we need as many healthy good players as we can get for this journey that we’re on right now. Because Quinn’s been through it and I think because those other injuries he got with the shoulder were so structural and they were contact-type injuries, I think he’s probably in a little better spirits. We’ve got to do everything on our part to get him as healthy as we can as quickly as possible.” — Steve Sarkisian

With UL Monroe coming to Austin next weekend, it is a good bet Arch Manning will get his first start as a Longhorn on Saturday.