The Texas Longhorns kicked the ball to the Colorado Buffaloes to get the Alamo Bowl underway. The Buffs would quickly give the ball right to the Horns offense.
After Bijan Robinson opened up the game with a 27-yard rush and a long catch and run by Joshua Moore, Texas found themselves in the redzone rather quickly in this game. Robinson would get the scoring started with a touchdown run to give the Longhorns an early lead 7-0.
After forcing another three and out on defense, the offense struggled to get moving as the staff put Roschon Johnson in place of Robinson. The offense would turned the ball over on downs. Colorado would start moving down the field before DeMarvion Overshown picks off Sam Noyer to get the ball back for Texas.
Look at him GO
🤘 @Bijan5Robinson pic.twitter.com/DanEZHQKnJ
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 30, 2020
The Longhorns would put the freshman back at running back. Robinson would race down the field on a 50-yard run. He would later score on a 14-yard screen pass for his second touchdown of the game. The Longhorns would go up 14-0 at that point in the game. The biggest key throughout the first quarter is the offense struggles to move when they take Robinson out of the game.
We're in the Matrix 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gqXvHoDJ2c
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 30, 2020
The first quarter closed with the Buffaloes driving and facing a third and two. Colorado was unable to keep a consistent drive and would end up kicking it back to Texas. It would be a back and forth of trading punts by both offenses after being unable to sustain any drives.
Colorado would start at midfield after a holding call on the punt, the Buffaloes would bring in a freshman at quarterback. Brenden Lewis would find Dimitri Stanley to get the offense into the redzone. On three attempts, the defense stiffens up and stuffs the offense. Running back Jarek Broussard would get into the endzone with a great second and third effort. They cut the lead to 14-7 with 6:58 to go in the half.
The Longhorns would immediately punt the ball away after going three and out once again. Bijan Robinson clearly missing from the game since 5:28 to go in the first quarter. He went four-straight drives standing on the sideline after averaging 17.7 yards per touch in the first quarter.
Robinson would get his first snaps in five series and Sam Ehlinger would lead the team right down the field on two quick throws. He would find Jordan Whittington for 34-yards and then Cade Brewer up the seam for another 38-yards. The drive would stall and after missing his first kick, Cameron Dicker nails a 52-yard kick for the 17-7 lead with just over two minutes to go.
Colorado would drive down the field and get into the red zone. On third down after Noyer’s touchdown pass was dropped, Vernon Broughton’s sack forces the field goal. Texas still up 17-10 with 0:43 left in the half. The Horns run out the clock and will get the kickoff in the second half.
Stats:
Sam Ehlinger- 10/16 160 yards 1 TD
Bijan Robinson- 7 touches, 114 yards, 2 TD
Alfred Collins and DeMarvion Overshown- 1 INT each