The second quarter opens as Cameron Dicker nailing a 34-yard field goal to take the lead 10-7. The defense forced a three and out that quickly gave the ball back to Texas. On the ensuing drive Sam Ehlinger would face a third down and eight, he found Jake Smith down the seem. The WVU defender made a fantastic play on the ball to force a Longhorns punt.
The Longhorns defense has been the dominant force early on in this game. After facing a third and 15, the WVU offense would run the ball but only get five yards. The Texas offense would take over near midfield after a punt from the Mountaineers.
After crossing into West Virginia territory, Sam Ehlinger was sacked at midfield on third and three. Texas punts the ball and twice Josh Thompson downed another punt inside the five for the Texas special teams unit. After getting a first down run by Leddie Brown, the defense stuffed his next run and Moro Ojomo sacked Jarret Doege. After what looked to be a D’Shawn Jamison interception, Isaiah Esdale snatched the ball away for a first down.
After it appeared that the Longhorns had stopped the offense on third down, Ta’Quon Graham was called for roughing the passer to extend the drive. WVU would face yet another third down where Anthony Cook tackled Brown in the open field to force a fourth down decision. T’Vondre Sweat swatted a Doege pass that he catch and threw it again. That would be a penalty and loss of down to give the Horns the ball.
After two Roschon Johnson runs, they faced a third down and four. Ehlinger ran it up the middle on a designed run to get the first down conversion. Christian Jones would be called a hold to push Texas back out of field goal range for the moment. The WVU defense would prevent Ehlinger from running the ball and then an incompletion to Roschon would set up Texas with third and 21. Ehlinger found Smith for 14 yards to set up another Dicker attempt.
Dicker misses the 48-yard attempt to keep the lead at three for the Longhorns.
Stats
Ehlinger: 9-18, 87 yards TD
Robinson: 5 carries, 77 yards
Smith: 2 receptions, 26 yards
Eagles: 2 receptions, 18 yards TD