Texas Longhorns vs West Virginia: First quarter recap

The Texas Longhorns and West Virginia Mountaineers end the first quarter tied 7-7. Sam Ehlinger and Bijan Robinson led the way for Texas.

After pulling off the upset of Oklahoma State, the Texas Longhorns are back on the football field to take on West Virginia. The game started with Texas getting the kickoff and would start at the 25. ON the first carry of the game, Bijan Robinson busted a long run to get to the WVU 21-yard line.

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger had Jake Smith open in the end zone but threw it too far outside of him. He would find Brennan Eagles on the next play for a first down. After two failed runs by Roschon Johnson and Ehlinger, Sam found Eagles for the opening touchdown of the game.

On the first possession for WVU, the Longhorns had their first opportunity to create a turnover. Freshman defensive tackle Alfred Collins dropped an easy one. On the next play Jarret Doege threw it down field to get the Mountaineers into the red zone. Leddie Brown ran it up the middle for the tying touchdown with 8:58 left in the first quarter, 7-7.

On the first play, Robinson showed off his agility and power. After a first down run, the Longhorns would face a third and four. Ehlinger tried to find Smith, but it falls incomplete. The Longhorns would have to punt it away and pinned WVU deep in their own territory.

After a short run by the offense and an incomplete pass, they faced a third and seven from the six yard line. Safety Caden Sterns stopped the WVU runner at the nine to force a punt. The Longhorns would take over at the Mountaineers 48-yard line.

The Longhorns offense would not gain a first down on the first three attempts. On fourth down the Longhorns went for it and Bijan would look short after being met by Tony Fields. After measuring it was confirmed to be just inches short to give the ball back to WVU.

Facing a second and ten, Longhorns linebacker Juwan Mitchell met Alec Sinkfield in the backfield to force a third and 10. Doege was able to find a wide receiver and able to gain a first down after maneuvering through traffic. DeMarvion Overshown played well in coverage to knock down a would be reception. Facing a third and nine, the WVU offense would run the ball and Joseph Ossai would blow up the play in the backfield.

In the closing minutes of the first quarter, Texas would get the ball deep in Horns territory. Ehlinger would find Smith on the sideline for a first down to get out of the showdowns of their own endzone. Ehlinger would run the ball on second and two to get the first down. Following the play, Ehlinger took a deep shot to Eagles that would fall incomplete but WVU gets called for pass interference.

Texas would get into the Mountaineers territory after Ehlinger finds Tarik Black to keep the drive going. After a run by Ehlinger he would miss his next throw to Jake Smith in the end zone. WVU defense would stop Ehlinger as the quarter closes with a 7-7 tie.

Stats

Ehlinger: 6/11, 60 yards TD

Robinson: 4 carries, 75 yards

Eagles: 2 receptions, 18 yards TD