The Texas Longhorns are preparing to host the UTEP Miners on Saturday in their first game of the year. However, it was four years ago on this date they these two teams last met. The quarterback for the Longhorns was Shane Buechele, starting for then head coach Charlie Strong. It was the second game following ESPN’s Joe Tessitore claiming “Texas is back folks!”
NBA All-Star forward and former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant was on hand for this game. Durant was on the sideline to take in this game. Unlike the previous game, the Longhorns weren’t expecting much of a fight from UTEP.
The Miners started off the game getting the ball first, however after a three and out the Longhorns got the ball. It started out as a promising drive. In fact it started inside UTEP territory after an Armanti Foreman return of nine yards. Texas would fumble the ball away but after another three and out, Texas got the party started.
Following a Jake Oliver catch for 10 yards and a personal foul from the Miners, Texas quarterback Shane Buechele found former quarterback Jerrod Heard for a 29-yard touchdown catch in the front corner of the endzone. That gave Texas the early 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Longhorns would add a field goal. They were set up when Brandon Jones blocked a punt from UTEP deep in Miners territory. The offense would go three and out before Trent Domingue 33-yard field goal.
On a third and one for the Miners, future Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones goes 51 yards for the touchdown. Texas lead cut down to just three. Unfortunately for the Miners, that would be their entire offense on the day. Texas would add another field goal to go up six. Buechele would find Jacorey Warrick for a touchdown just before the half. That made up for his fumble on the opening drive that robbed Texas of a touchdown.
Texas would outscore UTEP 21-0 in the second half. Chris Warren III started it off with a one-yard run midway through the third. Buechele would connect with Dorian Leonard for a 46-yard touchdown, Texas led at that point 34-7 with 6:07 left in the quarter.
Early on the fourth quarter Buechele would find Jerrod Heard again giving him his second touchdown of the game. Not a bad way to spend your birthday at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas would win this game 41-7.
Key Stats:
Buechele: 22/27 244 yards 4 TDs
Warren: 20 carries 95 yards 1 TD
Warrick: 7 receptions 73 yards 1 TD
Leonard: 2 receptions 52 yards 1 TD
Heard: 6 receptions 46 yards 2 TDs