AUSTIN (KXAN) — Explosive plays and timely defensive stands helped No. 1 Texas cling to a 14-6 halftime lead over Mississippi State in the Longhorns’ Southeastern Conference opening game Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Arch Manning, starting at quarterback for the second consecutive game in place of the injured Quinn Ewers, hit DeAndre Moore with a 49-yard touchdown pass in the waning moments of the first half to give the Longhorns their lead. Manning finished the half 15-for-19 for 202 yards.
Manning was 4-for-4 for 54 yards on the first drive of the game that ended on a Jaydon Blue 1-yard touchdown run. Manning connected with receivers on plays of 22, 20 and 16 yards on the drive.
Mississippi State played keep-away from the Longhorns with a decent amount of success, holding the ball for 21:03 in the first half. Texas had the ball for 8:57.
The Texas defense, however, never broke and made big third-down stops to force the Bulldogs into two field goal tries. Kyle Ferrie hit kicks from 32 and 45 yards to get the Bulldogs on the board.
Texas had just 10 rushing yards in the first half to the Bulldogs’ 115. Conversely, the Bulldogs had 56 passing yards to Texas’ 202. Mississippi State used both of its freshmen quarterbacks, Michael Van Buren Jr. and Chris Parson, in the first half.