AUSTIN, Texas —
FINAL: TEXAS 28, TULSA 21
RECAP:
Texas started this game the complete opposite way it started the game against Maryland. In week one, the offense and defense came out flat and found themselves in a deep deficit early. This week, it was the Longhorns who came out firing the cannons over and over. The Texas offense looked completely different in week two, as they propelled the Longhorns with 21 first half points. Texas took a 21-0 lead into halftime thanks to three (technically four, but a penalty erased one) missed field goals by Tulsa. Tulsa did bounce back in the second half with 14 unanswered points and made things interesting for a moment, but Ehlinger and the Longhorns ended all comeback hopes with a strong, 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth. Tulsa did respond again quickly with another touchdown to narrow the game to a one-possession affair late. However, the Longhorns iced the game with a 10-play drive that ate the last five minutes of the game.
Texas has now won 18 of its last 19 home openers and 108 overall in program history. The Longhorns will take the field again in Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium next weekend when the USC Trojans come to Austin.
WATCH THE TEXAS POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE HERE:
4TH QUARTER
***TEXAS LEADS 28-21***
TEXAS (Own 25)
A short screen pass to Humphrey and a Watson rush gave Texas a quick first down to the 36-yard line. Back-to-back Watson rushes set up Texas with a third and one yard to gain at the Texas 45-yard line. Only 2:43 remains in the game at this point. Ehlinger carried the ball for a first down to the Tulsa 48-yard line. Young carried the ball for eight yards on first down, and on second down completed obliterated a Tulsa defender on his way to a 30-yard gain into the red zone. On first down, Texas ran the ball again to kill clock, and Tulsa took its second remaining timeout -- 36 seconds are left in the game. Texas took a knee and Tulsa used its final timeout with 33 seconds left. Texas wins its home opener 28-21.
TULSA (Own 25)
Skipper ran the ball on a quarterback keeper for five yards. Brooks followed that up with a three-yard run to set up third and two. Skipper passed complete left for a first down. Stokes kept the train rolling with a 16-yard run. Skipper topped off a nearly perfect drive with a deep touchdown pass over the top of the Texas defense to bring the Longhorn lead back within one possession. This drive was only five plays and one minute and thirty-two seconds. Texas leads 28-21 with 4:53 left to play.
TEXAS (Own 25)
Back-to-back passes to Lil'Jordan Humphrey moved the sticks for a new set of downs. Two straight short passes set up third and three for Texas, and Ehlinger called his own number and scrambled for a first down to midfield. Ehlinger completed a pass to the left to Collin Johnson for another first down to the Tulsa 29-yard line. Watson carried the ball to the left for a short gain, but was called back due to a holding penalty, setting the Longhorns up with second and 13 from the 32-yard line. A six-yard gain on a run set up third and seven for the Longhorns. Ehlinger juked a couple of defenders up the middle and picked up a first down to the 12-yard line. Ehlinger called his own number again on first down, but was stopped for a one-yard gain. On second down, Ehlinger found Watson on a swing route to the right and Watson trotted into the end zone for Texas' first touchdown of the second half. Texas extended its lead to 28-14.
TULSA (Own 39)
After two runs, Skipper scrambled up the middle for a first down. On the following play, Skipper completed a deep pass down the right sideline to Keylon Stokes for 48-yards. On the Texas one-yard line, Brooks punched it in for a Tulsa touchdown. Tulsa has narrowed the Texas lead to 21-14.
TEXAS (Con't)
Ingram started the fourth quarter with a three-yard rush to give Texas a third and eight to gain. Ehlinger's pass intended for Humphrey over the middle was dropped, and Texas punted the ball to the Tulsa 39-yard line.
3RD QUARTER
***TEXAS LEADS 21-7***
TEXAS (Own 11)
Ehlinger found Ingram on a check down for a short gain on first down. Texas went to a wildcat formation on second down and picked up a first down on a solid carry from Humphrey. A loss of one yard on third down ended the third quarter. Texas leads 21-7 after three quarters.
TULSA (Texas 33)
Texas laid a huge hit on the Tulsa running back on the first lay, which caused a fumble.
But Tulsa recovered the ball and continued the drive. After a few short runs, Skipper laid a stiff arm on a broken play scramble on fourth down to convert for the first down. Brooks ran a tough carry up the middle to the Texas four-yard line. On second and four, Tulsa finally got on the scoreboard with a four-yard touchdown run by Brooks. The extra point was converted and Tulsa narrowed the Texas lead to 21-7.
TEXAS (Own 4)
A long run by Tre Watson was negated due to a holding penalty. After a short carry from Ingram, Texas was set up with a third and eight from their own six-yard line. Ehlinger completed a short pass to Johnson, but it was not enough to get a first down. The Longhorns shanked the punt and Tulsa would take over at the Texas 33-yard line.
TULSA (Texas 32)
Back-to-back short runs set up third and seven from the Texas 29-yard line. Skipper's pass intended for Keylon Stokes was incomplete. Tulsa went for it on fourth down and Skipper completed a pass for a first down to the Texas 19-yard line. A few carries on the ground set up a new set of downs inside the Longhorns' 10-yard line. Texas' defense was stout inside the five, however, to force another fourth down. On fourth and goal from the five, Texas ran Skipper out of bounds at the four-yard line to turnover the ball on downs.
TEXAS (Own 25)
Ehlinger fumbled the ball on the 32 yard lune and it was recovered by Tulsa.
TULSA (Own 16)
Texas forced Tulsa to a three and out and the Golden Hurricane punted the ball to the Texas 25-yard line.
TEXAS (Own 25)
Texas deferred to the second half at the coin toss and would receive in the second half. The kickoff was kicked out of the end zone for a touchback. Ehlinger completed a swing pass to Ingram but a holding penalty wiped that out and backed the Longhorns up for a first and 15 from the 20 yard line. Ehlinger completed an eight-yard pass to Collin Johnson. Ingram carried the ball for 10 yards on second down to set up a third and short. Ehlinger kept the ball on a zone read and was tackled for a loss. Texas punted to the Tulsa 16-yard line.
HALFTIME NOTES
Holy missed field goals. Tulsa missed four field goals... count them: one, two, three, four (even though one technically didn't count and was wiped by a penalty). Texas' offense looks completely different than it did in week one. Ehlinger is connecting on passes down the field -- including a 36 yarder to Lil'Jordan Humphrey on the first drive and a 40-yard touchdown pass to Humphrey later in the second quarter. By all accounts, Texas is dominating Tulsa in this game thus far.
Sam Ehlinger was 10-for-15 passing for 168 yards and one touchdown in the first half. Ehlinger also rushed for a touchdown. Keaontay Ingram led all Longhorn rushers with 50 yards on six carries and a touchdown.
2ND QUARTER
***TEXAS LEADS 21-0***
TEXAS (Own 20)
Keaontay Ingram started the offensive attack on this drive with a rush for no gain, but followed it up with an eight-yard rush on second down. That last carry took the game to halftime. Texas leads 21-0.
TULSA (Own 25)
Skipper bounced back strong with back-to-back pass plays for first downs. At midfield, Tulsa took a jet sweep to the left for 26 yards to Texas' red zone.
A short run on first down and an incomplete pass on a broken play on second down set up third and five from the Texas 19 yard line. Tulsa used a timeout with 1:32 remaining in the first half. Skipper threw a pass over the middle on a skinny post, which hit the receivers hands and was dropped. Tulsa's kicker missed another field goal, but a running into the kicker penalty wiped out the play. Tulsa will get another chance to put points on the board. With a fourth and one from the Texas 14-yard line, Tulsa decided to go for it. A false start backed up the Golden Hurricane to fourth and six. They marched the field goal team back on the field. Tulsa missed yet another field goal. Wow. Texas leads 21-0 with 1:17 left to play in the first half.
TEXAS (Own 20)
Texas started out the drive strong with a 16-yard carry from Tre Watson. Texas continued to ride on the legs of Watson. Back-to-back Watson carries gave Texas a third and one. Texas fed Watson again on third and short. A Tulsa penalty gave Texas an automatic first down at midfield. The Longhorns continued to dominate on the ground with a 10-yard Ingram carry. Then, Ehlinger caught the defense off guard with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Humphrey. Texas leads 21-0.
TULSA (Texas 45)
Skipper completed a pass left to Keylon Stokes for a first down. Shamari Brooks gained three yards on a first down carry to the Texas 31. Skipper called his own number on a 15-yard quarterback keeper to give Tulsa a first and 10 in the red zone. Skipper tried to throw a fade to the back right corner of the end zone on second down, which was broken up. On third and 6 from the Texas 12 yard line, Skipper completed a pass right to Brooks for no gain. Tulsa missed the 29 yard field goal. Texas leads 14-0.
TEXAS
Back-to-back carries from Watson set up Texas with third and 2. Texas called Tre Watson's number again on a zone read and he got three yards and a first down into Tulsa territory. Ehlinger passed short left to bring up second and four. Tre Watson carried the ball for no gain -- third and short for the Longhorns on the Tulsa 40. Ehlinger took a shot deep for the end zone and the pass was broken up. Texas will punt. Tulsa blocked the punt and take over from the Texas 45 yard line.
TULSA
Skipper threw a slant over the middle on first and 10 from inside his own five yard line, which was dropped. But a roughing the passer penalty gave Tulsa a free first down. A holding penalty on the next play backed the Golden Hurricane up 10 yards. Tulsa took a deep shot on first and 20 from the 10 yard line that was incomplete. A short run set up a third and 14 for Tulsa. Skipper threw a short crossing route over the middle which was stopped by the Texas defense. Tulsa punted the ball to the Texas 41 yard line.
TEXAS
The Longhorns started the second quarter with momentum from the interception by Foster. Texas drove the ball into Tulsa territory but were stopped before getting into field goal range. A Texas punt downed Tulsa on its own five yard line.
1ST QUARTER
***TEXAS LEADS 14-0***
TULSA
After a short run and an incomplete pass, on third down Tulsa quarterback Luke Skipper threw an interception to Texas' B.J. Foster and that ended the first quarter.
TEXAS
Two short passes from Ehlinger set up a first down in Tulsa territory. Keaontay Ingram finished off the drive with a 29-yard run for a touchdown to give Texas a 14-0 lead.
TULSA
Texas forced a three and out and took over from the Tulsa 42 yard line.
TEXAS
Ehlinger connected on another big gain down the right side for 35 yards into Tulsa territory. On second down and 5 from the 33 yard line, Ehlinger called his own number on a zone read for a first down. On the next play, Ehlinger ound his tight end Andrew Beck to the Tulsa seven-yard line. On first and goal from the seven-yard line, Ehlinger completed a pass in the flat to the tight end to bring the Longhorns to the two. Tulsa held on strong on the goal line to force a turnover on downs.
TULSA
Tulsa drove the field into Texas territory but were eventually set with a fourth down and 2, which they converted. The Golden Hurricane ran the ball on first and second down with little gain to set up third and eight from the Texas 26 yard line. On third down, Tulsa’s quarterback took a deep shot down the left sideline, which was incomplete. Tulsa attempted a 43-yard field goal, which was no good. Texas takes over at the 26 yard line.
TEXAS
Texas began the first drive after the interception with back-to-back penalties and a strike down the field to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Sam Ehlinger took a quarterback keeper in the endzone for an early touchdown to give Texas a 7-0 lead.
TULSA
Tulsa returned the ball to the 16 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Tulsa quarterback threw an interception to and the Longhorns take over at the Tulsa 47 yard line.
Texas won the toss and chose to defer to the second half. Tulsa chose to receive the ball to start the game.
PREGAME
Texas faces Tulsa in its first home game of the season. The Longhorns look to bounce back from a disappointing 29-34 loss to unranked Maryland. UT was ranked No. 23 at the time of that contest.
Tulsa comes to Austin after a sub-par 38-27 home win over Central Arkansas -- an FCS team.
KVUE sports reporter Shawn Clynch and digital producer Paul Livengood talked about what to expect at kickoff. WATCH HERE.
Texas is 107-15-3 (86.8 percent) all-time in home openers and has won 17 of its last 18 home openers. Saturday marked the first ever meeting between Texas and Tulsa. However, Longhorns head coach Tom Herman was 2-0 against the Golden Hurricane in his coaching career heading into the matchup.
Longhorn fans also might want to bring their rain jackets and umbrellas to the game on Saturday because weather is expected to play a factor in the Austin area around kickoff time.
Here is a timeline of the gameday events:
The Longhorns dedicated their performance on Saturday and for the rest of the season to the late UT alumnus Frank Denius. Denius' seat in Section 4, Row 15, Seat 26 would be memorialized before the game and will remain empty for the 2018 season.