AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: Scores and highlights from Texas Longhorns versus UTEP will be updated in this article on gameday.
FINAL: TEXAS 59, UTEP 3
FULL GAME ANALYSIS:
Texas dominated from start to finish. The University of Texas entered the matchup a 44-point favorite, and the Longhorns made sure to make that happen and then some. Sam Ehlinger had a career-high performance, throwing for 426 yards and five touchdowns, all of which was a production of the first half. Ehlinger played one drive in the third quarter and was pulled for the game to avoid injury. Casey Thompson and Hudson Card filled in at quarterback for the rest of the second half. Thompson also threw two touchdowns in UT's season opener.
Nine Texas receivers had multiple catches in the game.
"I think spreading the wealth is probably going to be a common theme throughout the season," Tom Herman said. "We don’t have a guy like Devin Duvernay right now. We’ve got a few guys that are plenty good enough to make a difference in a game and I thought Mike [Yurcich] and the offensive staff had a really good plan. We were fairly inconsistent at wide receiver heading into the game and throughout training camp. We wanted to make a point to get the ball to them early and often, get them some confidence, find out who’s made of what and I was really, really proud of the way that unit stepped up.”
The Texas defense held UTEP to 190 yards passing and 53 yards rushing. UT either forced a turnover or made the Miners punt on 11 of their 13 offensive drives. UTEP never gained an offensive rhythm throughout the game.
Next up, Texas is scheduled to play Texas Tech on Sept. 26.
Fourth quarter:
TEXAS 59, UTEP 3
TEXAS (OWN 46): Texas kneeled out the game. Texas wins 59-3.
UTEP (OWN 8): Reynaldo Flores ran up the middle for no gain. Brownholtz completed a short pass to the flat for seven yards. On third and three, Brownholtz was sacked by the Longhorns defense but a late hit penalty moved the chains. Flores slashed up the middle for a first down. Flores picked up another five yards to the UTEP 43-yard line, and then picked up a first down with another five-yard run. Ronald Awatt picked up three yards. Isiah Bravo entered the game at quarterback for the Miners. Bravo scrambled and was stopped just before the first down marker to set up fourth and short. On fourth and three, Bravo overthrew his receiver downfield.
TEXAS (OWN 30): Former Lake Travis star Hudson Card entered the game at quarterback. Roschon Johnson carried the ball up the middle for eight yards. Johnson carried the ball up the middle again for a first down. Card pulled the ball on a zone read and threw the ball backwards on a lateral to Malcolm Epps for a big gain to the UTEP 15-yard line. Jarrett Smith ran up the middle for two yards. Card pulled the ball on a zone read option and ran for a gain of seven. A false start backed up the Longhorns five yards. On third and six, Smith ran up the middle for three yards. On fourth and three, Card threw a pass for the end zone, which fell incomplete. UTEP will take over on downs.
UTEP (OWN 25): Calvin Brownholtz completed a stop route for a first down. Brownholtz took a shot deep on the left sideline but the pass was dropped. Brownholtz completed a six yard out-route. On third and four, Brownholtz completed a first down pass to Walter Dawn Jr. Brownholtz completed a six-yard stop. A false start backed up the Miners five yards. On third and nine, Alfred Collins sacked Brownholtz. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas 30-yard line.
TEXAS (CON'T): Casey Thompson ran a designed quarterback run for nine yards. Thompson threw a screen pass to Kai Money for a loss of two yards. Thompson connected with Money again, this time for a first down. Roschon Johnson picked up the first down after back-to-back runs up the middle. Thompson capped off the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Washington. Texas leads 59-3.
Third quarter:
TEXAS 52, UTEP 3
TEXAS (OWN 45): Keaontay Ingram picked up a short gain for a few yards. UTEP was called for an offsides penalty, which Texas accepted. Ingram pounded up the middle for a few more yards and a first down. This play ended the third quarter.
UTEP (OWN 25): A false start backed up the Miners five yards. Willie Eldridge picked up two yards on a run up the middle. Calvin Brownholtz completed a five-yard out route to Josh Farr. Brownholtz threw an incomplete pass on third and eight. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas 45-yard line.
TEXAS (OWN 32): Bijan Robinson broke off a 30-yard run to start the drive. Casey Thompson looked for Brenden Schooler but the pass was incomplete. Robinson ran for four yards tot he UTEP 34-yard line. Thompson took a shot for the end zone and connected with Brennan Eagles for a 34-yard touchdown. Texas leads 52-3.
UTEP (OWN 36): Willie Eldridge ran for two yards and then was stopped for a loss of three yards. On third and 11, Calvin Brownholtz completed a pass to Miles Banks for six yards. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas 32-yard line.
TEXAS (OWN 14): Casey Thompson replaced Sam Ehlinger for the night. Bijan Robinson started the drive with a four-yard run. Thompson had a wide-open Marcus Washington along the sideline, but Washington dropped the pass. On third and six, Thompson sailed a pass out of bounds. Texas punted the ball to the UTEP 36-yard line.
UTEP (OWN 35): Hardison fired a pass along the sideline that fell incomplete. Hardison found Justin Garrett on a five-yard out route. On third and five, Hardison completed a pass short to Willie Eldridge, who was tackled short of the first down. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas returner D'Shawn Jamison, who returned the kick 78 yards for a touchdown. However, the touchdown was called back for a block in the back penalty.
TEXAS (OWN 20): Keaontay Ingram ran to the right for five yards. Ehlinger threw a screen pass to Joshua Moore for one yard. On third and four, Ehlinger scrambled up the middle and was stopped short of the first down. This was the first Texas punt of the game. Texas punted the ball to the UTEP 35-yard line.
UTEP (OWN 25): Gavin Hardison threw his first pass of the second half incomplete as he had pressure in his face. Deion Hankins ran up the middle for three yards. On third and seven, Hardison was sacked by the facemask. The penalty gave UTEP a fresh set of downs. Hankins was stopped for a loss of one yard by Joseph Ossai. Hardison hit Jacob Cowing for a first down. Hankins took a direct snap out of the Wildcat and picked up five yards. Hankins broke a tackle and gained a first down on another Wildcat run. Hardison completed a pass to Justin Garrett for nine yards. Willie Eldridge was stopped on back-to-back runs in short yardage situations. On fourth and two in the UT red zone, Hardison took a shot at the end zone and the pass fell incomplete.
Halftime analysis:
Sam Ehlinger has posted career highs ... in just the first half. Ehlinger has thrown for 424 yards and five touchdowns. Eight different UT receivers have multiple catches, including Texas walk-on wide receiver Kai Money.
The Texas defense has been dominant. UT forced UTEP to punt on its first four drives and caused a turnover on the fifth. Texas' defense held UTEP to only 11 yards rushing and 110 yards passing in the first half.
Second quarter
TEXAS 45, UTEP 3
UTEP (OWN 25): UTEP kneeled the ball to take the game to halftime. Texas leads 45-3.
TEXAS (OWN 25): Sam Ehlinger completed a jump ball to Jordan Whittington for 43 yards. Ehlinger checked the ball down to Bijan Robinson on the swing pass for another first down. A false start backed up the Longhorns five yards. Ehlinger completed another first down over the middle to Kai Money. Ehlinger ran for three yards to the six-yard line. Ehlinger thew his fifth touchdown pass of the game to Kai Money. Texas leads 45-3.
UTEP (OWN 25): Ronald Awatt got tripped up in the backfield by his teammate Gavin Hardison for a loss of six yards. Hardison completed a pass over the middle to Jacob Cowing for six yards. On third and 10, Hardison connected with Justin Garrett on a go route for a big gain across the 50-yard line. Hardison looked for Garrett again on the sideline but the pass was incomplete. Hardison hit Cowing on a eight-yard out route. On third and two, the Longhorns defense stopped the run for no gain. UTEP lined up in a Wildcat formation on fourth and 2. Hankins picked up the first down on the direct snap. UTEP stuck with the Wildcat formation again and Hankins picked up another short gain on first down. Awatt was stopped after gaining one yard. Hardison kept the ball on a zone read option on third down and was stopped for a loss. Gavin Baechle connected on his second field goal attempt to put the Miners on the board. Texas leads 38-3.
TEXAS (OWN 32): Keaontay Ingram ran up the middle for a short gain, then ran again for three yards. On third and one, Sam Ehlinger hit Joshua Moore on a screen for a first down. Ehlinger hit his tight end, Brayden Liebrock, on a screen to the left. Ehlinger went back to Liebrock on the next play for a first down. Keaontay Ingram ran up the middle for 5 yards. Ehlinger connected with Moore over the middle. Ingram ran to the left for a gain of five yards. Ehlinger sailed a pass into the end zone intended for Brennan Eagles. On third and five, Ehlinger sailed another pass intended for Eagles. Cameron Dicker hit his second field goal attempt. Texas leads 38-0.
UTEP (OWN 25): Gavin Hardison rolled out to his right and fired a pass incomplete. Hardison completed a pass over the middle for a first down. Deion Hankins ran around the right end for a short gain. On third and six, Hardison completed a stop route to Devaughn Cooper for a first down. Hardison completed a 17-yard strike over the middle to get into Longhorns territory. Joshua Fields carried the ball up the middle for a gain of one yard. Hardison sailed a throw high over the middle to set up third and long. On third and nine, Hardison sailed the pass. Gavin Baechle missed the field goal attempt.
TEXAS (UTEP 42): Sam Ehlinger found Tarik Black on a shallow cross for a gain of four yards. Ehlinger scrambled in the pocket and threw a risky pass, which was caught by Black, and Black fumbled the ball after gaining yards after the catch. The fumble was ruled to be recovered by a UT player. The play was reviewed and the call on the field stood as called. Ehlinger capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Black. Texas leads 35-0. Ehlinger now has four passing touchdowns and 311 yards.
UTEP (OWN 25): Joshua Fields ran around the right end for no gain. Gavin Hardison was picked off by Josh Thompson.
TEXAS (OWN 24): Sam Ehlinger connected with Brenden Schooler for a big gain to midfield. Ehlinger overthrew a pass downfield. Ehlinger found Joshua Moore on a shallow cross to gain a first down. On his second catch, Schooler broke a tackle and capped off the drive for a 40-yard touchdown. Texas leads 28-0.
First quarter
TEXAS 21, UTEP 0
UTEP (OWN 26): Deion Hankins ran up the middle for a gain of four yards. Hankins got fed the ball again on a run up the middle to set up third and short. On third and three, Hankins was stopped short of the first down. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas 24-yard line. The punt ended the first quarter. Texas leads 21-0.
TEXAS (OWN 48): Keaontay Ingram ran up the middle for a short gain of two yards. Sam Ehlinger connected on a crossing route to Marcus Washington to the 24-yard line. Ehlinger took an end zone shot for Tarik Black but the pass was a little long. Ehlinger looked to Bijan Robinson on a swing pass for a loss of one yard. One third and 11, Ehlinger threw an out route to Joshua Moore, which fell incomplete. Cameron Dicker missed the field goal. Texas leads 21-0 with 2:09 left in the first quarter.
UTEP (OWN 25): Deion Hankins rushed up the middle for no gain. Gavin Hardison looked to take a deep shot over the middle but the pass was overthrown. On third and 10, Hardison's pass was broken up by Caden Sterns. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas 48-yard line.
TEXAS (OWN 30): Bijan Robinson took the first carry of his collegiate career for three yards up the middle. Sam Ehlinger hit Tarik Black for his first catch in a Longhorns uniform, which gave UT a first down. Robinson ran up the middle again for a short gain of two yards. Ehlinger found Black on a stop route for a medium gain of 27 yards. Ehlinger completed a stop route to Moore on the other side. Robinson ran up the middle for no gain at the 16-yard line. Ehlinger checked the ball down to Roschon Johnson on a running back screen, but offsetting penalties wiped the play. Jordan Whittington took a jet sweep reverse down to the one-yard line. Johnson punched it in from the one and Texas extended its lead to 21-0.
UTEP (OWN 25): Joshua Fields took the first carry up the middle for no gain. Gavin Hardison hit Justin Garrett over the middle for a first down. Hardison looked deep along the right sideline, but the pass was long. Hardison threw a bubble screen to Jacob Cowing but he dropped it. On third and 10, UTEP was stopped by the Texas defense for the second straight drive. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas 30-yard line.
TEXAS (OWN 33): Sam Ehlinger attempted the same play UT scored on the first play but to the other side to Brennan Eagles, which fell incomplete. Roschon Johnson picked up nine yards on his first carry and followed up with a big run that was wiped out due to offsetting penalties. On third and one, Ehlinger hit Jordan Whittington for his first catch and a first down. Ehlinger hit Cade Brewer on a short route to the flat for six yards. Johnson ran up the middle for a short gain. On third and three near midfield, Ehlinger ran up the middle for a first down. Keaontay Ingram pounded up the middle for seven yards, breaking a few tackles along the way. Ehlinger hit Brewer for his second catch of the drive to the 20-yard line. Ehlinger looked for Brennan Eagles deep in the end zone, but the throw was incomplete. Ehlinger found Brewer to cap off UT's second drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass. Texas leads 14-0.
UTEP (OWN 16): UTEP started with a delay of game. Gavin Hardison threw a screen pass to his right which fell incomplete. Hardison hit Walter Dawn Jr. over the middle for a gain of nine yards. On third and one, Joshua Fields was stopped for a loss. UTEP punted the ball to the Texas 33-yard line.
TEXAS (OWN 22): UTEP won the toss and deferred. Texas will receive first. On the first play of the game, Sam Ehlinger hit Joshua Moore over the middle for a 78-yard touchdown. Texas leads 7-0.
PREGAME
Saturday, Sept. 12, marks the start of the 2020 college football season for the Texas Longhorns.
UT will begin its season hosting the University of Texas at El Paso Miners, who enter the matchup 1-0 after defeating Stephen F. Austin, 24-14. Having a game under their belt was something University of Texas head coach Tom Herman noted as a factor going into Saturday.
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"This is a team that is 1-0, a team that, like you said, has played a game," Herman said. "I think we all have been around this game long enough to know that the old adage is true that teams make their biggest improvement from game one to game two. They've already had their game one and we have not. They're going to have had the chance this week to work out some kinks that we're going to probably still be working out to be quite honest with you. And that's OK. It beats the alternative of not playing at all."
Texas – ranked No. 14 in the country – is understandably favored to win the game.
In fact, Texas has never lost to UTEP in program history. In five meetings between the schools, the Longhorns average win margin is more than 30 points per game, according to Texas Athletics.
The Longhorns released the team's depth chart on Monday ahead of the season opener. For a look at who the starters are, click here.
On the morning of gameday, Austin American-Statesman sports writer Kirk Bohls reported that the Longhorns had zero positive coronavirus tests among their players, coaches and support personnel.
RELATED: 'We Are One' | Texas Longhorns to wear 'unified message' jersey patch to address racial injustice
The Longhorns also unveiled a "unified message" on a patch sewn onto their jerseys to address racial injustice. The patch simply stated "We Are One" sewed in black and white on the top righthand corner of the jersey.
The University of Texas also rolled out a new layout and features on its "Texas Longhorns mobile app" for fans in attendance at Longhorns sporting events across the Forty Acres.
With the app, UT fans can manage game tickets, order concessions and merchandise remotely in advance, participate in trivia, polling and other games and more.
ESPN's matchup predictor gives UT a 99.8% chance to win against UTEP on Sept. 12.
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