Longhorns Roll Rice 48-13 behind Ehlinger’s 3 touchdowns

HOUSTON, Tx — The #12 Texas Longhorns showed no signs of a hangover from the loss to LSU a week ago, defeating the Rice Owls 48-13 at NRG Stadium on Saturday night.  Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger had another impressive evening, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns in the win, marking the team’s 14th straight win over the Owls.

The Longhorns started fast and did most of their damage to Rice early on, scoring 31 of their 48 points in the first half.

Ehlinger’s first touchdown pass on the night went to Roschon Johnson for 25 yards on the opening drive of the game. The touchdown, his 45th at Texas, propelled him past Vince Young on the all-time career touchdown list. He currently sits at #5 behind James Brown, Chris Simms, Major Applewhite and Colt McCoy.

On Texas’ next possession, Ehlinger capped a 7-play, 90 yard drive with a 53-yard touchdown strike to Jake Smith to make the score 14-0.

Keaontay Ingram’s first of two rushing touchdowns came early in the second quarter, on a rumble for 26 yards into the end zone to extend the Texas lead over the Owls to 21-0.

Jake Smith’s second touchdown from Ehlinger came at the 6:33 mark before the half on a 12-yard throw on the run. Smith scrambled into the right corner for the score, making it 28-0 in favor of Texas.

Cameron Dicker connected from a career-long 57 yards out with 1:01 left before halftime to give Texas a 31-0 halftime lead.

Texas center Zach Shackelford went down with a foot injury in the second quarter and did not return.

Sam Ehlinger was pulled late in the third quarter, with backup Casey Thompson taking charge of the offense.

The lone score of the 3rd quarter came courtesy of Keaontay Ingram’s 14 yard rush. Texas extended the lead to 38-0.

Rice put their first points of the night on the board at 7:50 left in the 4th quarter on a touchdown pass from Tom Stewart to Austin Walter.  Owls kicker Will Harrison missed the extra point, leaving Texas with a 38-6 lead over Rice.

With 3:29 remaining in the game Cameron Dicker made good on his second field goal of the night, this time from 46 yards out.

Stewart would find his favorite target once again, connecting with Austin Walter for a touchdown with 1:07 left in the game.  Rice trimmed the Texas lead to 41-13.

On the ensuing kickoff, D’Shawn Jamison returned Will Harrison’s kick 97 yards for a touchdown.

As the game clock expired, Texas defeated the Owls 48-13 and improved to 2-1 on the season.

GAME NOTES

• Sam Ehlinger continued his solid start to the season, completing 23/27 passes for 279 yards and 3 TD’s. Ehlinger was pulled late in the third quarter.
• Starting tailback Keaontay Ingram scored two touchdowns and rushed for 74 yards.
• Roschon Johnson rushed 11 times for 59 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards and one touchdown.
• Wide receiver Jake Smith had his first multiple touchdown game, catching 6 passes for 75 yards and two scores.
• Center Zach Shackelford re-injured his foot and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
• Linebacker Joseph Ossai injured his shoulder in the 4th quarter and will also undergo an MRI.
• Kicker Cameron Dicker hit from a career-long 57 yards out and also connected from 46 yards out.
• Malcolm Epps made his first career start for Texas against Rice, and caught four passes for 53 yards.
• Running Back Daniel Young saw his first action of the season after coming back from a high ankle sprain. Young rushed four times for 16 yards.
• D’Shawn Jamison returned a kick for a touchdowns for the Longhorns, which was the first for Texas since 2012.
• Texas has defeated Rice 42 of the last 43 times in the series.