This weekend, the Longhorns traveled to Columbia with several key players on the injured list. Before the game, Cam Coleman was ruled out, but Colin Simmons and Graceson Littleton received clearance to play. Despite the absences, Texas’ offense once again came alive. Led by Arch Manning’s three touchdown passes, the Longhorns secured a key 34-20 road victory over No. 18 Missouri.
Tigers Get Off to a Hot Start
Missouri came out firing on Saturday. With 8:40 remaining in the first quarter, the Tigers opened the scoring with a quick 2-yard touchdown pass from Austin Simmons to tight end Brett Norfleet.
Later, with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter, Missouri held a 20-13 lead. The Tigers capitalized on a major defensive miscue when Naeshaun Montgomery broke a tackle and took a Simmons pass 72 yards for a touchdown.
Arch Mania
Despite receiving good news about their No. 7 ranking earlier in the week, the Longhorns initially played like the underdog. However, Arch Manning delivered when Texas needed him most. He finished with 297 passing yards and three touchdowns.
After Missouri took the lead in the third quarter, Manning connected with Jermaine Bishop for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20. Texas then took the lead when Manning found running back Raleek Brown for a 23-yard touchdown, putting the Longhorns ahead by seven.
Defense Calls Game
With momentum on their side, the Texas defense stepped up in a big way. Defensive back Warren Roberson forced a fumble, and Graceson Littleton recovered it. With a chance to score, Littleton wisely slid just short of the end zone. The decision forced Missouri to use its remaining timeouts and effectively sealed the victory.
Raleek Brown put the finishing touches on the win with his second touchdown of the game, extending Texas’ lead to 34-20.
Looking Ahead
With the victory, the Longhorns have now defeated four ranked opponents this season. Next weekend, Texas will look to add another ranked win when it travels to Death Valley to face LSU.
It’s been a winding road, but Texas is back on track. In a season filled with chaos, the Longhorns have put themselves in a position with some breathing room. Just a few weeks ago, that scenario would have seemed improbable. Now, if you are a Texas fan, you’ll have to hold your breath as the season is about to hit some turbulence.
