The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-1
Rice
1-1
Football takes home opener with 42-28 win over Rice
09.12.2015 | Football
Texas sets a school single-game record with 175 total punt return yards in the victory.
Postgame Notes | Quotes | Photo gallery | Longhorns Gameweek | Video highlights
AUSTIN, Texas — Boosted by a school single-game record 175 punt return yards, Texas secured its 16th straight home opening win and 13th consecutive victory over Rice as the Longhorns raced past the Owls on Saturday night at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, 42-28.
Senior wide receiver Daje Johnson was at the forefront of the return yardage record, bringing back three punts for 119 yards (39.7 average), including an 85-yard, first quarter scamper.
Freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard certainly made an impact in his first career start on the Forty Acres, throwing for 120 yards and two TDs while also rushing for 96 yards. Senior running back Johnathan Gray and sophomore receiver Armanti Foreman also scored in the first quarter to put Texas up 21-0 after the opening 15 minutes.
After stopping Rice on its opening drive, Texas wasted little time moving down field on its opening possession to nab a quick 7-0 lead via a 32-yard strike from Heard to Foreman. The signal caller also utilized his speed in helping UT on the nine-play, 80-yard drive as a 35-yard run by Heard on third-and-11 helped keep the drive alive.
After a quick three-and-out by Rice, Johnson pounced with his 85-yard punt return. The Pflugerville, Texas, native fielded the punt at his own 15-yard line and weaved his way through a crowd of blockers up the left sideline to pay dirt, expanding Texas' lead to 14-0. The punt return for a score marked the first for a Longhorn since Johnson also raced 85 yards for a TD during a 36-20 Texas victory over Oklahoma back on Oct. 12, 2013.
Another Burnt Orange special teams highlight came soon after, this one via senior cornerback Duke Thomas on his first career punt return of 56 yards, setting the Longhorns up in prime real estate at the Owl six-yard line. From there, a pair of Johnathan Gray rushes, including a one-yard TD plunge, staked the Longhorns to a three-touchdown advantage with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter.
With Rice desperate to cut into an early deficit, a promising 13-play, 52-yard drive early in the second stanza was briefly snuffed out on sophomore safety Jason Hall's first career interception. Unfortunately for the Horns, a fumble during the return from the end zone was recovered by the Owls at the Texas 35. Granted a second opportunity, Rice needed just four plays to get on the board as Stewart finished things off on an acrobatic 22-yard TD rush.
The Owls clawed within seven points with 2:27 remaining in the opening half as Stewart completed a 16-play, 87-yard drive by taking an option pitch around left end and completing a 16-yard scoring run on a somersault just inside the pylon.
With Rice just 27 yards from potentially tying the contest with 31 seconds remaining in the half, Texas junior safety Dylan Haines picked off a Driphus Jackson pass at the goal line allowing the Horns to take their 21-14 lead to the break.
Straight out of the locker room, UT needed only 6:46 off the third quarter clock to restore its three-score advantage.
First, Heard hooked up with freshman wide receiver John Burt on a 69-yard TD reception down the right sideline on the first play of the drive. Then just over six minutes later, rookie linebacker Malik Jefferson scooped up a Jackson fumble and rumbled 26 yards to the end zone to push Texas in front, 35-14.
The Longhorns continued adding to their advantage late in the third on a two-yard TD rush by sophomore running back D'Onta Foreman.
The Owls continued to fight in the fourth quarter with a pair of late touchdowns. The first came on a four-yard toss to Temi Alaka with over six minutes to play and was followed by a 14-yard pass to Luke Turner.
With less than a minute left on the clock, Rice recovered an onside kick at the 42-yard line, but could get no closer as Texas' Breckyn Hager intercepted a pass on the last play of the game.
Texas returns to action at home on Sat., Sept. 19, by hosting California in a 6:30 p.m. CT kick-off at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Team Stats
RICE 0, UT 7
UT - Foreman, Armant 32 yd pass from Heard, Jerrod (Rose, Nick kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:54
RICE 0, UT 14
UT - Johnson, Daje 85 yd punt return (Rose, Nick kick)
RICE 0, UT 21
UT - Gray, Johnathan 1 yd run (Rose, Nick kick), 2 plays, 6 yards, TOP 0:42
RICE 7, UT 21
RICE - STEWART, Samuel 22 yd run (FOX, Jack kick), 4 plays, 35 yards, TOP 1:26
RICE 14, UT 21
RICE - STEWART, Samuel 16 yd run (FOX, Jack kick), 16 plays, 87 yards, TOP 6:49
RICE 14, UT 28
UT - Burt, John 69 yd pass from Heard, Jerrod (Rose, Nick kick) 1 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:23
RICE 14, UT 35
UT - Jefferson, Mali 26 yd fumble recovery (Rose, Nick kick)
RICE 14, UT 42
UT - Foreman, D'Onta 2 yd run (Rose, Nick kick), 5 plays, 28 yards, TOP 1:52
RICE 21, UT 42
RICE - ALAKA, Temi 4 yd pass from JACKSON, Driphu (TOBOLA, Hayden kick) 18 plays, 75 yards, TOP 9:24
RICE 28, UT 42
RICE - TURNER, Luke 14 yd pass from STEHLING, Tyler (TOBOLA, Hayden kick) 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 3:48
