Chandler Rogers run vs Texas 2022
10
ULM ULM 0-1 , 0-0
52
Winner Texas TEX 1-0 , 0-0
ULM ULM
0-1 , 0-0
10
Final
52
Texas TEX
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ULM ULM 3 0 0 7 10
TEX Texas 14 10 21 7 52

Game Recap: Football |

ULM Can’t Overcome Early Miscues; Drops Season Opener at Texas

By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

AUSTIN, Texas – ULM didn't put its best foot forward in a season-opening 52-10 loss to Texas Saturday night at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

The Warhawks (0-1) surrendered touchdowns on a blocked punt and an interception return, committed seven penalties for 73 yards, and were outgained, 383-259 total yards, in a lopsided affair.

"Preseason, they're picked to be the favorite in the Big 12," ULM coach Terry Bowden said. "You've got to ask yourself, 'Are we a team that's ready to compete for the Big 12 Championship?' Tonight we weren't.

"We can play better, but they were a better football team in every phase of the game."

Opening-day starting quarterback Chandler Rogers completed 14-of-19 passes for 108 yards with one interception and three sacks. Unable to run the ball effectively, ULM rushed for 92 yards on 41 attempts, averaging 2.2 yards per carry.

Third-team quarterback Garrett Hable hit a 46-yard pass to Jevin Frett and Zack Martin ran for a 23-yard score with 3:39 remaining to highlight ULM's lone touchdown drive. In his collegiate debut, Martin ran four times for 39 yards to lead ULM on the ground.

The Warhawks found trouble early.

After a stalled first offensive series, D'Shawn Jamison surged up the middle for Texas to block Devyn McCormick's punt. Keilan Robinson scooped and scored from 12 yards out and the Longhorns led 7-0 with 13:12 showing in the first quarter.

"When you look at the way they were able to keep us on our heels on special teams, it was bigger than you think," Bowden said. "We were always backed up, had a big blocked punt for a touchdown and a big punt return led to a touchdown. They were just better than us in all phases and we needed some breaks here or there to keep this game close. They were the better football team and they'll be the better football team tomorrow."

ULM linebacker Tristan Driggers interrupted Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers' debut with an interception with 9:35 to go in the opening period. Linebacker Quae Drake provided pressure to force the errant throw.

ULM turned the takeaway into points after starting at the Texas 42. The Warhawks moved 34 yards in 10 plays and Calum Sutherland kicked a 25-yard field goal to cut the score to 7-3.

Ewers threw his first career touchdown on the ensuing drive, finding Ja'Tavion Sanders for a 19-yard score to extend the Texas lead to 14-3. The Longhorns covered 64 yards in seven plays.

A 43-yard pass from Ewers to Casey Cain set up a third Texas touchdown. One play later, Roschon Johnson rushed up the middle for a 16-yard score for a 21-3 Longhorns lead with 10:50 left in the half. Texas needed just 1:49 to cover 73 yards in five plays.

Bert Auburn's 41-yard field goal with 3:14 left before the half put Texas ahead 24-3. The Longhorns moved 25 yards in seven plays to collect the points.

The 21-point margin held until halftime, as Auburn missed a 38-yard field goal as time expired.

"They have really put us on our heels in the kicking game," Bowden said as he left the field after two quarters. "They make a big return or block a punt. But our kids are still fighting. If we can make the next score, we can get back in this game."

Texas outgained ULM. 215-102 in total yards, in the first half while averaging 7.9 yards per play. The Warhawks were limited to 3.0 yards per play in the half and flagged five times for 43 yards.

Rogers completed 7-of-10 passes for 64 yards and was sacked once. Dariyan Wiley 23-yard reception was ULM's longest play of the half.

The Longhorns scored 21 points in the third quarter to run away from the visitors.

Texas opened the third quarter with a six-play, 52-yard scoring drive capped by Robinson's 16-yard touchdown catch from Ewers. The Longhorns needed just 1:46 to extend the lead to 31-3.

After another stop by the Texas defense, Robinson punctuated a five-play, 50-yard march with a 9-yard touchdown run to put Texas up 38-3 with 9:41 left in the third.

Robinson, who blocked the punt in the early going, intercepted a tipped pass from Rogers and returned the interception 69 yards for a score with 7:13 left in the third quarter as Texas now led 45-3.

With reserves in the game late, Texas quarterback Jonathon Banks ran in a 19-yard touchdown for a 52-3 fourth-quarter lead.

Martin's 23-yard scoring run, the first of his career, made it a 52-10 game with 3:39 to play. The Warhawks moved 83 yards in five plays for their lone touchdown.

"We've got to learn from this and grow from this," Bowden said. "Some of the best seasons I've had at a Group of Five school have come after a tough, tough loss to a competitive Power Five team."

Enemy lines: Robinson and Ewers had short, productive nights before exiting in the third quarter.

Ewers completed 16-of-24 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns while Robinson had 10 carries for 71 yards and one score. Robinson added three catches for 40 yards and another touchdown.

The Longhorns welcome Alabama to DKR-Memorial Stadium in Week Two, their first regular-season matchup since 1922.

Something special: Quincy Ledet sacked Ewers for a loss of 9 yards late in the first half. The strong defensive play on first-and-15 from the ULM 15 helped limit a potent Texas offense to a field goal.

Good call: Facing third-and-6 from the ULM 19, Rogers rushed up the middle for 12 yards to the ULM 31 for a first down on the final play of the first quarter.

Up next: ULM plays host to Nicholls State in the home opener at Malone Stadium. Kickoff for the White Out is 7 p.m.

Tail feathers: ULM game captains were NG Caleb Thomas, PK Calum Sutherland and TE Zach Rasmussen. … Steven Jyles, ULM's record-setting quarterback from 2002-2005, was selected as honorary captain for the contest. As a senior in 2005, Jyles earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors while leading ULM to a share of the league championship. He also became the first ULM quarterback to record four consecutive 2,000-yard passing seasons. … West Monroe product Ryland Green, a red-shirt freshman tight end, made his first career catch for 12 yards and a first down in the first quarter. … Quarterbacks Jiya Wright and Hable saw brief action in relief of Rogers. Hable had a 46-yard strike to Frett for his first ULM completion.
 
 
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