Texas vs. Rice

Texas Longhorns vs. Rice Owls - Houston, Texas

Game Review by Hammondeggs

Texas Running back Tre' Newton scored 3 TDs in the
34-17 defeat of Rice

The big moment is finally here. The day we have all been waiting for. The University of Texas Longhorn Football Team with a new quarterback at the helm, takes the field for the first time this season versus the University of Rice in Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas.
There are many questions heading into this season. Will the defense be able to hold up in a competitive 10 team Big 12 after losing superstars like Earl Thomas, Sergio Kindle and Roddrick Muckelroy? Can Garret Gilbert live up to the hype? And of course most important of all, can the Texas Longhorns make it back to the BCS National Title Game?
The Horns got off to a slow start in the first quarter, allowing a field goal by Rice and failing to score from inside the 5 yard line on 4th down. On the ensuing Rice possession, however, Texas’ linebacker Keenan Robinson intercepted a pass thrown by the Rice quarterback. Texas would score a field goal on that possession to tie the game 3-3 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Rice missed a field goal at the start of the second quarter and after working their way down the field, Texas scored a touchdown off of a 1 yard rush by running back Tre’ Newton making the score UT-10, Rice-3 after the extra point. Rice would start their drive at the 31 yard line and after two rushes which netted -3 yards, Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue was sacked by Sam Acho and fumbled. Keenan Robinson picked up the ball and ran it in for the touchdown. The score was 17-3 with 6:24 left in the half. Rice would be forced to punt on their next possession. After a 31 yard pass from Garret Gilbert to wide receiver John Chiles, Tre’ Newton scored his second TD of the game from the 1 yard line. Rice would score a TD off of a tipped pass late in the half making the score 24-10 at halftime.
The 3rd quarter started with 2 missed field goals by Texas punter turned kicker Justin Tucker and a punt. On their 4th possession, after a 16 yard pass from Gilbert to Marquise Goodwin, Tre’ Newton scored a 3rd touchdown making the score 31-10. In the fourth quarter, Rice would score another touchdown and Justin Tucker would make a 2nd field goal leaving the final score 34-17 in favor of the Longhorns.
Player of the Game: Tre’ Newton
Newton is 50 pounds lighter than Cody Johnson, Texas’ short yardage back from last year but he was still called upon in the goal-to-go situations on Saturday, and boy did he deliver. Newton rushed 18 times for 61 yards and 3 scores. He looks like he may be the feature back this year for Texas, although they have a very talented poll to pick from. 

image from: http://playmaker5.com/2010/09/longhorns-start-season-with-34-17-victory-over-rice/