Arch Manning leads Texas past Mississippi State in 31-3 rout
A 61-yard fumble return by Maraad Watson and a late offensive surge sealed the victory for the Longhorns.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Maraad Watson returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown just before halftime, a play that shifted the momentum in a game that ended with a 31-3 score. The Longhorns defeated Mississippi State on Saturday night in Austin, extending their winning streak to two games after two consecutive midseason losses. Arch Manning, who passed for three touchdowns, led the offense while the Texas defense limited the Bulldogs to under 300 total yards.
The game began with a quick strike by the home team. On the fourth play of the contest, Manning connected with Cam Coleman on a 14-yard pass to put Texas up 7-0. For the first half, the contest remained tight, with Mississippi State holding Texas to 10 points. Watson’s score just before the break widened the lead, capping a defensive effort that saw Manning sacked six times in the first half.
The turning point for Mississippi State occurred when transfer quarterback AJ Swann, making his first start of the season, was sacked by Watson. The ball bounced loose, and the 6-foot-3, 333-pound defensive tackle carried it to the end zone with several blockers clearing the way. The hit also injured Swann, who left the game and spent the second half with his right arm in a sling.
With Swann sidelined, Parker Puckett, a walk-on quarterback, took over the offense for the Bulldogs. Puckett had started two previous games due to injuries to Kamario Taylor. Taylor, who was one of the team's breakout stars before suffering a season-ending toe injury, has missed part or all of the last four games since his surgery.
Texas took control in the second half. Manning threw a touchdown pass to Raleek Brown in the third quarter and another to Emmett Mosely V in the fourth quarter. These scores turned the game into a late rout as the Mississippi State defense began to tire. The Longhorns finished with a record of 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
The victory leaves Texas in contention for the SEC title. However, the team faces new injury concerns regarding Coleman, their top playmaker, who left the game early for the second consecutive time. He was seen in street clothes on the sideline during the second half, though the team did not immediately disclose the specific nature of the issue. The offense also continued to struggle with pass protection for Manning and a lackluster running game.
Mississippi State, now 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the conference, has lost four straight games after starting the season 4-0. The Bulldogs will host Vanderbilt on Nov. 7, while Texas travels to play Missouri on the same date.
