Nose tackle Maraad Watson scores 61-yard touchdown for Texas
The 333-pound junior turned a fumble into a score late in the second quarter, ending a stagnant offensive period and extending the Longhorns' halftime lead against Mississippi State.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Texas longsnaps nose tackle Maraad Watson sprinted 61 yards to the end zone late in the second quarter Saturday, giving the Longhorns a 17-0 lead over Mississippi State. The play occurred with 1:13 remaining in the first half and marked the most explosive offensive sequence for the team in the opening 30 minutes.
Watson, a 333-pound junior from Syracuse, recovered a fumble that resulted from a sack of Bulldogs quarterback AJ Swann by Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles. Watson scooped the loose ball and ran down the right sideline, accompanied by several teammates, to score the touchdown.
The score capped a difficult stretch for the Texas offense. After scoring on the opening drive, the team managed only three points and 44 total yards over its next four possessions. Quarterback Arch Manning played with a wrapped hand due to a bloody injury, and wide receiver Cam Coleman left the game for the locker room and did not return.
Before Saturday's play, Watson had recorded 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 19 career games without scoring a touchdown. His 61-yard return is his first score of the season.
Swann left the field injured following the sack and entered the medical tent. Redshirt freshman Billy Puckett replaced him as the starting quarterback for the second half.
The Longhorns entered the break with a 17-0 advantage after Watson's touchdown. The play shifted momentum after the second quarter began with Mississippi State trailing.
