Texas lost starting quarterback Quinn Ewers in the second quarter of Saturday’s game against UTSA at Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
But backup Arch Manning and the Longhorns didn’t miss a beat.
With Texas holding a 14-0 lead, Manning led a four-play 72-yard drive, capped by a 19-yard touchdown throw to DeAndre Moore Jr. that gave the Longhorns a commanding 21-0 lead.
UTSA responded with a touchdown on its next drive to cut the lead to 21-7, but Manning wasn’t done.
On the next drive, Manning, who is Cooper’s son and the nephew of Peyton and Eli, only needed two plays to go 75 yards and get Texas into the end zone.
On the second play of the drive, Manning had a 67-yard touchdown run to give Texas a 28-7 lead, which they held at halftime.
During a halftime interview with ESPN, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Ewers, a Heisman Trophy candidate, suffered a strained abdomen
Ewers suffered the injury handing the ball off to running back Quintrevion Wisner. He walked away from the play limping, went down, and called for the trainer.
After spending approximately 15 minutes in the medical tent, Ewers headed to the locker room midway through the second quarter under his own power.
Ewers, who will not return, came back to the Longhorns sidelines in street clothes late in the second quarter and was holding his rib area when talking with the trainers.
