Texas Defense Caps 31-3 Win Over Mississippi State, Keeping SEC Title Hopes Alive
Arch Manning threw three touchdowns while Maraad Watson returned a fumble 61 yards for the score, as the Longhorns secured their second straight victory.
By Jason Cooper ·
No. 11 Texas defeated Mississippi State 31-3 on Saturday night in Austin, a result that keeps the Longhorns firmly in the Southeastern Conference title race. The victory marks Texas' second consecutive win after they dropped their previous two midseason games. The defense was the primary engine of the night, limiting the Bulldogs to just three points and holding Texas opponents under 300 total yards.
The offensive production came from quarterback Arch Manning, who threw for three touchdowns. He connected with Cam Coleman on a 14-yard pass for the first score, which occurred on the fourth play of the game. Later in the contest, Manning found Raleek Brown in the third quarter and Emmett Mosely V in the fourth to extend the lead. The game became a defensive struggle early on, with Mississippi State holding Texas to a 10-0 deficit until just before halftime.
The momentum shifted decisively when defensive tackle Maraad Watson intercepted a fumble by Mississippi State quarterback AJ Swann. Watson, a 6-foot-3, 333-pound lineman, carried the ball 61 yards for a touchdown. The play followed a sack of Swann, who was making his first start of the season due to an injury to starter Kamario Taylor. The collision injured Swann, forcing him out of the game with his right arm in a sling.
Mississippi State, which started the season 4-0, is now 4-4 and has lost four straight games. The loss deepens the Bulldogs' quarterback crisis. Parker Puckett, a walk-on who had started two previous games, took over the offense for the second half after Swann's injury. Taylor, a breakout star earlier in the year, has missed part or all of the last four games following surgery for a season-ending toe injury.
Texas (6-2, 3-2 SEC) continues to face challenges in the running game and pass protection for Manning. Top playmaker Cam Coleman left the game early for the second consecutive game. The team did not immediately disclose an injury, but Coleman was seen in street clothes on the sideline during the second half. The Longhorns' defensive effort remained dominant despite Manning being sacked six times.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, November 7. Mississippi State will host Vanderbilt, while Texas travels to play Missouri.
Source: KTBC
