Longhorns Hang Tough with Alabama, Lead at Halftime
The No. 11 Texas Longhorns started Saturday's battle with the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium a bit slow, but picked things up in a major way on both sides during the second quarter and took a 13-6 lead headed into halftime.
Led by quarterback Jalen Milroe, the Tide offense leaned heavily on the run, but paid the price on their first offensive drive of the game, as the Texas native tossed a pick to Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron.
The Longhorns had a golden opportunity after the pick, but receiver Xavier Worthy dropped an easy touchdown on 3rd and goal. Texas had to settle for a field goal and took a 3-0 lead.
Alabama responded with a grit-and-grind 12-play, 53-yard drive of its own, but only managed a field goal as well after the Texas defense stopped the offensive momentum right outside the red zone.
© John David Mercer, USA TODAY
After this, the Longhorns started to warm up on offense. Safe to say Worthy made up for earlier drop once the second quarter rolled around, as he and Ewers connected on a big 44-yard touchdown to give Texas a 10-3 lead after a short four-play drive.
Texas put together a 12-play, 84-yard drive on its next possession, but the Tide defense stood strong in the red zone and forced a field goal. The Longhorns built a 13-3 lead.
The script flipped in the final minutes of the half. Alabama used big plays from Milroe and receiver Kobe Prentice to get into field-goal range. After a crazy tip-play touchdown from Tide receiver Jermaine Burton was overturned due to penalty, Alabama went ahead and got three points on a 30-yard field goal from Will Reichard as time expired in the first half.
Down 13-6, the Tide will receive the ball to begin the second half.
