Longhorns Country

WATCH: Longhorns Power in Two TDs to Build Halftime Lead vs. Baylor

Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks had a highlight-filled first half in Saturday's Big 12 opener against the Baylor Bears.

Zach Dimmitt

WATCH: Longhorns Power in Two TDs to Build Halftime Lead vs. Baylor
WATCH: Longhorns Power in Two TDs to Build Halftime Lead vs. Baylor /
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WACO, Texas -- The No. 3 Texas Longhorns took to the ground to score all four of their first-half touchdowns in Saturday's Big 12 opener against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium.

The final two scores helped Texas build a 28-3 lead in the final minutes of the first half before Baylor added on a field goal to cut it to 28-6. But the damage in the run game had already been done thanks to Jonathon Brooks and CJ Baxter.

Baxter got his first-career college touchdown on a seven-yard score after a quick two-play drive that began with a trick pass play from Xavier Worthy to Ja'Tavion Sanders.

On Texas' next drive, Brooks, who had scored the game's first touchdown on a 40-yard run, snagged a one-handed pass on an 18-yard screen play that allowed the Longhorns to set up on the goal line. He cashed in with a two-yard touchdown two plays later.

“He's really taking care of the football. Situationally, his understanding of what we're trying to do. He's a problem in the passing game. He's just grown,” Sarkisian said.”His development has been that he's grown as a player, but he's also, I think, grown personally. He's a guy that's one of the leaders on our team and glad we got him.”

Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) breaks out from the back field to run in the end zone for the first score of the in the first quarter against Baylor of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Waco, Texas.
Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

With Baxter out due to injury, Brooks finished last week's 31-10 win over the Wyoming Cowboys in style. His 61-yard run helped Texas gain momentum to close things out in the fourth quarter.

“When CJ couldn't go and JB knew he was gonna kind of be the bell cow for us, I think he had that confidence from the week before that he could and it showed up,” Sarkisian said. “I thought he played really good football for Saturday night.”

The Texas backfield will look to add on to the lead in the second half of Saturday's contest.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

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