Longhorns Start Slow, Lead Wyoming at Halftime

The Texas Longhorns found themselves in a dogfight with the Wyoming Cowboys through one half of football at DKR on Saturday.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 4 Texas Longhorns entered Saturday's home meeting with the Wyoming Cowboys looking to show that they could build on the momentum they gained from toppling the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last week.

And after one half of football, the Longhorns proved that they certainly aren't invincible, but led 10-7 headed into the locker room after a sluggish first half.

The Longhorns found themselves in an early hole after Wyoming, led by quarterback Evan Svoboda instead of usual starter Andrew Peasley, struck big on the game's first drive. On the fifth play from scrimmage, Cowboys running back Harrison Waylee burst through the Texas defense untouched for a 62-yard touchdown to give Wyoming a 7-0 lead.

© Scott Wachter, USA TODAY

The sluggish start carried right over to the offense, as the Longhorns quickly went three-and-out after a few drops. But after the Cowboys had a three-and-out of their own, Texas responded with a field goal to make it a 7-3 game.

The Longhorns finally started to get things going on their third possession. Behind a steady dose of runs, Texas capped off a long 17-play, 90-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown catch from defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, who lined up at fullback on the goal line before getting free in the end zone. 

Meanwhile, the Texas defense had forced the Wyoming offense into five straight punts after giving up the long touchdown on the opening possession. This included a half-ending boot with just seconds left in the second quarter.

The Longhorns will receive the second-half kickoff.