Longhorns, Washington Deadlocked in Sugar Bowl After Back-and-Forth First Half

The Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies are neck-and-neck headed into halftime of the Sugar Bowl on Monday night.

NEW ORLEANS -- The Texas Longhorns are playing in the program's biggest game in nearly 15 years on Monday night in the College Football Playoff at the Sugar Bowl.

And headed into halftime, No. 3 Texas (12-1) and No. 2 Washington (13-0) didn't disappoint, as the two sides were tied 21-21 at the intermission.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers finished the first half 9 of 18 passing for 97 yards. He never got into a consistent rhythm down the field. He made some plays with his legs and headed into the locker room with five carries for 36 yards.

Instead, it was running backs C.J. Baxter and Jaydon Blue who helped churn out possessions with 119 total yards of offense combined and two touchdowns.

Baxter was Texas' leading receiver at halftime with one catch for 31 yards.

C.J. Baxter / USA TODAY

It was the opposite for Washington, as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. diced up the Texas secondary, finishing the first half 11 of 14 passing for 255 yards and a touchdown. He had completions of 77, 52 and 29 yards. Huskies star receiver Rome Odunze had four grabs for 84 yards while Ja'Lynn Polk had two grabs for 106 yards and a touchdown.

However, it was Huskies running back Dillon Johnson who was responsible for a pair of rushing touchdowns. He had 13 carries for 30 yards.

After a penalty backed up Texas on the opening play, Baxter pulled off a 16-yard run to move the chains. However, Ewers started 0 for 4 passing and the Longhorns were quickly forced to punt.

Washington's offense took advantage quickly. Penix found receiver Ja'Lynn Polk for a 77-yard completion that was followed up by a two-yard rushing touchdown on the next play from running back Dillon Johnson.

Once Texas got the ball back, Baxter continued his hot start with a 31-yard catch-and-run on a screen pass. He followed this up with a 13-yard run near the goal line that set up Jaydon Blue for a five-yard rushing touchdown a few plays later. The Longhorns answered and tied things up at 7-7.

WATCH: Muffed Punt Leads to Byron Murphy Rushing TD, Ties Texas and Washington at 14

Texas forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive to quickly get the ball back. But a pair of holding penalties negated key gains, including a 20-yard completion to Baxter on 3rd and 17.

Washington took the lead back as a result. Penix led a nine-play, 80-yard drive that Johnson capped off with his second touchdown of the half. Texas went three-and-out again and looked like

However, Huskies returner Germie Bernard fumbled the punt and gift-wrapped the Longhorns the ball back at the Washington 22-yard line. Texas cashed in on the turnover with a three-play drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from defensive lineman Byron Murphy, who had his second score of the season.

As they had for most of the first half, the Huskies passing game continued to click. Penix found Rome Odunze for a highlight-reel 52-yard gain.

But the Longhorns defense held strong on four straight runs from Johnson, who was stopped short on a 4th and 1 at the Texas 14-yard line.

Texas wasn't able to capitalize on the turnover on downs, and Washington eventually found a way. Penix found Polk for a 29-yard touchdown, as the ball was tipped up into the air and into his arms in the end zone.

The Longhorns responded with their most impressive drive of the first half, as Baxter scored a three-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left to tie the game. This capped off a 10-play, 72-yard drive that took up 1:10 of game clock.

Washington will receive the second-half kickoff.