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BYU |
TEXAS |
Redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy stars in QB debut for No. 7 Texas in a 35-6 win over BYU
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Maalik Murphy grabbed the attention of fans, media and other schools looking for a quarterback with his performance during the Texas spring game in April.
On Saturday, Murphy had his first opportunity to perform under circumstances other than a scrimmage and he responded.
Murphy threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns in his debut as starting quarterback for No. 7 Texas in a 35-6 win over BYU on Saturday.
Murphy, a redshirt freshman, replaced Quinn Ewers, who was sidelined with an injury to his throwing shoulder sustained in last week's win at Houston. Murphy completed 16 of 25 passes.
Before facing BYU, Murphy threw eight passes this season, completing four for 47 yards. He didn't have a touchdown pass or interception.
Murphy had a few shaky moments in the first half against BYU (5-3, 2-3 Big 12), with an interception and lost fumble. But before the half was finished, he connected with Adonai Mitchell on a 30-yard scoring pass, the Longhorns' second TD of the game.
The Longhorns' Xavier Worthy opened the scoring, returning a punt 74 yards for a TD.
Murphy said the interception was “a young mistake. I put the ball in harm's way. But I was able to bounce back and the team bounced back with me.”
Coach Steve Sarkisian said neither turnover was entirely Murphy's fault; there were breakdowns elsewhere.
“The way that he responded from both of those two turnovers, I thought was great,” Sarkisian said. “Malik got really good composure about him.”
Sarkisian said schools “allegedly were trying to recruit him to transfer,” after the spring game. Texas has two bigger recruits at quarterback - Ewers, a sophomore, and freshman Arch Manning.
Murphy said he didn't talk to other schools.
“Just wanting to play here and play under coach Sark," he said. ”That’s always been huge for me and that’s why I committed here in the first place."
Jonathon Brooks, one of the top rushers in the nation, gained 98 yards for Texas (7-1, 4-1) and added 40 more receiving.
Quarterback Kedon Slovis had a rough day for BYU, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. All three of the turnovers led to Texas touchdowns. Slovis finished 24 for 39 for 197 yards passing.
The second interception, by former walk-on safety Michael Taaffe, was returned 45 yards and set up a second Murphy-to-Mitchell touchdown pass, this time for 13 yards.
Slovis' lost fumble set up a 34-yard TD run by Longhorns reserve running back Jaydon Blue in the fourth quarter.
“I just wish I could have given them more of a fight, in the scoreboard,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "I felt like Texas showed their identity at the end, taking over, relying on the run game. When you see them on the field, it just pops out, the talent, the depth ... You can tell this thing is starting to really build.”
THE TAKEAWAY
BYU: The Cougars managed to win three times this season while getting outgained by between 112 and 202 yards. One reason for that was an edge in turnover margin in each of those games, including 5-0 against Texas Tech last week. BYU ranked third nationally in turnover margin and fifth in turnovers gained. The Cougars lost on both fronts against Texas. They were out gained 354-292, while Texas had a 3-2 turnover margin.
Texas: The Longhorns' special teams and defense made sure that Murphy had some cushion while landing on a big stage for the first time. Worthy returned that punt for the first score of the game in the opening quarter.
“What a great athlete," Sitake said. “It was one of things it looked like it was in slow motion. He was able to make guys miss and then it was just over and he was in the end zone."
The defense limited BYU to 113 yards, while Texas took a 21-3 halftime lead.
AREA OF CONCERN
Texas struggled, as it has this season, in the red zone, scoring on two of five trips. Twice the Longhorns were stopped inside the BYU 5 yard line.
“There's a level of frustration,” Sarkisian said.
NO MANNING
Manning, from a family of football royalty, can appear in four games without losing a season of eligibility, according to NCAA rules. He has yet to play, though. Sarkisian said he might have sent Manning in the game had the Longhorns converted some of those missed red-zone opportunities.
“But we didn't, so it was about making sure we have enough rhythm with Malik in there," Sarkisian said.
UP NEXT
BYU: At West Virginia on Saturday.
Texas: Hosts Kansas State on Saturday.
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D. Lassiter
5 WR 75 ReYds, 5 RECs |
|
J. Brooks
24 RB 98 RuYds, RuTD, 40 ReYds, 4 RECs |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 18 | 16 |
Rushing | 7 | 9 |
Passing | 8 | 7 |
Penalty | 3 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 3-14 | 6-11 |
4th Down Conv | 2-3 | 0-2 |
Total Net Yards | 292 | 354 |
Total Plays | 66 | 60 |
Avg Gain | 4.4 | 5.9 |
Net Yards Rushing | 95 | 184 |
Rush Attempts | 26 | 35 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.7 | 5.3 |
Yards Passing | 197 | 170 |
Comp. - Att. | 25-40 | 16-25 |
Yards Per Pass | 4.3 | 5.8 |
Penalties - Yards | 3-20 | 6-40 |
Touchdowns | 0 | 5 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 2 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 1 |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-1 | 2-1 |
Int. Thrown | 2 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 5-45.2 | 3-54.0 |
Return Yards | 73 | 174 |
Punts - Returns | 2-18 | 2-89 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 1-55 | 2-85 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
K. Slovis
10 QB
|
K. Slovis | 24/39 | 197 | 0 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Robbins
3 RB
|
A. Robbins | 17 | 56 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Smith
20 RB
|
D. Smith | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
4 RB
|
M. Davis | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Slovis
10 QB
|
K. Slovis | 5 | 8 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Marion
17 WR
|
K. Marion | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Lassiter
5 WR
|
D. Lassiter | 8 | 5 | 75 | 0 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Marion
17 WR
|
K. Marion | 3 | 3 | 30 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Roberts
2 WR
|
C. Roberts | 7 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Epps
0 WR
|
K. Epps | 3 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Kingston
82 WR
|
P. Kingston | 6 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Rex
83 TE
|
I. Rex | 5 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Robbins
3 RB
|
A. Robbins | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Smith
20 RB
|
D. Smith | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Paulo
42 TE
|
R. Paulo | 1 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
4 RB
|
M. Davis | 1 | 1 | -7 | 0 | -7 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
C. Wakley
38 S
|
C. Wakley | 7-2 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Robinson
0 CB
|
J. Robinson | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Vongphachanh
10 LB
|
A. Vongphachanh | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Esera
54 LB
|
S. Esera | 5-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Slade
26 S
|
E. Slade | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Mangelson
93 DE
|
B. Mangelson | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Tooley
31 LB
|
M. Tooley | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Heckard
5 CB
|
E. Heckard | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Bagnah
13 DE
|
I. Bagnah | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Cravens
91 DT
|
J. Cravens | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Batty
92 DE
|
T. Batty | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Garrett
7 CB
|
K. Garrett | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Taggart
11 LB
|
H. Taggart | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Mahe
62 DT
|
A. Mahe | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Haws
95 DT
|
C. Haws | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Lutui
59 DE
|
L. Lutui | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
W. Ferrin
44 K
|
W. Ferrin | 2/2 | 32 | 0/0 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
R. Rehkow
24 P
|
R. Rehkow | 5 | 45.2 | 0 | 55 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. Marion
17 WR
|
K. Marion | 5 | 21.0 | 38 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
P. Kingston 82 WR
|
P. Kingston | 2 | 9.0 | 12 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Murphy
6 QB
|
M. Murphy | 16/25 | 170 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Brooks
24 RB
|
J. Brooks | 16 | 98 | 1 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Blue
23 RB
|
J. Blue | 4 | 44 | 1 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Robinson
7 RB
|
K. Robinson | 1 | 23 | 0 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Baxter
4 RB
|
C. Baxter | 9 | 22 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Red
17 RB
|
S. Red | 4 | 15 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Murphy
6 QB
|
M. Murphy | 1 | -18 | 0 | -18 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Mitchell
5 WR
|
A. Mitchell | 4 | 3 | 59 | 2 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Brooks
24 RB
|
J. Brooks | 4 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Sanders
0 TE
|
J. Sanders | 5 | 4 | 37 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
X. Worthy
1 WR
|
X. Worthy | 10 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Robinson
7 RB
|
K. Robinson | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Ford
41 LB
|
J. Ford | 10-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Hill Jr.
0 LB
|
A. Hill Jr. | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Barron
23 DB
|
J. Barron | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sweat
93 DL
|
T. Sweat | 4-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Taaffe
16 DB
|
M. Taaffe | 4-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Brooks
8 DB
|
T. Brooks | 4-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Blackwell Jr.
37 LB
|
M. Blackwell Jr. | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Finkley
1 LB
|
J. Finkley | 3-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams Jr.
2 DB
|
D. Williams Jr. | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||