No. 1 Texas vs. UTSA live updates: Roadrunners respond with FG, trail 7-3

AUSTIN — Over the last two seasons, the Texas Longhorns haven’t performed well after ascending to No. 1 in the rankings, but Steve Sarkisian’s team has a chance to reverse that trend on Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium against a UTSA Roadrunners team that is a nearly 30-point underdog.

Ball security and third-down defense were both issues that Sarkisian wants corrected in the wake of last week’s thrilling 24-23 comeback against Ohio State as Texas goes through its final tuneup before embarking on its SEC schedule next week in Knoxville.

Pregame warmups

Similar to last week, Texas warmed up in its new indoor practice facility — the offense came out onto Campbell-Williams Field with about an hour until kickoff, but the defense did not.

As expected, freshman running back Derrek Cooper was dressed after sustaining an ankle injury in the season opener against Texas State, but sophomore tight end Nick Townsend was not dressed. Townsend injured his knee last week. Also not dressed — sophomore defensive lineman Justus Terry, junior safety Kobe Black, and junior nickel back Xavier Filsaime.

First quarter

After winning the toss and deferring to the second half, Texas kicked off to start the game, a touchback.

The playmaking ability of senior linebacker Rasheem Biles flashed again on an interception off the hands of wide receiver DJ Allen returned eight yards to the UTSA 22-yard line, but Texas started its opening drive at the 37-yard like after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the team’s bench.

No matter, as junior wide receiver Emmett Mosley V converted a 3rd and 5 with an eight-yard reception over the middle, a part of the field that senior quarterback Arch Manning immediately returned to, hitting junior wide receiver Cam Coleman on a double move for a 24-yard touchdown.

UTSA responded with a 12-yard run by speedy running back Will Henderson against a run blitz and another quick first down. Under pressure, quarterback Owen McCown did well to avoid senior linebacker Justin Cryer in the backfield to get a throw off ruled incomplete. Henderson made up for it, taking the edge for nine yards, then a direct snap moved the chains. The Longhorns put the Roadrunners behind the chains with a tackle for loss by senior cornerback Bo Mascoe on another run blitz and another play behind the line of scrimmage by freshman edge Richard Wesley, who was flagged for a horsecollar tackle.

After a six-yard scramble by McCown, the issues containing Henderson continued with a 12-yard gain on the edge, but fifth-year defensive tackle Hero Kanu got penetration and brought down Henderson on a draw play for a seven-yard loss. UTSA was able to regain the lost yardage before the speed rush of junior edge Colin Simmons dropped McCown in the backfield and forced the Roadrunners to settle for a 34-yard field goal.