Arch Manning rebounds from rocky start with impressive aerial show in first college start
Arch Manning’s first game as Texas’ starting quarterback got off to a rocky start.But it didn’t last longManning was picked off by UL-Monroe’s Carl Fauntroy on the first possession of Saturday night’s game at Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.But, as expected, Manning turned it on from there.On the next drive, the redshirt freshman engineered a seven-play, 77-yard drive to give the Longhorns a 7-0 lead, which was highlighted by a 56-yard pass to Isaiah Bond and capped off by a Jaydon Blue one-yard run.Manning was just getting started.After Texas’ defense provided Manning with a short field after an interception, he went back to work, finishing off a four-play, 13-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Blue to give the Longhorns a 14-0 lead.After UL-Monroe was forced to punt, Manning connected with star freshman receiver Ryan Wingo for a 17-yard touchdown pass, which capped off a six-play, 73-yard drive and extended Texas’ first-quarter lead to 21-0.Manning didn’t stop in the second quarter.He led Texas on a 12-play, 87-yard drive which was highlighted by a 46-yard pass to Matthew Golden and a 19-yard strike to Bond, capped by a 2-yard run by Blue.After the Warhawks kicked a field goal for their first points, Manning got the ball back, but this time was picked off by Wydett Williams Jr., giving UL-Monroe good field position.But the turnover didn’t prove costly as the Longhorns blocked Max Hunter’s 45-yard field goal attempt to close out the half.Manning closed out the half 11 of 21 for 214 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.Arch — the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning — came off the bench last week to lead the Longhorns to a blowout win over UTSA after preseason Heisman Trophy contender Quinn Ewers left with an oblique injury.Manning and the Longhorns scored another touchdown in the third quarter, p...