Final update (1:40 a.m.): Following a first-half scoring barrage, neither team could get on the board in the first ten minutes of the third quarter. Aside from a missed field goal by kicker Trent Domingue, Texas and California traded punts with both teams failing to find the endzone.
Neither squad scored throughout the quarter, entering the fourth quarter at 35-33. While Texas continued to find success on the ground, it struggled through the air. With 15 minutes to play, Buechele was just 13-26 for 142 yards. He had one touchdown and one interception.
Texas struck first in the game’s final quarter, scoring on its first possession. Foreman sprinted 47 yards into the endzone for his second score of the night, giving Texas a 40-35 lead with just over 13 minutes to play.
But California rebounded on its next drive. Webb led the Bears down the field, connecting with sophomore Chad Hansen. The Idaho State transfer hauled in a 28-yard pass on the sideline, preceding an 18-yard touchdown toss from Webb to Veasey. California converted the two-point conversion, giving it a 43-40 lead with just under 11 minutes to play.
The Longhorns answered on their next possession, driving into Bears territory. Texas was stopped short of the endzone, but Domingue connected from 35-yards out to tie the contest at 43-43 with 5:29 to play.
The Bears kept up the pace after Domingue’s field goal. Webb led California down the field once again, connecting with Chad Hansen for the wide receiver's second score of the night. Hansen tallied 12 catches for 196 yards following the score, placing Texas in a seven-point hole with 3:41 to play.
The Longhorns failed to stop California as it attempted to run out the clock. The Bears took three knees to end the game, winning 50-43 in Berkley.
Texas fell to 2–1 on the year with the loss. The burnt orange will have a bye week next Saturday prior to facing Oklahoma State on Oct. 1 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
– Michael Shapiro
Halftime update (11:58 p.m.): Texas dug itself a hole from the first possession, as California drove the ball through the Texas defense en route to a 7-0 lead. Senior quarterback Davis Webb found wide receiver Jordan Veasey from 29 yards out, putting the Bears on top.
The Longhorns wouldn’t trail for long. Texas found the endzone on its first drive of the game, as sophomore Chris Warren scored from four yards out. Warren had five carries for 25 yards on the burnt orange’s opening possession.
The burnt orange defense stepped up in the game’s next possession, stopping the Bears on fourth down. Texas gained the lead upon receiving the ball, as kicker Trent Domingue connected from 38-yards out. With just over seven minutes to go in the first quarter, the Longhorns led 10-7.
But it wasn’t all good news for the Longhorns. Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele headed to the locker room after receiving a hit on third down. He had his chest examined by the Longhorn medical staff as senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes entered the game.
With Buechele on the mend, Warren shouldered the load for the Longhorn offense. He ran it in from 12-yards out, extending Texas lead to 17-7. Warren compiled nine carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns by the end of the first quarter.
California answered on its next possession. The Bears marched down the field on the Longhorns’ defense, highlighted by a 16-yard pass from Webb to freshman wide receiver Demetris Robertson. The Bears then punched it in from two-yards out, cutting Texas’ lead to 17-14.
Texas’ rushing attack continued to gash the Bears on its next drive. This time, the offense wasn’t led by Warren, but junior running back D’Onta Foreman. He compiled 37 yards on three carries, including a four-yard touchdown carry. Texas led 24-14 with over 13 minutes left in the second quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Longhorns made their first mistake of the evening. Swoopes overthrew freshman Collin Johnson over the middle, resulting in an interception. California promptly moved down the field, scoring on a touchdown run from Vic Enwere. With just under ten minutes to go in the first half, Texas led 24-21.
Buechele took the reigns at quarterback following the Bears touchdown, and quickly answered. The freshman led the Longhorns down the field for another score, connecting with senior Jacorey Warrick from 41-yards out.
The shootout continued as California regained possession. The Longhorn secondary was torched once again, this time surrendering a 29-yard touchdown from Webb to freshman Melquise Stovall. The touchdown cut Texas’ lead to three at 31-28.
There was more scoring to be had near the end of the half. Freshman safety Brandon Jones bursted through the California offensive line to block a punt, resulting in a safety.
But Buechele made his first mistake of the evening upon regaining possession, tossing an interception. The Bears’ capitalized on the freshman's mistake, scoring two plays later. Webb hit junior wide receiver Chad Hansen for a 23-yard touchdown, giving California a 35-33 lead.
– Michael Shapiro
Original story: No. 11 Texas heads on the road for the first time this season at California. The Longhorns look to improve to 3–0 on the season for the first time since 2012.
The burnt orange face a potent Bears passing attack, led by senior quarterback Davis Webb. A transfer from Texas Tech, Webb is second in the nation with 963 passing yards through two games.
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