The Texas Longhorns got off to a quick start under head coach Tom Herman as Holton Hill scored a touchdown on an interception return against Maryland.
Tom Herman earned his reputation as an offensive play-caller at Ohio State, and strengthened it with two impressive seasons as the head coach at Houston. But the Texas Longhorns scored the first touchdown of the Herman era on the defensive side of the football.
Just minutes after taking the field for the very first time under Herman, the Horns stuffed the talented Maryland rushing attack on the first two running plays of the season. Ty Johnson, who gained 1,004 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns on just 110 rushing attempts a year ago, picked up just two yards on first-and-10. Texas then stuffed quarterback Tyrell Pigrome for no gain on second down, setting up a third-and-eight situation.
With potential All-American linebacker Malik Jefferson blitzing through the middle, Pigrome dropped back and threw a quick out to his left, where D.J. Moore was open short of the first down marker. Pigrome’s pass was slightly off target, and as Moore reached his right hand up to the pass, he tipped it into the arms of Holton Hill, who caught it with his momentum heading towards the end zone.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS: Holton Hill with a 31-yard Pick Six return. #Hookem pic.twitter.com/lJ0YVP6sj3
— Hookem Football (@hornsfootball) September 2, 2017
Hill ran 31 yards untouched for the game’s opening score. It was the first interception for Hill since his freshman season in 2015, and just the second of his career – but that too was a pick-six. Joshua Rowland converted the extra point, giving the Longhorns a 7-0 lead before the offense even touched the football.
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The Texas defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive as well, but allowed Maryland to tie the score later in the first quarter after the Terrapins capitalized on good field possession following a Shane Buechele interception.