Silas Bolden returned a punt 75 yards from home and the Texas Longhorns used a lightning-quick start to take a 17-3 lead over the Arizona State Sun Devils at halftime of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in the Peach Bowl on Wednesday.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers finished the first half completing 6 of 10 passes for 114 yards and no picks. He hit receiver Matthew Golden for a 54-yard catch-and-run on the Longhorns’ first play before connecting with DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown on the next snap. Bolden’s touchdown came after a three-pointer at Arizona State.

The Sun Devils’ star running back Cam Skattebo finished the first half with 13 carries for 45 yards. Arizona State quarterback Sam Levitt completed 15 of 27 passes for 99 yards, but it was a 32-yard reception by offensive lineman Blazen Lono-Wong with a fake punt on 4th-and-9 that proved to be the longest pass play The first half proved to be the Sun Devils. ASU used this play to get into field goal range, but Texas forward Ethan Burke blocked the kick.

The Longhorns won the toss but pushed it into the second half. Arizona State received the first kickoff and appeared to make a quick three-pointer, but a running-in-the-kicker penalty on Texas linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. on the ensuing punt extended ASU’s drive.

The Sun Devils made the most of the pin, getting a 33-yard field goal from Carston Kieffer to take an early 3-0 lead, but then the Longhorns stormed out of the gates with the early scoring sequence.

Texas will get the ball to start the second half.

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