AUSTIN — Jordan Whittington faced off against former Texas Longhorns teammate DeMarvion Overshown in his NFL preseason debut, but the tough guy earned both the win and the spotlight.

On Saturday night in the preseason opener for both teams at SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys 13-12. Whittington led the way among wide receivers with six receptions for 74 yards, including several impressive catches.

“He’s going to be a big factor for us,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Whittington after the game.

Whittington, a sixth-round pick last April, played at a high level despite four interceptions by Rams quarterback and former Georgia star Stetson Bennett. But the former Heisman Trophy finalist came through when it mattered most, finding quarterback Miller Forristall for a six-yard, go-ahead touchdown with four seconds left in fourth-and-goal to stun Dallas and steal the win.

But if not for Whittington’s stellar first half, the Rams likely would have lost at home early in their three-game exhibition series.

Whittington led the way on L.A.’s first drive, catching a 13-yard pass on the game’s second play and then a 30-yard catch-and-run a few snaps later. On the Rams’ third play, Whittington added three more catches, one of which was arguably the play of the afternoon, in addition to the game-winning touchdown.

On third down and with 2 minutes, 43 seconds left in the first half, Bennett passed the ball between the linebacker and defensive quarterback to Whittington, who was hit hard on the play but held on to the ball and gained 14 yards.

Look:

It’s still early in the preseason, but the Rams appear to have made a big trade in the sixth round with Whittington, who could play a key role in the offense as early as Week 1, as L.A. quarterback Puka Nacua is still dealing with a knee injury for the second year in a row, and star wideout Cooper Kupp has also been injury-prone throughout his NFL career.

Of course, Whittington’s performance comes as no surprise to Texas fans who have watched him in Austin for the past five seasons. He’ll get another chance to show off when the Rams host the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. CT.