Sentence:  In their first three games , the Longhorns have had the <WSD>ball</WSD> 41 times and scored 16 times , or 40 per cent their total passing yardage in three games , 447 on 30 completions in 56 attempts , is only 22 yards short of their total passing yardage in 1959 , when they made 469 on 37 completions in 86 tries . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games