Texas' defense took center stage with four
interceptions of Zac Robinson, two of those returned for touchdowns, as the
third-ranked Longhorns posted an impressive and well-rounded 41-14 win against
No. 13 Oklahoma State.
Colt McCoy was 16-of-21 for 171 yards and a touchdown and Cody Johnson scored
twice on the ground for the Longhorns (8-0, 5-0 Big 12), who were coming off
an equally impressive 41-7 dismantling of Missouri in Columbia last weekend.
Jordan Shipley had six catches for 64 yards and Macolm Williams made two grabs
for 55 yards and a TD as Texas moved closer to wrapping up the Big 12 South
title fresh off two consecutive conference road wins.
It was Texas' 12th straight win over Oklahoma State with coach Mack Brown
having guided the team in each of those victories. The defense, which came
into Saturday ranked second in the nation, forced five turnovers in all.
"The interceptions for touchdowns are something that our defense is priding
themselves in...and Colt [McCoy] is playing as good as anybody in the country.
He moved the ball with his feet. He played with a great head. He was very
accurate, and we just felt like it was a complete team win," said Brown.
Robinson, who had three interceptions all season entering Saturday, had easily
the most disappointing game of his collegiate tenure. He ended 15-of-28 for
143 yards and a late touchdown pass to Justin Blackmon.
Keith Totson rushed 19 times for 70 yards and Beau Johnson had a rushing score
for the Cowboys (6-2, 3-1), who came in with an unblemished conference record
thanks to last weekend's 34-7 rout of Baylor, OSU's fifth straight win.
Hubert Anyiam, Robinson's main target since the loss of Dez Bryant to a
season-ending suspension, totaled 62 yards on five receptions in the loss. It
was announced on Tuesday that Bryant's current suspension will run through the
2009 season as ruled on by the NCAA.
"That's a tough one. I don't know any other way to put it. I hate that we
didn't give Texas our best effort," said Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy.
"When you turn the ball over and make that many mistakes against a team that
has got that much ability, it's very difficult to win the game. Getting behind
by more than two scores makes it very difficult to execute on offense and
defense."
Texas built up a 24-7 lead at halftime and started right where it left off in
the opening minutes of the second half. Hunter Lawrence started things off
with a 40-yard boot and Earl Thomas' 31-yard interception return for a
touchdown on OSU's second play of the quarter ran the Texas lead to 34-7.
Robinson's third pick of the game later in the quarter was returned 31 yards
by Blake Gideon to the OSU 15 and three plays later Johnson found the end
zone from two yards out for a 41-7 margin after three quarters.
Robinson connected with Blackmon for a six-yard score which left a little less
than 10 minutes to play in the game, but the Cowboys would never make it back
to Texas' side of the field.
"As a quarterback when you fall behind, you feel like you have to start making
big plays by forcing it. That is when the interceptions come. That is what
happened tonight," Robinson said.
OSU put together a promising opening drive, moving 54 yards down to the Texas
27 in 14 plays, but Dan Bailey missed a 45-yard field goal.
Texas opened up with an 11-play drive that went for 65 yards and Lawrence made
good on his kick, a 25-yarder that gave the visitors an early lead.
The Cowboys missed another opportunity for points on their next turn as
Gundy elected to go for it on 4th-and-8 from the Texas 32 and Anyiam dropped a
sure touchdown, unable to haul in the pigskin from over his right shoulder.
Anyiam fumbled on the second play of OSU's next series and Texas turned it
into points as Cody Johnson capped a 53-yard march by breaking the plane of
the goal line on a surge from the one.
Mistakes continued to plague the Cowboys. The normally reliable Robinson
threw his first interception of the game and it proved costly as Curtis Brown
returned it up the right sideline for a 77-yard touchdown and a 17-0 Longhorn
advantage with 6:21 left until halftime.
"Zac Robinson is our quarterback, and we're going to stick with him. It just
didn't work out very well for him tonight It's important that he keeps his
head high and keeps playing. He's a good quarterback and a good player. He
just had a tough night," Gundy said.
Oklahoma State finally turned a drive into points on its next possession as
Beau Johnson's one-yard TD finished off an efficient eight-play, 84-yard romp.
Momentum appeared to be swinging the Cowboys' way on a fumble recovery deep on
the Texas side of the field. However, the officials ruled the runner down and
the Longhorns continued on a demoralizing 80-yard drive inside the final two
minutes with McCoy hitting Williams at the back of the end zone for an 11-yard
TD and a 24-7 lead at the break.
Game Notes
This series has gone Texas' way almost exclusively, with OSU winning just two
of the 24 all-time meetings (in 1944 and 1997). ...Cowboys All-American
tailback Kendall Hunter returned to action after missing the last five games
with an ankle sprain. He rushed just one time for one yard, though...McCoy
also rushed for 34 yards while Cody Johnson gained 31 yards on nine
rushes...Beau Johnson had just 12 rushing yards on seven carries for the
Cowboys, who despite the crushing loss, outgained Texas by two yards
(277-275)...Blackmon made four grabs for 38 yards in the loss.
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