Sep 9, 2007, 3:21 GMT
Austin, TX - Vondrell McGee gave the Longhorns the lead and seventh-ranked Texas went on to rout 19th-ranked TCU, 34-13, at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Colt McCoy went 25-for-38 with 239 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while Jamaal Charles had 22 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown for the Longhorns (2-0), who have won 14 of their last 15 home games against ranked opponents.
'It was a great win for us because of the way it happened,' said Texas coach Mack Brown. 'You've got to give Gary Patterson and TCU so much credit. I thought they were a very good football team and I think leaving here they're better than I thought they were. The differences in the game were some turnovers and the kicking game that flipped the field and flipped the momentum.'
Andy Dalton went 23-for-37 for 208 yards and one interception while Ryan Christian had 10 carries for 41 yards for the Horned Frogs (1-1), who have lost 15 straight in Austin.
After being shutout in the first half, the Longhorns had the first possession coming out of the locker room and capitalized.
Quan Crosby helped the team with a 31-yard kickoff return to get the ball to the Texas 40. On 3rd-and-11, McCoy found Nate Jones in the right side of the end zone from 33 yards out to make it a 10-7 game.
Later in the third quarter, Texas tied the game on a 28-yard field goal from Ryan Bailey. The drive was highlighted with McCoy completions of 22 yards to Jermichael Finley and 21 yards to Jones.
The Longhorns wasted no time in grabbing the lead as James Henry fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Texas recovered. Five plays later, McGee punched the ball into the end zone from a yard out for a 17-10 lead
After forcing TCU to punt on its ensuing possession, Texas took a 20-10 lead on a 20-yard field goal from Bailey. Charles had a 32-yard run during the drive to help set up the field goal.
The Texas defense then put points on the board as Brandon Foster picked up a Derek Wash fumble and rumbled into the end zone from 21 yards out for a 27-10 lead.
The Horned Frogs responded with a 37-yard field goal on their next possession, but Texas recovered the ensuing on-sides kick and a 39-yard touchdown run from Charles up-the-middle sealed the win.
The teams had trouble getting their offense on track as the first quarter was a scoreless affair.
Texas had an opportunity when Lamarr Houston sacked Dalton, causing the quarterback to fumble the ball, and Houston recovered it around midfield. However, the drive stalled at the Horned Frogs 25-yard line and Bailey's 42- yard field goal attempt went off the left post on the first play of the second quarter.
The Horned Frogs were the first to get on the scoreboard, but they did it with their defense. McCoy dropped back and was looking to throw the ball out to the right side, but he didn't see Torrey Stewart, who leaped up near the line of scrimmage, came down with the ball and galloped 44 yards into the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 3:33 left in the first half.
The TCU defense stepped up again on Texas' next possession as David Roach picked off a McCoy pass near midfield and brought the ball back to the Texas 18.
TCU got the ball the four-yard line, but Justin Watts was stopped on three straight carries and the team had to settle for an 18-yard field goal from Chris Manfredini to take a 10-0 lead into the locker room.
Game Notes
Texas has won 28 of the last 29 overall against TCU and is 61-20-1 all- time...Jones finished with eight receptions for 91 yards while Quan Cosby had six catches for 51 yards.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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