... LONGHORNS FIND THEIR RUN GAME, DEFENSE STIFLES SEMINOLES IN 17-7 WIN
Somewhere, Mark Robin just lit up a victory cigar.
While last week's tie with the BYU Cougars might have been frustrating for the then still winless Texas Longhorns, it did show a better side of burnt orange than in the season-opening blowout loss to Florida. There was definite improvement on defense, and that became crystal clear today as Texas earned its first win of the ECFA season, downing the Florida State Seminoles, 17-7.
Texas held the Seminoles to just 162 total yards on 42 plays, and a paltry 18 yards rushing - helped by four sacks of FSU quarterback Ponder. The offense worked in concert with the defense, putting up 10 second-quarter points to take a 10-0 halftime lead, then providing a dagger on the final play of the third quarter as M. Williams took a middle screen from Gilbert and turned it into a 76-yard touchdown pass. Down 10 to start the fourth quarter, the Seminoles punted and missed a field goal on two possessions, and the Longhorns (1-1-1, 0-0-1 Western Conference) ran out the clock.
The Longhorns, who had totaled negative rushing yards for the season, got a boost from tailback Johnson, who finally broke free on a few plays and finished with 84 yards on 14 carries. Gilbert was ineffective running the ball, his stats hampered by taking a 16-yard sack, but he was prolific through the air, going 15-of-19 for 215 yards and 2 scores. Along with the long pass to Williams, he hit Johnson for a 23-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.
FSU's lone touchdown came in the third quarter and briefly cut the lead to 10-7. Ponder hit Reed for a 15-yard score, one of a team-high 4 catches for Reed. But Williams promptly went to the house 3 plays later, and the Seminoles (1-2, 0-1 Eastern Conference) never recovered.
The defensive star of the game was Okafor for Texas, who recorded 5 tackles - 4 for loss, including a sack. K. Robinson had 2 sacks for the Longhorns.
Both teams are now done with their non-conference schedules.
Ed
