Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • A3

www.star-telegram.com Sunday, September 28, 2008 3CC Burch: Theres no team like Arkansas waiting in Big 12 AROUND THE BIG 12 Virginia Techs Darren Evans scores against Nebraska in the first quarter. Evans scored again in the second half. apnati harnik VIRGINIA TECH 35 KANSAS STATE 45 NEBRASKA 30 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 37 Historic drubbing Texas 52-10 rout of Arkansas marked the Longhorns fourth-largest margin of victory in the 77-game series. The top five: Freeman sets mark in K-State victory Why Kansas State won: Josh Freeman completed 21 of 28 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for two more touchdowns.

Notable: Josh Freeman broke Kansas States career yardage record. He has 6,238 career yards to eclipse Lynn Dickey for No. 1 all-time on the Kansas State list. Up next: Kansas State vs. Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m., CONTINUED FROM ICC defenders scored more touchdowns (1) than they allowed (0).

If that sounds like a callous way to dismiss a 42-point rout of a longtime rival with a proud football pedigree well, the Hogs have earned it. Of the Longhorns three 52-10 victories this season, Arkansas put up far less resistance than Rice or Florida Atlantic. The Razorbacks managed only 191 total yards and scored their lone touchdown on an 80-yard fumble return by the defense with 2:20 remaining and Texas positioned to expand a 52-3 lead. The Longhorns, on the other hand, scored on seven of their first eight possessions and completed 21-of-23 passes (91.3 percent) without an interception. Quarterback Colt McCoy continued to perform like a Heisman Trophy candidate, rushing for two touchdowns, passing for three and boosting his season completion rate to 80 percent (80-of-100).

McCoys touchdowns-to-inter-ceptions ratio is now an eyepopping 14-1. I dont see how anybody could be playing better than Colt right now, coach Mack Brown said. Someone might be playing as good. But Colt is just not making any mistakes. Hes managing the game.

Hes making big plays Colts confidence is just oozing all over the place. McCoy did plenty of magical things Saturday, without question. But realize that this Arkansas team, which needed fourth-quarter rallies to beat Western Illinois (28-24) and Louisiana-Monroe (28-27), bears no resemblance to last years Razorbacks, who knocked off eventual national champ LSU and played in the Cotton Bowl. Nor is it comparable to great Arkansas teams of the past. This rebuilding team probably is the weakest of Texas four nonconference opponents on the 2008 schedule.

Its certainly the most error-prone. Arkansas lost the turn- Arkansas 0 3 0 7 10 Texas 10 21 14 7 52 First quarter Tex FG Lawrence 34, 11 20 lex impiey a pass Trom ivicCoy (Lawrence kick), 4 28 Second quarter Tex Johnson 1 run (Lawrence kick), 14 19 Ark FG Haddock 30, 9 44 Tex McCoy 35 run (Lawrence kick), 8 10 Tex McCoy 5 run (Lawrence kick), 44 Third quarter Tex Cosby 13 pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick), 11 57 Tex Shipley 6 pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick), 5 23 Fourth quarter Tex A Williams 81 interception return (Bailey kick), 9 31 Ark Robinson 80 fumble return (Haddock kick), 2 20 A 97,833 Breakdown Why Texas won: The Longhorns controlled both lines of scrimmage, finishing with a 421-191 edge in total yards. QB Colt McCoy accounted for five TDs and the defense recorded seven sacks, tying its season high. Notables Texas set a single-game school record by completing 91.3 percent of its passes (21-of-23), based on a minimum of 10 attempts. Texas has allowed only 43 points (10.9 per game), its lowest total through four games since the 2001 season (32 points, 8.0 Texas RB Fozzy Whittaker (knee) did not play.

Vondrell McGee (16 carries, 48 yards) was the teams busiest ballcarrier. Up next: Texas at Colorado, Saturday, 6 p.m. (FSN SW) contests. But the Longhorns confidence level, after Saturday, could not be much higher heading into the start of Big 12 play. At the same time, it is tempered by a dose of reality.

Starting 4-0 is good, but you cant do anything at a national level if you dont win the Big 12, said offensive 3 7 20 7 37 Kansas St 7 21 14 3 45 First quarter ULL-FG Edmiston 22, 10 17 KSt Murphy 12 pass from Freeman (Rossman kick), 3 55 Second quarter KSt Freeman 7 run (Rossman kick), 13 43 KSt Freeman 15 run (Rossman kick), 10 32 KSt Murphy 3 pass from Freeman (Rossman kick), 3 43 ULL Fenroy 15 run (Edmiston kick), 43 Third quarter ULL-Chery 27 pass from Falgout (Edmiston kick), 1442 KSt Brown 3 run (Rossman kick), 9 48 ULL Mi Desormeaux 1 run (kick failed), 3 21 KSt Banks 53 pass from Freeman (Rossman kick), 149 ULL Fenroy 69 run (Edmiston kick), 34 Fourth quarter ULL Fenroy 1 run (Edmiston kick), 8 49 KSt FG Rossman 26, 1 37 A 45,558 over battle, 2-1, Saturday to fall to minus-7 for the season. Those numbers will not, and should not, diminish the joy Texas coaches and players felt after turning in their most complete effort of the season Saturday. But they should be placed in their proper context. As Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said: Texas beat us in every way. Physically, they were a little stronger.

They out-executed us. Were a long way from being the quality of Texas And a long way from being the quality of a typical Arkansas team. That means the true measuring stick for these Longhorns will be applied in the next three weeks, when Texas meets Colorado (3-1), No. 2 Oklahoma (4-0) and No. 6 Missouri (4-0) in consecutive Hokies hold off Huskers late rally Why Virginia Tech won: Darren Evans scored two touchdowns and Dustin Keys kicked four field goals as the Hokies (4-1) held off Nebraskas late comeback bid.

Notable The Huskers (3-1) lost a nonconference home game for only the third time since 1991. Nebraska QB Joe Ganz was 17-of-25 for 281 yards and two TDs and one INT. Up next: Missouri at Nebraska, 8 p.m. Saturday Virginia Tech 9 9 10 7 35 Nebraska 7 3 7 13 30 First quarter VT Virgil, 8 35 VT Evans 1 run (Keys kick), 5 22 Neb McNeill 32 pass from Ganz (Henery kick), 3 54 Second quarter VT-FG Keys 19, 14 51 Neb FG Henery 48, 10 45 VT-FG Keys 38, 7 10 VT-FG Keys 27, 1 15 Third quarter VT-FG Keys 36, 10 25 VT Evans 19 run (Keys kick), 6 54 Neb Helu 12 run (Henery kick), 04 Fourth quarter Neb Swift 88 punt return (pass failed), 7 52 VT-TTaylor 2 run (Keys kick), 2 28 Neb Peterson 17 pass from Ganz (Henery kick), 132 A 85,831 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Comp-Att-Int Return Yards Punts-Avg Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Virginia Tech, Taylor 15-87, Evans 21-72, Lewis 17-50, Coale l-(minus 1), Team 1-(minus 2) Nebraska, Helu 4-21, Ganz 8-18, Lucky 8-17, Castille 3-8, Team l-(minus 3), Paul l-(minus 6) PASSING Virginia Tech, Taylor 9-15-0-171 Nebraska, Ganz 17-26-1-278 RECEIVING Virginia Tech, Boykin 2-58, Smith 2-54, Boone 2-33, Coale 2-14, Roberts 1-12 Nebraska, Peterson 4-60, McNeill 3-66, Swift 3-58, Lucky 3-38, Paul 1-21, Me Holt 1-20, Young 1-10, Gilleylen 1-5 VT Neb 21 14 55-206 25-55 171 278 9-15-0 17-26-1 78 84 5-34 6 5-29 4 0-0 3-1 4-30 7-69 3444 2516 FLORIDA STATE 39 COLORADO 21 Seminoles pin first loss on Buffaloes Why Florida State won: Antone Smith ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns in Jacksonville, Fla. Florida State (3-1) scored three times Smiths 60-yard TD run, a blocked punt for a safety, and a field goal in the final 2:29 of the first half to take a 19-7 lead.

It was the first loss for Colorado (3-1). Notable: FSU starting QB Christian Ponder, a former Colleyville Heritage standout, completed just 10 of 22 passes for 119 yards with one interception. Up next: Texas at Colorado, 6 p.m. Saturday, FSN SW Colorado 7 0 0 14 21 Florida St 7 12 6 14 39 First quarter FSU A Smith 2 run (Cano kick), 12 01 Col Jo Smith 30 pass from Hawkins (Goodman kick), 7 27 Second quarter FSU A Smith 60 run (Cano kick), 2 29 FSU Watson, 1 54 FSU FG Cano 36, 34 Third quarter FSU FG Cano 52, 11 56 FSU FG Cano 44, 133 Fourth quarter Col Geer 2 pass from Hawkins (Goodman kick), 13 32 FSU Garvin 94 kickoff return (Cano kick), 13 20 Col Devenny 14 pass from Hawkins (Goodman kick), 9 31 FSU A Smith 2 run (Cano kick), 3 37 A 46,716 overcome sluggish start by their offense INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Arkansas, Mic Smith 13-42, Curtis 1-10, De Johnson 3-10, Crawford l-(minus 5), Wilson 1-(minus 9), Dick 7-(minus 37) Texas, McCoy 9-84, McGee 16-48, Johnson 9-43, Hills 5-15, Chiles 10-13, Shipley 1-5 PASSING Arkansas, Wilson 7-15-1-42, Dick 7-13-0-138 Texas, McCoy 17-19-0-185, Chiles 4-4-0-28 RECEIVING Arkansas, Williams 4-39, Crawford 3-51, Mic Smith 2-38, Adams 2-29, Wright 2-12, Childs 1-11 Texas, Shipley 8-83, Cosby 5-67, Collins 2-17, McGee 2-4, Kirkendoll 1-27, 1 Harris 1-7, Buckner 1-4, Ullman 1-4 tackle Adam Ulatoski, a South-lake Carroll graduate. To reach the goals that we have, we have to continue to get better.

Obviously, we can. Theyll need to. With Big 12 play starting next week, there are no softies like Arkansas left on Texas remaining schedule. JIMMY BURCH, 817-390-7760 Breakdown Why Texas won: The Aggies gave up 280 rushing yards and 21 first downs and had the ball for 1 3 fewer minutes than Army, but the defense scored seven points and made a key fourth-quarter stop on fourth down. offense had only 290 total yards but had two big plays, a 60-yard run by Cyrus Gray to set up a touchdown and a 42-yard scoring pass from Stephen McGee to Jeff Fuller.

Notable Jorvorskie Lane had seven carries for 38 yards, equaling his rushing attempts in the first three games as designated short-yardage specialist. Freshman safety Trent Hunter had 17 tackles, including 1 1 solo, in his first start in place of injured senior Jordan Peterson (shoulder, elbow). Offensive tackle Travis Schneider missed the game with an ankle sprain, and defensive end Michael Bennett left with a knee injury in the fourth quarter. It took Jeff Fuller four games to tie the Aggies school record for touchdown catches by a freshman with four. Coach Mike Sherman called the three personal-foul penalties against Texas on Armys first scoring drive inexcusable.

The Aggies also were flagged for roughing the kicker. Up next: Texas at Oklahoma State, 6:05 p.m. Army Texas 7 3 7 17 14 7 0 21 Second quarter TAM Fuller 42 pass from McGee (Bean kick), 7 12 Army Dace 9 run (DeMarco kick), 3 09 TAM Freeney 58 fumble return (Bean kick), 07 Third quarter TAM McCoy 11 pass from Johnson (Bean kick), 13 44 Army FG Campbell 24, 5 28 Fourth quarter Army Mealy 4 run (DeMarco kick), 8 46 A 84,090 Mi Desormeaux 20-98, Sails 5-33, McGuire 5-19, McCullough 1-2 Kansas St Brown 29-137, Freeman 9-37, Do Id 4-19, Hartman 1-4, Banks 1-3, Team l-(minus 2) PASSING Louisiana-Lafayette, Mi Desormeaux 14-27-0-136, Falgout 1-1-0-27, McGuire 1-1-0-11 Kansas St Freeman 21-28-0-272 RECEIVING Louisiana-Lafayette, Chery 7-80, Falgout 3-16, Green 2-45, Fenroy 1-12, Hill 1-10, Lee 1-9, Jones 1-2 Kansas St Banks 6-127, Quarles 6-62, Brown 5-36, Mastrud 2-32, Murphy 2-15 OKLAHOMA STATE 55 TROY 24 Cowboys chalk up impressive win Why Oklahoma State won: Zac Robinson threw three TD passes to Dez Bryant and the Cowboys finished with 612 yards of offense, the eighth-highest total in school history. Notable: The Cowboys have scored 50 or more points in three straight games for the second time in school history. The first came in Barry Sanders Heisman Trophy season in 1988.

Up next: Texas at Oklahoma State, 6:05 p.m. Saturday. Troy 0 10 7 7 24 Oklahoma St 14 21 10 10 55 First quarter OkSt Bryant 16 pass from Robinson (D Bailey kick), 9 44 OkSt-Hunter4 run (D Bailey kick), 29 Second quarter OkSt Bryant 26 pass from Robinson (D Bailey kick), 7 28 Troy Silvoy 5 pass from Hampton (Glusman kick), 512 OkSt Bryant 44 pass from Robinson (D Bailey kick), 2 45 Troy FG Glusman 47, 51 OkSt-Hunter 17 run (D Bailey kick), 20 Third quarter OkSt Toston 1 run (D Bailey kick), 8 42 Troy Jermgan 12 pass from Hampton (Glusman kick), 5 49 OkSt-FG Bailey 22,143 Fourth quarter Troy Turner 15 pass from Hampton (Glusman kick), 14 29 OkSt-FG Bailey 19,6 07 OkSt Toston 16 run (D Bailey kick), 4 59 A 52,463 Wide receiver Ryan Tannehill and the Texas A8M offense started to move the ball in the second quarter. apmatt slocum Aggies CONTINUED FROM ICC big step today, and it didnt matter if we were playing Army, Air Force, the Marines or the Dallas Cowboys, he said. It didnt have anything to do with anybody else.

We had to take a step forward. First, though, they took a step back. Several. The Aggies (2-2) went nearly a quarter and a half without a first down and had 20 total yards in the first quarter, including minus-4 rushing yards. They also had minus-9 return yards because of a muffed punt by Iordan Pugh.

finally started moving the ball in the second quarter. McGee scrambled for 8 yards to pick up first first down with 9:14 left, then he completed a 25-yard pass over the middle to tight end Jamie McCoy. On the next play, he found freshman receiver Jeff Fuller behind the Army secondary for a 42 -yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The momentum was shortlived. After Army (0-4) tied the game, McGee re-injured his sprained throwing shoulder on a 2-yard pass to Mike Goodson and gave way to backup ferrod Iohnson.

McGees status was unclear after the game, but Sherman said he was about 95 percent healthy at kickoff. iohnson, also nursing a sprained throwing shoulder sustained last week in his first start against Miami, threw an interception on his third play but was quickly bailed out by the Aggies defense. Linebacker Matt Feather-ston stripped Army quarterback Chip Bowden of the ball, and defensive end Paul Free-ney scooped up the loose ball and raced 58 yards for a touchdown with seven seconds left in the half. I didnt know I was that fast, Freeney said. I kind of surprised myself.

You get that adrenaline pumping and you just run a little faster. The Aggies carried that momentum into the second half INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Troy, Hampton 9-54, Jermgan 3-47, Du- Harris 9-41, Moreland 2-2 Oklahoma St Hunter 24-169, Toston 17-114, Robinson 11-39, Johnson 8-20, Fodge 1-16, Roberts 1-0 PASSING Troy, Hampton 24-45-2-253, Brown 2-2-0-8, Jones 1-2-0-11 Oklahoma St Robinson 16-21-0-254 RECEIVING Troy, Burton 7-65, Jermgan 6-58, Sil-voy4-40, Du Harris 3-43, Greer 2-15, Turner 1-15, Marcum 1-12, A Davis 1-11, Terry 1-9, Bray 1-4 Oklahoma St Bryant 6-118, Hunter 2-27, Mosley 2-25, Da Davis 2-22, Broadway 1-23, Conner 1-14, Bowling 1-13, Toston 1-12 This time, when the Aggies desperately needed a stop, they received it. With the Black Knights facing a fourth-and-3 situation at their own 47, Freeney and Lucas Patterson stopped fullback Collin Mooney inches short of the first down, allowing the 84,090 fans at Kyle Field to finally breathe a sigh of relief. Its a game of inches, and we needed that inch, Mooney said. Fullback Jorvorskie Lane punctuated the win by collecting three first downs on final possession to run out the clock.

He dragged four Army tack-lers with him on a 10-yard gain on the games final play. Its special to get our first win at Kyle Field, Iohnson said. A lot of guys stepped up because of injuries. Army played their hearts out, but I think this game will be a pretty big foundation for us going into the Big 12. LORI DANN, 817-390-7760 when freshman Cyrus Gray burst up the middle for 60 yards on the first play.

Two plays later, Iohnson fired an 11 -yard touchdown pass to McCoy for a 21-7 lead. But like the season-opening loss to Arkansas State, Texas couldnt put the Black Knights away. And as Army began methodically moving the ball with its triple -option attack in the second half, it began to feel like a repeat performance of that second-half collapse. Army drove 71 yards on 17 plays for a field goal to pull to within 21-10, then used a 13-play, 74-yard drive to make it 21-17 with 8:46 left. The Black Knights, behind Bowdens 128-yard rushing performance, converted five consecutive third downs on the touchdown drive.

When you play an option team like this, everybody has their job, and when you dont do it, you hang 10 other guys out to dry, defensive end Cyril Obiozor said. INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Colorado, Stewart 21-107, Sumler4-22, Scott 5-20, Moyd 1-5, Hawkins 6-(minus 30) Florida St A Smith 25-154, Ponder 8-43, Thomas 9-37, Parker 3-20, Reed 1-5 PASSING Colorado, Hawkins 17-36-1-154 Florida St, Ponder 10-22-1-119 RECEIVING Colorado, Jo Smith 7-85, Geer 2-21, Williams 2-16, Devenny 1-14, Crawford 1-7, Sumler 1-7, Florida St Piurowski 3-33, Carr3-29, Easterling 1-24, Fortson 1-17, A Smith 1-10, Thomas 1-6 BIG 12 STANDINGS Conference Overall INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Army, Bowden 34-128, Mooney 13-55, Carl 7-33, Mealy 3-26, Dace 3-22, McMahand 3-11, Turner 2-5 Texas Gray 6-61, Lane 7-38, Goodson 11-20, Johnson 2-12, McGee 3-2 PASSING Army, Bowden 1-4-0-4, Ca Williams 0-1-0-0 Texas Johnson 6-10-1-53, McGee 7-9-0-104 RECEIVING Army, Carter 1-4 Texas McCoy 5-60, Goodson 5-26, Fuller 1-42, Tannehill 1-26, Gray 1-3.