Horns prevail in historic shootout Quick hits

AUSTIN— As it turned out, Texas didn’t need to find a miracle cure for what has been a historically terrible defense. Instead, it simply had to outplay one thatwas evenworse.

In a 56- 50 victory over Baylor at Royal- Memorial Stadiumon Saturday, the Longhorns continued to give up points and yardage in bunches. But finding no resistance against the lowestrated defense in college football, UTpiled up even more of its own, holding on to win the highest- scoring game in school history.

Joe Bergeron rushed for 117 yards and five touchdowns, DavidAsh passed for 274 yards, and the Longhorns made just enough defensive plays to avoid a third consecutive loss this season and third in a rowto the Bears.

“In a game like this, you’ve got to get a stop,” UT coach Mack Brown said. “You’re not going to get shutouts in this league.”

Itwas evident early on thatUT ( 5- 2, 2- 2 Big 12) and Baylor ( 3- 3, 0- 3) were capable of putting up huge numbers, and more to the point, incapable of preventing them. UT came into the game ranked 99th in the country in total defense. Baylorwas 120th, last in the Football Bowl Johnsonwastes no time: After last week’s blowout loss to Oklahoma, Texas’ coaching staff took criticism for, among many other things, not letting speedy freshman Daje Johnson touch the ball before halftime. The Longhorns rectified that slight immediately Saturday, and it paid off. Johnson took a handoff on the first play from scrimmage and sprinted down the right sideline for an 84- yard touchdown. It was Johnson’s second long scoring play Subdivision.

And just about whatever either offense tried, worked. UT, which was stifled by Oklahoma last week, had receivers open on almost every play, but usually didn’t need to bother throwing to them because the running lanes were so spacious.

“Lastweekwas awakeup call,” said Bergeron, who came up a TD short of RickyWilliams’ school single- game record.

‘ Balanced’ attack helps

UT freshman Daje Johnson scored on an 84- yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Later, fellow freshman Johnathan Gray, who holds a national record for most high school touchdowns, scored the first of his college career on a 25- yard run. Wide receiverMikeDavis also got in on the action, catching six passes for 148 yards.

“This is the offensewe want,” Brown said. “Itwas of the season. AgainstWest Virginia, he scored on a 46- yard shovel pass. Turner shines: As badly as the UT secondary played for much of Saturday night, it got a nice lift from backup Josh Turner, who followed an excellent openfield tackle— something never to be taken for granted on this year’s UT team— with a diving interception midway through the second quarter. It was the first career interception for the sophomore Turner. balanced.”

The Bears, for the most part, were having a similarly easy time. They outgained the Longhorns in total yards, 607- 528, and got 352 passing yards from Nick Florence.

And Baylor gave itself a chance to win. The Bears drove 75 yards for a touchdown to start the second half, scoringwhen Florence fumbled and teammate JordanNajvar recovered in the end zone.

ButUT somehowkept the Bears from taking advantage of important later opportunities. Twice in the second half the Bears ended long drives by settling for field goals.

And inwhat proved to be one of the game’s biggest plays, UT linebacker Steve Edmond forced a GlascoMartin fumble with Baylor driving near midfield trailing by six points late in the third quarter. Mykkele Thompson recovered for the Longhorns, who scored on a 15- yard pass fromAsh to Davis to make it 56- 43.

“Iwas really, really proud of our guys,” said UT defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, whose unit has surrendered 197 points in its last four games. “I sawsome young guys start to growup.”

Still room to improve

Before Saturday, the highest combined point total in aUT gamewas 102, set in victories over Texas Tech in 2007 and overNewMexico State in 1998. But even though the Longhorns gave up more points Saturday than they did in either of those shootouts, Diaz and Brown said they’d take the outcome anyway.

“We’re notwherewe want to be,” Brown said. “We’re taking baby steps here.”

Texas 56, Baylor 50