The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 8 Texas 51, Texas Tech 21
07.22.2008 | Football
10/23/04
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| Vince Young scrambles for one of his four rushing touchdowns. |
Young finished with a season-high 163 yards on 25 carries. He scored touchdowns on runs of 2, 2, 1 and 11 yards. He rung up 121 yards rushing in the first half alone when the Longhorns built a 24-14 lead.
Senior Cedric Benson, the nation's leading rusher entering the game against the high-powered Raiders, finished with 168 yards on 38 carries and one touchdown for the Longhorns (6-1, 3-1 Big 12). Late in the first quarter he became the sixth player in NCAA Division I history to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons, joining Heisman Trophy winners Ron Dayne (Wisconsin, 1996-99) and Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh, 1973-76), as well as Avon Coburne (1999-2002), Amos Lawrence (North Carolina, 1977-80) and Denvis Manns (New Mexico State, 1995-98).
The Longhorns relied heavily upon their powerful running game, calling 71 rushing plays against 15 in the air. But when they did go the air, it was effective. Young completed 10-of-15 passes for 142 yards, including a 9-yard scoring strike to sophomore TE David Thomas in the second quarter.
Texas put the game out of reach midway through the third quarter when Young capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 31-14. Tech failed to get a first down on its next possession and punter Alex Reyes, kicking from the end zone, barely avoided a charging Michael Griffin and slid the ball off the side of his foot for a 5-yard punt. Texas took over on the Tech 11 and on the next play Young got his fourth touchdown to put the Horns up 38-14.
Young's previous high for total yards was 287 last year in a 65-13 loss to Oklahoma. The last time he rushed for more than 100 yards was in a 31-7 win over Nebraska last season when he got 163 yards on 14 carries.
The Texas win was the second straight over Tech. Last year in Austin, Tech fell behind by 15 and struggled to try to come back in a 43-40 loss to the Longhorns.
Sonny Cumbie completed 34-of-51 passes for 403 yards and a touchdown for the Red Raiders (4-3, 3-2), but the numbers didn't produce many points.
Texas, which came into the game ranked 29th nationally in total defense (309 yards) allowed Tech 386 yards.
