The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-0
Wyoming
0-1
No. 15 Longhorns top Wyoming, 37-17 in season opener
09.01.2012 | Football
Sept. 1, 2012
Box score 
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Running backs Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Browneach eclipsed 100 yards on the ground and the defense keyed a second-quarter outburst leading No. 15 Texas to a convincing 37-17 victory over Wyoming Saturday evening.
Bergeron ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, while Brown totaled 105 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in the Longhorns' 13th straight season-opening win under head coach Mack Brown.
Sophomore David Ashled the ball-control attack that piled up 436 total yards, including 280 on the ground, by completing 20 of 27 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
As it did two years ago in its visit to Austin, Wyoming jumped out to an early lead before Texas (1-0) took control.
The Cowboys (0-1) took a 3-0 advantage with 9:14 remaining in the first quarter on a 33-yard field goal from Stuart Williams. The Longhorns answered by driving 68 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing drive. Bergeron plunged into the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to give the Horns a 7-3 lead.
The Cowboys struck quickly on their next drive, as Robert Herron took a swing pass in the left flat from Brett Smith and raced 82 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Texas defensive tackle Chris Whaleyblocked the extra-point attempt to keep the Wyoming lead at 9-7 with 3:37 left in the first quarter.
The Texas defense rose to the occasion in the second quarter by forcing a pair of turnovers.
Kenny Vaccaro picked off Smith at the UT 38 and returned the ball 16 yards. Ash found wide receiver D.J. Monroe for 15 yards to the Cowboys' 28 and then hit wide receiver Jaxon Shipley for 9 more. Three plays later, Ash found a diving Shipley for a 19-yard touchdown giving the Horns a 14-9 lead with 7:20 left in the first half.
On the fifth play of the ensuing drive, Vaccaro blitzed and forced Smith, who was 16 of 28 for 276 yards, into an errant throw that was picked off by Carrington Byndomand returned to the Wyoming 44.
Brown scampered 31 yards on the second play of the possession to set up a first-and-goal at the 10. Two plays later from the 7-yard line, Bergeron lined up at quarterback and handed off to Monroe, who swept around the left side and into the end zone for a 21-9 Texas lead.
The Longhorns kept the Cowboys in check in the second half.
Texas found the end zone on a third-quarter drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock. Brown finished off the 17-play march by plunging into the end zone on fourth-and-goal to give UT a 31-9 cushion.
Wyoming closed within 31-17 on the opening play of the fourth quarter, when Smith found Herron for a 22-yard touchdown and hit Dominic Rufran for a successful two-point conversion.
While Texas capitalized on a pair of Wyoming turnovers in the first half, the Cowboys were unable to reciprocate in the fourth quarter.
A fumble on a shotgun snap gave the Cowboys the ball at the Texas 30 with 14:50 on the clock, but Wyoming turned the ball over on downs at the 9.
On the next play, Bergeron rumbled up the middle for 54 yards and scored an insurance touchdown four plays later on a 17-yard run.
Shipley, one of 10 receivers to catch a pass, posted a game-high seven receptions for 45 yards.
Jackson Jeffcoat, Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond each had six tackles to lead the Longhorns.
Team Stats
WY 3, UT 0
WY - WILLIAMS,Stuart 33 yd field goal 10 plays, 56 yards, TOP 4:07
WY 3, UT 7
UT - Bergeron, Joe 1 yd run (Jordan, Nick kick), 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 4:00
WY 9, UT 7
WY - HERRON, Robert 82 yd pass from SMITH, Brett (WILLIAMS,Stuart kickblocked) 3 plays, 86 yards, TOP 1:22
WY 9, UT 14
UT - Shipley, Jaxon 16 yd pass from Ash, David (Jordan, Nick kick) 5 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:26
WY 9, UT 21
UT - Monroe, D.J. 7 yd run (Jordan, Nick kick), 5 plays, 44 yards, TOP 1:50
WY 9, UT 24
UT - Jordan, Nick 31 yd field goal 6 plays, 28 yards, TOP 1:03
WY 9, UT 31
UT - Brown, Malcolm 1 yd run (Jordan, Nick kick), 17 plays, 77 yards, TOP 7:56
WY 17, UT 31
WY - HERRON, Robert 22 yd pass from SMITH, Brett (RUFRAN, Dominic pass) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:36
WY 17, UT 37
UT - Bergeron, Joe 17 yd run (Jordan, Nick kickblocked), 6 plays, 91 yards, TOP 2:31
