The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-0
New Mexico State
0-1
No. 15/15 Football defeats New Mexico State, 56-7, in season opener
08.31.2013 | Football
Longhorns set a new program record with 715 total yards of offense; Ash posts career-high 434 total yards
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AUSTIN, Texas -- David Ash threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns and No. 15 Texas set a school record with 715 total offensive yards in a season-opening 56-7 win over New Mexico State Saturday evening.
Led by Ash, the Longhorns (1-0) scored on five straight possessions after falling behind 7-0, averaging 54.6 yards per play on the five touchdowns. Ash hit John Harris for a 54-yard touchdown for the first of the five successive scores, and plays of 66 yards (Ash to Daje Johnson), 24 yards (Johnson run), 55 yards (Ash run) and 74 yards (Ash to Malcolm Brown) followed.
Texas reached the 700-yard mark in total offense for the first time in school history with a balanced attack, racking up 359 yards on the ground and 356 through the air. Ash had 91 yards on the ground, including the 55-yard TD run in the third quarter, while Joe Bergeron finished with 79 yards and Johnson had 62. Brown recorded the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, turning three catches into 109 yards.
Jalen Overstreet, who didn't enter the game until midway through the fourth quarter, led the Longhorns with 92 rushing yards on nine carries. His two touchdowns – one coming from a yard out and the other coming on a 38-yard dash – were the first of his Texas career.
"We rushed for over 300 yards, and David ran the ball well, so that really helped us," said head coach Mack Brown. "That's something we need to do is have our quarterback be an extra runner in key situations. I thought he looked for the run tonight. That's something he didn't do very much last year."
While Ash and the offense produced, the Texas defense forced three turnovers and shut down the Aggies (0-1) after allowing their lone touchdown in the second quarter - an 11-yard touchdown pass from Joshua Bowen to Andrew McDonald. Texas defensive ends Cedric Reed and Jackson Jeffcoat led the way with seven tackles apiece, including a sack for Reed.
Leading 35-7 following the third quarter, Texas kept its foot on the gas, scoring on all three of its possessions in the fourth quarter.
Mike Davis made an acrobatic, 25-yard catch in the corner of the end zone, just getting one foot in bounds to increase the lead to 42-7. Overstreet rushed six times for 43 yards in his first drive as a Longhorn and capped it off with a one-yard touchdown run. The sophomore scored his second touchdown of the game on a 38-yard run, completing the scoring for the Longhorns.
"It goes to show, if we really execute 60 minutes, we can be good," said co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite. "It's okay to say that. It's out there. Let's go get it.
Texas ran its winning streak in season openers to 14 and is now 15-1 in openers under Brown.
Team Stats
NMSU 7, UT 0
NMSU - Bowen, Joshua 11 yd pass from McDonald, A. (Johnson, M. kick) 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:27
NMSU 7, UT 7
UT - Harris, John 54 yd pass from Ash, David (Fera, Anthony kick) 2 plays, 57 yards, TOP 0:34
NMSU 7, UT 14
UT - Johnson, Daje 66 yd pass from Ash, David (Fera, Anthony kick) 1 plays, 66 yards, TOP 0:10
NMSU 7, UT 21
UT - Johnson, Daje 24 yd run (Fera, Anthony kick), 6 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:12
NMSU 7, UT 28
UT - Ash, David 55 yd run (Fera, Anthony kick), 4 plays, 88 yards, TOP 1:28
NMSU 7, UT 35
UT - Brown, Malcolm 74 yd pass from Ash, David (Fera, Anthony kick) 3 plays, 81 yards, TOP 1:04
NMSU 7, UT 42
UT - Davis, Mike 25 yd pass from Ash, David (Fera, Anthony kick) 4 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:06
NMSU 7, UT 49
UT - Overstreet, Jal 1 yd run (Fera, Anthony kick), 12 plays, 88 yards, TOP 3:48
NMSU 7, UT 56
UT - Overstreet, Jal 38 yd run (Fera, Anthony kick), 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:39
