Football knocks off No. 24/25 West Virginia, 33-16

Saturday, November 8

Austin, Texas

2:30 p.m.

University of Texas

5-5 , 4-3

West Virginia

6-4 , 4-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

West Virginia

Texas

Football knocks off No. 24/25 West Virginia, 33-16

11.08.2014 | Football

Box Score

Gray rushes for 101 yards and three TDs; defense holds Mountaineers offense in check.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown combined for 191 rushing yards and three touchdowns and the Texas defense held No. 24/25 West Virginia's high-powered offense in check in a 33-16 win Saturday afternoon at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Texas (5-5, 4-3 Big 12) used a strong rushing attack for the second consecutive week, piling up 227 yards after gaining a season-high 241 in a win over Texas Tech last week. Gray had 101 yards on just 10 carries while Brown accounted for 90 yards on 20 rushes.

Cedric Reed led a defensive effort that saw the Longhorns hold West Virginia (6-4, 4-3) to a season-low in points, well below its season average of 36.1. Reed was disruptive throughout, totaling 12 tackles, four for a loss and three sacks while forcing a fumble.

The Longhorns used a big second quarter to build on a 7-3 lead, outscoring the Mountaineers 17-0 with big plays on offense and by allowing just 49 total yards.

Texas took a 24-3 lead into halftime and a scoreless third quarter followed. With WVU inside the red zone midway through the quarter, Jordan Hicks made big tackles on third and fourth down to force a turnover on downs. On the Mountaineers' next possession, Josh Lambert missed a 40-yard field goal.

But after the Longhorns' offense stalled, West Virginia found the end zone for the first time early in the fourth. Dreamius Smith ran it in from 9 yards out to cap a 14-play, 75-yard drive that cut the UT lead to 24-10 with 13:25 to play.

Texas was forced to punt on its next possession, and Michael Davidson let off a 63 yarder that was downed at WVU's 2. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Reed broke free and sacked Trickett in the end zone for a safety making it 26-10.

Reed again came up with a big play on WVU's next possession, sacking Trickett and forcing a fumble that Paul Boyette Jr. recovered with 8:45 left. But the Mountaineers got new life when Tyrone Swoopes was intercepted and Trickett directed an 80-yard touchdown drive in just four plays. After a 2-point conversion failed, Texas had a 26-16 lead with 6:36 left.

The defense held from there, forcing a turnover on downs to set the offense up at the WVU 15-yard line with 3:11 to play. Gray capped the scoring with a touchdown run on the first play, making it 33-16.

On the strength of three explosive plays, Texas took an early 7-0 lead when it drove 90 yards in 11 plays on its first possession of the game. Brown had 14- and 12-yard runs, and Swoopes hooked up with John Harris on a 29-yard reception. After a pass interference penalty on West Virginia set up the Longhorns at the 2-yard line, Swoopes went play action on third-and-goal and hit Geoff Swaim in the back of the end zone for the score.

The Texas defense stood tall early. Twice it was handed short fields after special teams miscues put West Virginia in Longhorn territory to start a drive.

Aided by a 48-yard return from Mario Alford on the ensuing kick, West Virginia got on the board. The Mountaineers had first down from the Texas 2-yard line, but the Longhorns – who have made a number of goal line stands this year – made three stops to force a 22-yard field goal that made it 7-3.

After the UT offense went three-and-out, WVU had a short field taking over at the Longhorns' 48. After an 11-yard pass from Trickett to Alford, three plays netted just one yard and the Mountaineers were forced to attempt a 53-yard field goal that Lambert missed wide left.

Midway through the second quarter, Texas extended its lead when Gray broke off a 39-yard touchdown run, juking a defender and racing down the sideline before diving for the pylon to make it 14-3 with 8:56 left in the half.

The Texas defense followed by forcing a three-and-out and the offense wasted no time taking advantage. Brown broke off a 25-yard run, Gray again made a defender miss for a 40-yard gain, and a pass interference in the end zone setup Gray for a 2-yard TD run. The score gave Texas a 21-3 lead with 6:19 on the clock in the second quarter.

With 1:12 left in the half, Nick Rose put Texas ahead 24-3 by connecting on a 39-yard field goal that was set up by Quandre Diggs' interception and 14-yard return.