Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
2-2 , 0-1
Texas
3-1 , 1-0
Oklahoma State Falls To No. 13 Texas, 42-7
September 30, 2000 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 30, 2000
By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Texas - After another slow start, Texas turned to one of its fastest - and newest - players for help.
Roy Williams was more than happy to oblige Saturday.
Williams' 96-yard touchdown catch on third-and-14 broke open a close game in the third quarter as No. 13 Texas scored four second-half touchdowns in a 42-7 victory over Oklahoma State.
"That's why I came to Texas," said Williams, who set a Texas freshman receiving record with 175 yards on five catches. "I knew I was going to get opportunities like I had today."
The Longhorns (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) were leading 10-7 and backed up to their own end zone when Williams broke behind the secondary. Major Applewhite laid out a soft pass down the sideline that Williams hauled in over his right shoulder.
"I thought I had overthrown Roy, then the ball disappeared behind the defensive back. The next thing I heard was the roar of the crowd and I knew they weren't going to catch him," Applewhite said.
The play tied for the second-longest play in Texas history, just a yard shy of Applewhite's 97-yard scoring toss to Wane McGarity in 1998.
It also sparked Texas' best offensive performance of the season. Applewhite passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns and the Longhorns rushed for 205 yards against the nation's toughest run defense.
After Williams' catch made it 17-7, Applewhite threw scoring passes of 21 yards to Artie Ellis and 2 yards to Montrell Flowers. Texas also got three field goals of 44, 20 and 36 yards from Kris Stockton.
Kenny Hayter rushed for 122 yards, Texas' first 100-rusher since last season, on the day the school retired former Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams' No. 34.
"I told them they needed to play with the spirit Ricky Williams did when he was here," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "I was proud of them."
It didn't begin so easily. With Chris Simms getting the start in Brown's system of rotating quarterbacks, the Longhorns failed to score an offensive touchdown in the first quarter for the seventh straight game. Texas trailed 7-3 when a blocked punt led to a 9-yard touchdown run by Oklahoma State's Reggie White.
Oklahoma State had a chance to pad its lead when it stuffed a fake punt by the Longhorns but the Texas defense refused to give any ground. After two short runs and an incomplete pass, the Cowboys were forced to punt.
Oklahoma State had four possessions start inside Texas territory but converted them into just one touchdown. White led the Cowboys with 104 yards rushing, most of them coming on a 69-yard run in the first quarter.
Williams' touchdown seemed to take the life out of the Cowboys.
"You go into at halftime thinking you should be tied," said Oklahoma State coach Bob Simmons. "You come out in the third quarter and the one thing you can't give up is a long pass and that's what happened."
After that play, Texas started pounding the ball with Hayter up the middle and into the heart of the defense. Texas had 140 yards rushing in the second half against a defense that came in giving up just 30.3 yards on the ground, No. 1 in the nation.
"We completely dominated the second half," Brown said. "It was nice to see the running game break out."
Oklahoma State also botched some scoring opportunities. Seth Condley missed a 32-yard field goal and had a 38-yard attempt blocked in the first half. A first-quarter interception return to inside the Texas 10 was negated by a personal foul.
