AUSTIN — Â Texas ran their opening play out of the Wishbone formation in honor of Darrell K Royal. Â Then they did something Coach Royal never did. Ran a double-pass to the tight end for a 46-yard gain.
It would be a fitting tribute as the Texas Longhorns defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 33-7 at DKR Memorial Stadium on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Austin. Texas moves to 8-2 and 4-2 in Big 12 play with a week off before facing TCU in their home finale on Thanksgiving night.
David Ash looked fabulous starting 11-for-11, mixing in long strikes to Jaxson Shipley and Mike Davis. He finished 25-for-31, 364 yards passing and two touchdowns. Â Shipley had 137 yards on eight grabs and Davis added 113 yards from seven catches and a score.
Ash has continually progressed week to week, especially after his lack-luster effort at Kansas three weeks ago. His follow-through, his feet, and overall mechanics are been near flawless. But its his confidence that you notice more than anything.
The key was the balance in play-calling by Texas co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin in gathering 609 total yards for the Horns. Mack Brown coached teams move to 76-2 when they rush for over 200 yards.
The Longhorns defense played it’s best game of the year. They held ISU to  277 yards, while Carrington Byndom and Josh Turner had interceptions. Iowa State had three other drives push inside the Texas 40 in the first half, but they ended in a punt, an interception and a missed field goal.
Royal coached Texas to national championships in 1963 and 1969, a share of a third in 1970, and won 11 Southwest Conference titles. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. Flags flew at half-staff inside the stadium that bears his name and Royals’ “DKR” initials were on burnt-orange logos at midfield and on the Texas players’ helmets. Brown said the intials will stay on the field for the remainder of the year.
A Daje Johnson scamper set up a Johnathan Gray five-yard touchdown jaunt at the 4:34 mark in the first, giving Texas the early 7-0 lead. Gray totaled 74 yards on the day with two touchdowns.
David Ash with a 61-yard touchdown strike to Davis at 3:23 in the opening stanza, and a 14-0 advantage.
Ash hit tight end Barrett Matthews for a three-yard touchdown catch with 2:53 left in the first half but Iowa State quickly answered when Steele Janz hit Quenton Bunrage for a 14-yard touchdown catch right before the half trimming the margin to 20-7. Jantz was 15-for-29 for 133 yards with one touchdown and two picks.
Nick  Jordan would hit field goals of 37- and 25- yards in the second half, taking over for Penn State transfer Anthony Fera, who has been nothing short of a failure.
Gray added a 13-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter essentially squashing any notion of a Iowa State upset on a day Texas remembered Royal.
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