Texas ends 5-game losing streak against Kansas State, beats Wildcats 31-21

Mack Brown reiterated earlier in the week that the team’s goal of winning a Big 12 Conference Championship was still alive.  In front of a crowd of 95,248 fans at Darrell K. Royal -Texas Memorial Stadium the Texas Longhorns ended a 5-game losing streak against Kansas State on Saturday night, keeping the goal alive.  The Longhorns relied on better defense and the legs of heralded running back Johnathan Gray, who had his best game as a Longhorn tonight, in the 31-21 win over Bill Snyder’s Wildcats.

David Ash started at quarterback after missing last week’s game against Ole Miss due to suffering concussion-like symptoms sustained in the BYU game.  After a 3 and out opening drive, Texas would get on the board with a 27-yard field goal by Anthony Fera on the team’s next possession.  Then with 3:06 left in the first quarter Ash threw a 63 yard strike to Kendall Sanders and the Longhorns would take a 10-0 lead.  Johnathan Gray ran for a 21 yard touchdown late in the second quarter, increasing the Texas lead to 17-0.  On the following Kansas State drive running back John Hubert would answer with a 15 yard scamper into the end zone for a touchdown.  The Longhorns would take a 17-7 lead into the locker room at halftime, giving up only 68 yards of rushing in the first half.

Ash would be replaced by senior QB Case McCoy in the 2nd half after being held out by team trainers due to a reported head injury sustained in the first half.  McCoy maintained the Texas lead for the duration of the game, throwing for 59 yards, but Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown would add touchdown runs in the second half, making McCoy’s job relatively easy.  Kansas State would make a run in the 4th quarter after notching two touchdowns, one by RB John Hubert and another quarterback Jake Waters.

Kansas State held the ball in the Texas red zone down 31-21 with under two minutes to play but Texas defensive end Cedric Reed forced a huge fumble which was recovered by Chris Whaley.  The Longhorns would take possession at their own 25 yard line and the game would end 31-21.

Mack Brown’s sigh of relief could be heard for miles.

The night belonged to sophmore running back Johnathan Gray who finished with 141 yards and 2 touchdowns on 28 carries.  The Texas defense claimed a huge victory, giving up only 115 yards rushing.  They did allow 275 yards passing but the defense looked faster and more focused, which bodes well for the upcoming game against Iowa State in two weeks.

David Ash finished 14-25 for 166 yards and 1 touchdown in one half of play.  His timetable for return is unknown but we expect to hear more on Monday.

The Longhorns are 1-0 in Big 12 play and have a bye week before traveling to Ames, Iowa for a Thursday night game on October 3.

The goal is still alive.  Hook’Em.