Posted at 2:48 p.m., Saturday, September 15, 2007
CFB: No. 6 Texas holds off Central Florida, 35-32
By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
McCoy threw 259 yards and two touchdowns and Jamaal Charles scored on a 46-yard run today to clinch the sixth-ranked Longhorns' 35-32 victory over Central Florida in the first game in UCF's new on-campus stadium.
Ryan Bailey kicked five field goals for Texas (3-0), which regrouped after squandering a 13-point lead to fall behind 24-23 early in the fourth quarter. Bailey put the Longhorns ahead for good, then tied a school record with a fifth field goal that made it 29-24 with 5:19 left.
Charles, who rushed 153 yards on 22 carries, put the Longhorns up 35-24 with his long run after cornerback Marcus Griffin recovered a UCF fumble. The Texas running back was trying to help the Longhorns kill the clock when he fumbled for the second time, giving UCF one more chance to get back in the game.
McCoy completed 32 of 47 passes and was intercepted once. Quan Cosby had 10 receptions for 67 yards in the Longhorns' first appearance in the state of Florida in 34 years.
Kyle Isreal's 7-yard TD pass to Kamar Aiken and a 2-point conversion trimmed UCF's deficit to three with 35 seconds left. But Brandon Foster, who scored on a 33-yard interception return in the second quarter, recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.
Kevin Smith ran for 149 yards and scored on runs on 2 and 3 yards for UCF (1-1). Isreal finished 9-of-26 for 134 yards, one TD and one interception.
UCF played its first 28 seasons in the Florida Citrus Bowl in downtown Orlando, about 15 miles east of the Knights' sprawling campus. The $55 million, 43,323-seat facility was a long-range goal that coach George O'Leary put on a fast track after being hired in 2004.
The former Georgia Tech coach pulled off one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history two years ago, guiding UCF to the first bowl appearance in school history after going 0-11 in his first season in Orlando.
A 4-8 finish in 2006 was a disappointment, but hardly discouraged O'Leary about the direction of his program.
With Smith running for 217 yards and two touchdowns, the Knights opened this season with a 25-23 victory at North Carolina State two weeks ago. They led Texas 7-3 after Smith's 2-yard, first-quarter TD run and appeared to be letting the game slip away before rallying from a 23-10 deficit in the third quarter.
The game was delayed for 15 minutes during the first quarter because of lightning. Part of the second half was played through heavy rain that sent many in the sellout crowd running for cover.
