honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, October 26, 2008

No. 1 Texas holds on, 28-24

By Jim Vertuno
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Texas receiver Jordan Shipley beats Oklahoma State's Ricky Price to haul in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Colt McCoy.

ERIC GAY | Associated Press

spacer spacer

AUSTIN, Texas — Colt McCoy made rare mistakes. The Texas defense got pushed around and the Longhorns watched their big lead and momentum gradually disappear.

Suddenly, the No. 1 team in the country looked vulnerable.

Yet here they are, still unbeaten, and with still more tough games to play.

McCoy passed for 391 yards and two touchdowns yesterday but the Longhorns defense needed to come up with two huge stands in a 28-24 win over No. 7 Oklahoma State after he threw a third-quarter interception and fumbled late in the fourth.

"We're not going to beat everybody by 50 or 60," Texas cornerback Ryan Palmer said. "We showed we can dig down and fight."

Texas led 28-21 when McCoy threw the interception — his first in 101 pass attempts over the last four games — and the Cowboys seemed to have stolen all the momentum with the ball near midfield.

Instead of allowing a touchdown, Texas held OSU to a field goal that cut the lead to four. And when McCoy fumbled as he was swarmed by three defenders at the Cowboys 10 late in the fourth, Texas didn't allow the them to get past their own 30.

Texas fans have watched McCoy play with near-perfect precision — especially while beating Oklahoma and Missouri the previous two weeks — and the turnovers seemed to stun the crowd of 98,515.

"No one plays this game perfect," said wide receiver Jordan Shipley, McCoy's roommate who was also his favorite target with 15 catches for 168 yards.

Texas (8-0, 4-0 Big 12) had a chance for a final touchdown after getting the ball back at the 30, driving to the 1 before a busted call on fourth down gave OSU one last chance to cover 99 yards in about 30 seconds. The Cowboys got to midfield before a desperation pass fell just short of the end zone on the final play.

"I'm very relieved to be out of that game," Texas defensive tackle Roy Miller said.

Texas, which plays at No. 8 Texas Tech Saturday, has won 11 in a row over Oklahoma State (7-1, 3-1).