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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 10:34 a.m., Sunday, September 28, 2008

NFL: Garrard, Scobee lift Jags over Texans, 30-27 in OT

By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Josh Scobee won a second straight game for the Jacksonville Jaguars, with plenty of help from David Garrard again.

Scobee's 37-yard field goal in overtime gave the Jaguars a 30-27 victory against the winless Houston Texans today.

Scobee hit a 51-yarder with 4 seconds remaining last week to beat Indianapolis 23-21. Garrard put Jacksonville in position for the winner against the Colts and did the same a week later. He completed a 24-yard pass to Matt Jones on third down to get to the Houston 41, then found Greg Jones in the flat for 22 more yards.

Scobee lined up two plays later and drilled it down the middle. He got a high-five from holder Adam Podlesh, then jumped into the arms of left tackle Khalif Barnes.

Houston (0-3), getting a strong outing from quarterback Matt Schaub, looked like it might get its first victory of the season.

Schaub threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Kevin Walter. His last one was an 8-yard strike that put the Texans ahead 24-20 with 7:06 remaining.

But Garrard brought the Jaguars (2-2) right back, mostly with his legs.

Garrard scrambled for two first downs and then ran for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:48 to play. He gained 13 yards on third-and-10, then picked up 9 more a few plays later on fourth-and-8.

But Schaub wasn't done. He drove the Texans 53 yards and set up Kris Brown's 47-yard field goal with a second to play that essentially sent the game into overtime.

The Jaguars won the toss, and Garrard and Scobee did the rest.

Garrard was 23-of-32 for 236 yards. He also ran for 41 yards.

Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew were held to 25 and 32 yards rushing, respectively. But the Jaguars got a 41-yard TD run from fullback Montell Owens on a fourth-down play.

Matt Jones caught five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Jerry Porter made his debut for Jacksonville, but had just one reception for 6 yards.

The Texans were more efficient most of the day.

Schaub directed touchdown drives of 91, 80 and 85 yards, and maybe more importantly, had his first turnover-free game of the season. Schaub threw five interceptions and was sacked eight times in lopsided losses at Pittsburgh and Tennessee.

Many fans were calling for coach Gary Kubiak to switch to backup Sage Rosenfels, but he stuck with his starter. And Schaub nearly made the move pay off.

The Jaguars got off to a fast start for the first time this season. They allowed a touchdown or field goal on the opening drive in each of their first three games.

They forced a punt to start this one, then scored in the first quarter for the first time in four games. They needed some trickery to do it, too.

Coach Jack Del Rio sent out his punt team on fourth-and-4 from the Houston 41. But the Jaguars surprised the Texans by going for it. Owens got the direct snap, cut right, broke two tackles and rumbled to the end zone.

It was the first carry of his career and the longest run of the season for Jacksonville. It also was the team's longest TD run by anyone not named Taylor or Jones-Drew since October 2002.