(Sports Network) – Garrett Gilbert threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Texas Longhorns to a convincing, 51-17 decision over the Florida Atlantic Owls in a non-league affair at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium.
Gilbert also rushed for a touchdown and finished with 60 yards on 14 carries for Texas (5-6), while Cody Johnson led the way with 124 rushing yards, and also found the end zone once.
Jeff VanCamp threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns for FAU (4-6), while Rob Housler hauled in both TD passes, finishing the game with 64 yards on just two receptions.
Johnson’s one-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter gave the Longhorns a 7-0 lead.
However, the Owls answered back later in the frame when VanCamp connected with Housler for a 56-yard scoring strike.
Texas dominated the second stanza, scoring all 17 points in the quarter, beginning with a 63-yard scoring strike from Gilbert to James Kirkendoll.
Justin Tucker added a 22-yard field goal midway through the frame, but it was Gilbert’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Williams as time expired in the half that gave Texas a 24-7 lead at the break.
FAU cut its deficit to 24-14 early in the third frame when VanCamp and Housler hooked up again, this time the touchdown was an eight-yard pass.
Texas responded with a 43-yard field goal by Tucker, but FAU added a field goal of its own, thanks to Ross Gornall’s 41-yard boot. However, Tucker’s 49- yard field goal in the final minute of the third quarter pushed the Texas lead to 30-17.
The Longhorns scored 21 unanswered points over the final 15 minutes of action to pull away from Florida Atlantic. The first score, which gave Texas a 37-17 lead, was a 57-yard interception return by Emmanuel Acho.
Minutes later Gilbert scored on a one-yard run, and with a little over two minutes remaining in regulation Ryan Roberson found the end zone on a 10-yard scamper.
Texas collected 27 first downs in the win and finished with 522 total yards.