SB Nation Dallas - Fifth-Ranked Texas Win 2010 Debut, 34-17, Against Ricehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2010-09-04T19:07:35-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14337322010-09-04T19:07:35-05:002010-09-04T19:07:35-05:00Fifth-Ranked Texas Longhorns Beat Rice, 34-17, In Season Opener
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<p>(Sports Network) – Sophomore running back Tre’ Newton rushed for a career-high three touchdowns, as the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns bounced back from a slow start to defeat the Rice Owls, 34-17, in the season opener for both schools.</p>
<p>Newton rushed for 61 yards on 18 carries for the Longhorns (1-0), fresh off yet another Big 12 Conference title and an appearance in the <span class="caps">BCS</span> National Championship Game, which it lost to Alabama (37-21).</p>
<p>Sophomore Garrett Gilbert started the post-Colt McCoy era, connecting on 14- of-23 passes for 172 yards. Malcolm Williams caught four passes for 77 yards.</p>
<p>Taylor McHargue completed 6-of-11 passes for 90 yards, one touchdown, and an interception for the Owls (0-1), who went just 2-10 last year. Randy Kitchens caught a TD pass and Charles Ross ran for a score.</p>
<p>Rice put together an impressive 14-play drive to begin the game. The Owls got down to the 13 of Texas, but a sack on third down forced the field goal unit to come on. Chris Boswell made a 42-yard field goal to make it 3-0.</p>
<p>The Longhorns responded with a long drive of their own, but it resulted in zero points. Faced with a 3rd-and-goal from the one, Cody Johnson was stuffed at the line for no gain. Johnson lost four yards on fourth down for a turnover on downs.</p>
<p>McHargue was picked off by Keenan Robinson just two plays into Rice’s ensuing possession. On the first play of the second quarter, Justin Tucker made a 51- yard field goal to tie the contest.</p>
<p>The Owls marched down the field before Boswell failed to make a 48-yarder. That proved to be a turning point in the game, as Texas put together a nine- play, 69-yard drive. Newton capped it with a one-yard TD run for a 10-3 Longhorns lead.</p>
<p>McHargue fumbled while being sacked on Rice’s ensuing drive. Robinson picked up the loose ball and ran 11 yards into the end zone. Newton added a two-yard rushing touchdown on Texas’ next drive to make it a 24-3 game.</p>
<p>The Owls were able to record a touchdown right before the half when Kitchens hauled in a deflected pass for a 47-yard score. The play was reviewed and upheld, making it 24-10 at the break.</p>
<p>Tucker missed a pair of field goals in the third frame, but Newton scored on a one-yard run to make it 31-10 heading to the fourth.</p>
<p>A 26-yard Tucker field goal midway through the fourth quarter extended Texas’ margin to 34-10. Ross added a TD late for Rice to account for the final score.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Texas owns a 70-21-1 record against Rice in the all-time series, which dates back to 1914. The Longhorns have won the last 11 meetings, and 39 of the last 40 encounters between the two overall…Head coach Mack Brown is 12-1 in openers at Texas, including 11 in a row…The Longhorns had 369 yards of total offense, compared to 219 yards for the Owls…Johnson rushed for 59 yards on 15 carries.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/9/4/1670269/fifth-ranked-texas-longhorns-beat-rice-season-openerJP Starkey2010-09-04T13:48:04-05:002010-09-04T13:48:04-05:00Follow The Longhorns/Owls Game Live
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<p>To follow and talk about the Longhorns season opener live, head over to <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/2010/9/4/1669674/texas-vs-rice-open-thread" target="new">Burnt Orange Nation’s </a>open thread and join the discussion.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/9/4/1669718/follow-the-longhorns-owls-game-liveJP Starkey2010-09-04T13:43:26-05:002010-09-04T13:43:26-05:00Texas Longhorns Open Season Against Rice Owls
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> open their 2010 season today at Reliant Stadium in Houston against the unranked University of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/rice-owls">Rice Owls</a>. Sophomore quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77301/Garrett_Gilbert">Garrett Gilbert</a> will make his first career collegiate start, replacing the now Cleveland Brown quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8525/Colt_McCoy">Colt McCoy</a>.</p>
<p>McCoy's departure could bring a change of gameplan to the Longhorns offense. <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4669674/how-often-will-horns-run-it-vs-rice" target="_blank">Jeff Caplan</a> expects to see more of a rushing attack:</p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">Texas Longhorns coach <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/Mack_Brown">Mack Brown</a> has promised a scheme change that puts more emphasis on the rushing attack. Yet, in 2009, Texas averaged 36.6 carries a game and 39.1 carries in 2008. Hardly small rushing numbers. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">Those numbers, however, are wildly skewed when talking a bona fide rushing game. In each of the last two seasons, quarterback Colt McCoy has led Texas in both carries and rushing yards. Texas finished 2009 ranked 61st in the nation in rushing, averaging 147.6 yards a game. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">If first-year quarterback Garrett Gilbert winds up as the Horns' leading rusher this season, bet that Texas will have had an awful season. The plan is to utilize three running backs. A slimmed-down Cody Johnson won the starting job for Saturday's opener at Reliant Stadium against Rice. Behind him are Tre' Newton and Fozzy Whittaker. </span></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/2010/9/3/1667860/texas-game-week-five-things-to" target="_blank">Burnt Orange Nation has posted five things</a> to watch for in today's game.</p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">The beginning of the Garrett Gilbert era. Since the national championship game, there have only been brief viewings of Gilbert by the Longhorn faithful -- the spring open practices, the spring game, and the fall open practices, as well as this author spotting Gilbert at the 7-on-7 state championships watching his younger brother play and tossing the ball around with a friend.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">Will Cody Johnson seize the day? It feels like a nearly over-analyzed subject already only five days from the release of the depth chart. Cody Johnson worked hard to reduce his body fat. Cody Johnson started paying attention during meetings. Cody Johnson wanted to finally maximize his remarkable combination of size and speed, instead of settling for being a short-yardage, situational tailback. All that is well known at this point.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">What impact will the H-back position have? Relatedly, who will spend more time at H-back, EBS or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77330/Barrett_Matthews">Barrett Matthews</a>? It's a new position for the offense this season and a key to sparking the running game. How often will the Longhorns employ both the H-back and tight end? How will EBS/Matthews perform as lead blockers? Will either one be able to split out effectively and create mismatches against linebackers?</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">How will the special teams units perform? Last season was marked by special teams/defensive touchdowns and the hope is that the combination of dynamic return men, strong punt blocking unit, and big leg of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8570/John_Gold">John Gold</a> will help Texas maintain that major advantage in the third phase of the game.How will the young defensive tackles perform? <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37931/Kheeston_Randall">Kheeston Randall</a> is as much of a known quantity as anyone on the team, despite his less-than-spectacular numbers from last season (fewer than 30 tackles). However, as has been much discussed around these parts, after Randall, everything is a question mark.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">How will the young defensive tackles perform? Kheeston Randall is as much of a known quantity as anyone on the team, despite his less-than-spectacular numbers from last season (fewer than 30 tackles). However, as has been much discussed around these parts, after Randall, everything is a question mark.</span></p>
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<p>Head over to <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/2010/9/3/1667860/texas-game-week-five-things-to" target="_blank">Burnt Orange Nation for expanded commentary </a>on the five most important things to watch in today's game.</p>
<p>Coverage of the Longhorns season opener will begin at 2:30 CDT on ESPN and ESPN3.com.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/9/4/2320479/texas-longhorns-open-season-against-rice-owlsJP Starkey