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PISCATAWAY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Texas quarterback Major Applewhite gave Rutgers fans plenty of reasons to boo. They saved most of them for his replacement, Chris Simms. Applewhite threw two touchdown passes in a three-minute span of the first quarter and the No. 23 Longhorns took advantage of poor special teams play by Rutgers in a 38-21 victory. "It was a very rough crowd today," Applewhite said. "Chris warned me the fans were going to be tough." Applewhite threw TD passes of 28 yards to Mike Jones and 21 yards to Montrell Flowers 2:31 apart late in the first period, helping Texas open a 28-6 halftime lead. He departed after Chris Robertson's one-yard TD run gave the Longhorns a 38-14 advantage with 11:39 to play. Simms, the son of former NFL star quarterback Phil Simms who played at Ramapo High School some 43 miles north, came on and was heavily booed by the record crowd of 41,511 at Rutgers Stadium. He received a mock cheer after being drilled by defensive end Wayne Hampton. "I've been used to it all my life," said Simms, who threw no passes. "Being around my father during his NFL days, it's just something you get used to. The fans are basically supporting me. Not all were booing me." Rutgers hoped to keep Simms near home but the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year first opted for Tennessee before switching his commitment to Texas. He has played in both wins by the Longhorns (2-1). "I didn't know so many people were disappointed I went to Texas," Simms said. "Rutgers wasn't really that interested in me. They only visited me once during the spring. But it was great to come home and play." The Scarlet Knights (0-2) had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown and a snap sail over punter Charlie Titus' head, setting up a field goal for Texas in the third quarter. "In the beginning, I thought the kicking team was going to be one of our strengths," Rutgers coach Terry Shea said. "But right now we have to go back and re-tune everything." Applewhite completed 19-of-32 passes for 244 yards and Victor Ike added 94 yards and a score on 17 carries for the Longhorns, who collected 385 total yards and improved to 2-0 all-time against Rutgers. Mike McMahon was 16-of-42 for 255 yards and a touchdown for the Scarlet Knights, who had three fumbles and 12 penalties while allowing four sacks. Just over a minute into the game, Terrol Dillon broke through for his third blocked punt of the season. Jeremy Jones picked it up and raced 11 yards to give Texas a 7-0 lead. "It's discouraging the way we're handling the snaps," Shea said. "We're just not functioning during the critical times of the game. I don't think it's a mental problem, they just have to learn how to engage the snap." Rutgers' Steve Barone kicked a 23-yard field goal before Applewhite found the range, hitting Jones and Flowers with TD passes for a 21-3 bulge with 1:03 remaining in the first period. "We executed very well in the first quarter as we played solid to build the early lead," Applewhite said. Ike capped an 83-yard march by racing 30 yards for a score with 6:51 left in the second quarter before Barone kicked a 41-yard field goal. Kris Stockton's 27-yard field goal midway through the third quarter was set up by the bad snap and pushed the lead to 31-6. Rutgers finally got in the end zone on a one-yard run by Seth Stanton, but a fumble set up Texas at the Rutgers 2-yard line and Chris Robertson banged in, giving the Longhorns a 38-6 lead with 11:39 to play. Ryan Nunez caught seven passes for 104 yards and Kwame Cavil added six for 42 for Texas. Jacki Crooks rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries for Rutgers as he was held under 100 yards for the first time in six games.
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