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AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Rice came close, but Texas again triumphed in one of the southwest's oldest rivalries. Kris Stockton tied a career high with three field goals and Hodges Mitchell established a personal best by rushing for 188 yards as the 22nd-ranked Longhorns clamped down on Rice's spread option offense and posted an 18-13 victory. After scoring 107 points in its previous two games, Texas (3-1) was held to one touchdown -- an 11-yard pass from Major Applewhite to Kwame Cavil late in the first half -- but still was able to defeat the winless Owls (0-3) for the 32nd time in 33 meetings. Texas leads the all-time series between the former Southwest Conference rivals, 63-21-1. The schools first met in 1914 and the 85 meetings make it the fourth-longest series in terms of games in Texas history. Stockton, who also kicked four field goals against Texas A&M last season, accounted for all of the scoring in the first quarter, connecting from 18 yards early in the period and from 32 yards with 2:18 remaining. The Longhorns used 14 and eight plays, respectively, on their first two scoring drives before striking quickly later in the first half. Applewhite's TD strike to Cavil completed a five-play drive that covered 69 yards in only 41 seconds. The two-point conversion failed, but Texas quickly got back the ball and moved 35 yards in five plays in 20 seconds, with Stockton connecting from 48 yards as the gun sounded to make it 15-0. Cavil caught seven passes for 68 yards, while Ryan Nunez totaled 84 yards on nine receptions for the Longhorns, who amassed 455 yards of offense. While Texas mixed up the run and pass, the Owls stuck with their ground attack, although Chad Richardson completed one pass -- a 27-yard touchdown strike to Raphael Tillman 10 minutes into the fourth quarter. Combined with Richardson's one-yard scoring run in the third, Rice trailed only 15-13. But the Longhorns turned to Mitchell, who was given the ball seven times on the ensuing 14-play drive. His 21-yard scamper to the 31-yard line gave Texas some breathing room and Applewhite and Cavil hooked up on a 19-yard completion that got the Longhorns into Rice territory. The drive was so effective that the Longhorns were able to run off all but the remaining 14 seconds and Stockton put the game out of reach by kicking a 30-yard field goal. Richardson also led the Owls in rushing, gaining 55 yards on 14 attempts. Four players gained at least 25 yards on the ground for Rice, but with the passing game a non-factor, the 209 rushing yards were not enough. Richardson has attempted only 20 passes through three games.
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