|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
AMES, Iowa (Ticker) -- Major Applewhite engineered a game-winning drive that culminated in a 18-yard field goal by Kris Stockton on the final play as 12th-ranked Texas edged Iowa State, 44-41, in the Big 12 Conference. Applewhite completed 30-of-40 passes for 345 yards, including a 38-yard throw to Ryan Nunez that set up the game-winning kick. Texas (7-2, 3-2 Big 12 South) trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. "It was a great win for the University of Texas today," coach Mack Brown said. "The offense played as well as they have played all season. ... All the kids played well." "It was a great game offensively and it had a lot to do with the identity of the team," Applewhite said. "The offense did a good job of responding." Darren Davis scored three touchdowns and Ennis Haywood had two scores on the ground for Iowa State (4-4, 1-4 North), which was off to its best start in 11 years. The Cyclones have dropped four of their last five and fell into a tie for last place in the Big 12's North Division. "We are very proud of the coaching and playing efforts on our team but we had too many penalties," Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. "There wasn't one single play that decided the outcome of this game. It was just a great Big 12 Conference football game. We just need to build this program and never accept losing." Texas opened a one-game lead over Texas Tech in the South Division and defeated Iowa State for the third time in three all-time meetings. Cyclones quarterback Sage Rosenfels was 11-of-20 for 291 yards and two scores. "I did the best I could to make a play," Rosenfels said. "They did a good job of coming after me. It was tough but my receivers made plays. We just have to keep fighting to get over that hump." Hodges Mitchell led Texas' ground attack with 158 yards on 33 carries while Kwame Cavil had 11 receptions for 106 yards. It marked the seventh career 100-yard receiving game for Cavil while Mitchell has broken the century mark in four of the last six contests. Texas had the only score of the opening quarter, a one-yard TD run by Chris Robertson with 3:06 left in the period. Haywood knotted the score 67 seconds into the second quarter on a two-yard run. Rosenfels gave the Cyclones their first lead of the contest with 8:38 left in the opening half when he found Davis with a 42-yard scoring strike. Stockton countered with a field goal just under five minutes later to draw the Longhorns within 14-10. Rosenfels found Michael Brantley with a 59-yard touchdown pass with 2:11 left in the quarter but the extra point failed. It marked the fourth time this season that the Cyclones have missed the extra point. Applewhite put together a strong final drive that resulted in a 41-yard touchdown pass to Montrell Flowers with 82 seconds to go. Robertson put the Longhorns on top, 24-20, with a one-yard TD plunge 4:20 into the second half. Robertson continued his remarkable end zone success this season. The 6-1, 213-pound sophomore has scored on nine of 13 carries and 10 of 15 touches. Applewhite's TD pass to Flowers gave the sophomore the school record for passing yards in a season. With 30 completions today, Applewhite also set a single-season school mark with 206. The seesaw battle continued when Davis scored on a five-yard run 5:27 later to give Iowa State a 27-24 edge. But two TDs in a 10-second span late in the third quarter gave the Longhorns a seemingly comfortable 38-27 lead. Applewhite completed a four-yard scoring toss to Flowers with 2:56 remaining and Texas seized an 11-point lead when J.J. Moses fumbled the ensuing kickoff and safety Beau Trahan returned the ball five yards for a touchdown. "Coach Mac had faith and trust in me," Moses said. "When you make a mistake you have to keep your head up and bounce back." Stockton pushed the lead to 14 points 5:27 into the final period with a 35-yard field goal. Iowa State immediately responded on an eight-yard scoring run by Haywood and tied the game with 3:20 left on a one-yard blast by Davis. The game marked the first time that Texas has played in the Hawkeye State and just the second time in its illustrious history that it won on a game's final play.
|
