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AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Chris Simms threw a pair of touchdown passes as sixth-ranked Texas opened its season in impressive fashion with a 41-7 rout of overmatched New Mexico State. Expected to be among the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy, Simms had little trouble slicing up the Aggies' defense. The junior threw touchdown passes for nine yards and 10 yards to Montrell Flowers. Simms, who beat out Major Applewhite for the starting job, went 17-of-23 for 182 yards. His nine-yard TD pass to Flowers with 38 seconds left in the first half helped the Longhorns open a 24-0 advantage. Ivan Williams and Cedric Benson added short touchdown runs for Texas (1-0), which is considered among the favorites for the national championship. "(It) 41-7 is a neat win, especially with all the rain which prevented us from playing outside during practice this week," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "We were afraid that being indoors all week that we would be rusty, but right before halftime we came out and were on track." Keeon Johnson scored on an 11-yard run late in the third quarter for New Mexico State (0-2), which was coming off a 45-24 loss to Louisville in its opener. The night started in tough fashion for the Aggies after Tony Luggins fumbled the opening kickoff and the Longhorns recovered on the 35. But the high-powered Longhorns offense could not move the ball. After getting that reprieve, the Aggies were not as fortunate on their next possession when cornerback Roderick Babers busted through the line and blocked Brian Copple's punt. Safety Phillip Geigger recovered in the end zone, giving the Longhorns a 7-0 lead. "The coaches had us very well prepared for the punt block and punt return assignments, so to make a play on the first punt of the first game of the season, was very exciting for the team," Geigger said. "Blocking a punt gave our team a great lift. It was very important that our team set the tone early." Williams capped a 10-play, 50-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run with 5:40 left in the first quarter, extending the Longhorns' lead to 14-0. Williams carried 15 times for 64 yards. Midway through second quarter, Dusty Mangum got into the act when he finished off a 30-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal to pad the lead. Nathan Kasper set up the drive with a 16-yard punt return into New Mexico State territory. The Longhorns took a longer approach with their final drive of the first half, moving 90 yards in 11 plays. Simms culminated that drive with 38 seconds left before intermission with his nine-yard TD pass to Flowers, who is part of a talented receiving corps. Texas had nine different players catch passes. Roy Williams led the bunch with five catches for 70 yards. After Magnum kicked a 17-yard field goal with 9:15 left in the third quarter, the Aggies finally got on the board with Johnson's one-yard run. Junior Walter Johnson did find some room to run against the Longhorns' defense, carrying 13 times for 113 yards. Simms provided the Longhorns a 34-7 bulge with a 10-yard TD toss to Flowers with 9:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. Benson, who carried 15 times for 64 yards, capped the scoring with his one-yard run with under a minute left. Aggies quarterback K.C. Enzminger struggled, going 8-of-16 for 63 yards while getting sacked twice. Applewhite got in the game in the fourth quarter for Texas and was 4-of-5 for 46 yards.
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