NCAA Football Recap (Rutgers-Texas)
Posted: Sun September 7, 1997 at 1:02 a.m EDT
Ricky Williams ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns as
Texas opened its season with a 48-14 romp over
Rutgers in the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Williams carried 19 times for his 11th career 100-yard game and
moved into eighth place on the Longhorns all-time rushing list
with 2,417 yards in 25 games. Texas tied the score 7-7 on a
74-yard run by Williams 68 seconds into the second quarter. The
run by Williams was the start of 41 straight points by Texas
(1-0), which has won four straight season openers.
"It always feels good to get that first game played and out of
the way," said Texas coach John Mackovic. "I hope it is true
that a team makes its most improvement between the first and
second games. We've really got some things we can improve on."
"I knew before the play that if I got past the line of scrimmage
I would have a lot of room to run," said Williams about his
74-yard run. "Once I broke through the line, it was the best
feeling in the world."
James Brown threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Wane McGarity,
giving the Longhorns a 13-7 advantage 2:43 into the second
quarter. Brown was 5-of-11 for 74 yards before leaving in the
second quarter with an left ankle injury.
"James' condition is undecided right now," Mackovic said. "He
is sore, the injury is not officially listed as a sprain,
probably as a bruise. We'll just have to take it day by day
regarding his status."
Rutgers (0-2) took a surprising 7-0 lead on a one-yard run by
Gary Fauntleroy with 7:11 left in the opening quarter. The
Scarlet Knights have been outscored 107-33 in their two losses.
"I was very satisfied with the effort of our team," said Rutgers
coach Terry Shea. "Also, with the way we prepared for the game
in the last 48 hours, and it showed on the field."
Williams had a one-yard plunge to cap a seven-play, 80-yard
drive 5:20 into the third period. Richard Walton threw the
conversion pass to Bryan White, giving the Longhorns a 21-7
lead. Walton finished 7-of-12 for 111 yards.
Phil Dawson kicked a 52-yard field goal, giving Texas a 24-7
lead with 7:18 left in the third. Williams, who had 130 yards
in the first half, ran 12 yards for his third score with 5:46 to
go in the third.
Dawson kicked a career-high 54-yard field goal for a 34-7
cushion with 2:49 to go in the third. Dawson's 10 points gave
him 284 in his career, eclipsing Jeff Ward's team record.
"It's an amazing feeling because this is a goal that I had set
for myself once I had committed to Texas. The 54-yard field
goal made it extra special. It was such a long field goal that
I tried to put a little extra on it to get it to go through."
Derek Lewis caught a three-yard pass from Walton, increasing the
lead to 41-7 with 56 seconds left in the third.
Brendan Edmonds threw a 22-yard scoring pass to Delric Fletcher
to cap the Longhorns scoring with 4:46 left in the game.
Hodges Mitchell ran 15 yards for Rutgers final tally with 2:14
left.
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