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McCoy uses arm, legs to help Texas beat up on Texas Tech

Nov 11, 2007 - 3:42 AM AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Jamaal Charles has carried Texas in the fourth quarter recently. With Charles sidelined, it was quarterback Colt McCoy's turn.

McCoy threw for four touchdowns and ran for a pair to help No. 15 Texas post a 59-43 victory over in-state rival Texas Tech in a Big 12 Conference shootout Saturday.

McCoy finished 21-of-30 for 268 yards with one interception for Texas (9-2, 5-2 Big 12 South), which has won five straight over their rivals from Lubbock.

A sophomore, McCoy threw three of his four scores in the fourth quarter and ran in another. Texas Tech signal-caller Graham Harrell was 36-of-48 for 466 yards and five scores with one interception.

The teams combined to score 47 points in the final 12 minutes. But Texas prevailed because it racked up 283 yards on the ground and was 12-of-18 on third down conversions.

"I couldn't believe the points scored," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "Both offenses just ran up and down the field."

"It was a hard-fought game, and I am really proud of our players," Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. "I thought from start to finish, we played as hard as we have in any game."

Texas Tech pulled within 10 points twice in the last five minutes, but McCoy continued to make plays to hold off the Red Raiders.

"You can't really ever think a game is in your hands against those guys," McCoy said. "They're really competitive, they throw the ball around and you never know what's going to happen."

"It was an exciting game," Harrell said. "I was excited to play. Texas ran the ball well. I thought they did a really good job controlling the clock and trying to keep us off the field."

Charles ran for 174 yards on 23 carries - 164 in the first half - and two touchdowns to help Texas to a 28-20 lead at the break. However, he was limited in the second half because of an ankle injury.

"The offense was doing a great job today," Charles said. "The offense was moving the ball up the field, we were scoring and we were having fun. Coach Brown told us to go out there and have fun. He knew (Texas Tech) was going to put up a lot of points, so he just wanted us to show what we can do, too."

Charles, who scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Longhorns rally from a 21-point deficit in a 38-35 win over Oklahoma State last week, suffered the injury on the first play of the third quarter.

The junior tailback returned late in the second half but carried just five times, placing the onus on McCoy.

With Charles hobbled, McCoy finished a 10-play, 74-yard drive by shaking off tacklers on a quarterback sneak and scoring from 22 yards out to put the Longhorns up, 45-28, with 6:57 to play.

And when the Red Raiders (7-4, 3-4 South) pulled within 45-35 with 5:21 remaining, Texas recovered an onside kick and McCoy hit Nate Jones for a 34-yard score to stretch the lead to 52-35.