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Texas trounces Colorado, sets up showdown with Sooners

Oct 5, 2008 - 4:54 AM BOULDER, Colorado (Ticker) -- Texas has had a quiet season thus far for a team that is ranked as high as it is. But now the Longhorns are set to make some noise after another convincing victory.

Colt McCoy threw for two touchdowns, Cody Johnson ran for two scores and Chris Ogbonnaya scored two TDs to lead fifth-ranked Texas to a 38-14 victory over Colorado in a Big 12 Conference matchup Saturday.

Texas, which lost its conference opener to Kansas State last season, opened a 21-0 halftime lead against the Buffaloes to set up a huge showdown with top-ranked Oklahoma in next week's annual Red River Rivalry game.

"We're happy to be 5-0," coach Mack Brown said. "Road wins are tough. The guys did a good job in El Paso, and a good job here tonight, and we're excited about Dallas next week."

McCoy threw both of his TD passes in the first quarter and Ogbonnaya ran for a 14-yard score in the second quarter to give the Longhorns (5-0, 1-0 Big 12 South) a comfortable cushion.

"He's just playing so well. He's amazing because he's playing with so much confidence, and he knows where everybody is," Brown said. "Even on the plays he's not proud of, the long return for the interception is man coverage, and the guy makes a good break on it. Maybe he could have had it a little further out. But he had it to the right guy.

Johnson added TD runs of 1 and 4 yards in the third quarter to put Texas up, 35-7.

Texas entered Saturday having won three games by the identical score of 52-10 this season, including last week against Arkansas. The Longhorns have faced a suspect schedule, also beating Florida Atlantic, Texas-El Paso and Rice.

Colorado (3-2, 0-1 North) presented Texas with its toughest test to date, at least on paper. But the Longhorns were ready and now have a chance to vault right into the thick of the national title picture next week against the Sooners.

"I said before that they're a good football team. They're very solid, Colt [McCoy] is playing great," Buffs coach Dan Hawkins said. " A couple times I was asked no how we could exploit their weaknesses, and I'm going, `Not this team, they don't have that.' They are very solid."

McCoy completed 23-of-30 passes for 262 yards and was intercepted twice. He got Texas off to a fast start, tossing a 65-yard TD pass to Ogbonnaya 1:43 into the game. McCoy made it 14-0 with a 16-yard TD pass to Jordan Shipley later in the first.

"We came out strong and put up 14 quick points," the Heisman candidate said. "I give a lot of credit to the defense. They played awesome. They gave us a lot of good field position."

While McCoy got off to a fast start, Colorado failed to capitalize on its early chances. Colorado kicker Aric Goodman missed three field goals in the first half, from 36, 43 and 44 yards, and the Texas defense had its way with the Colorado offensive line.

The Buffaloes managed just 49 yards rushing while quarterback Cody Hawkins was sacked three times and under pressure most of the game. He finished 13-of-33 for 118 yards.

"We got a lot of young guys, we're trying to plug some young guys in there and up front we're also very young," Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins said. "We've got three guys who had never started before and Nate Solder going through a position switch. We've just got to keep coming out and getting used to things. It was definitely a tough test."

Ogbonnaya nearly outgained Colorado by himself, rushing for 71 yards on nine carries and adding six receptions for 116 yards.

"I really don't care about numbers as long as we win," Ogbonnaya said. "As a senior you don't have many wins left. We have a great offense and played a great game."