RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- It wasn't his best passing day ever, but
Major Applewhite was good enough to become the greatest passer
Texas (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) has ever had.
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| Freshman receiver B.J. Johnson grabbed a 14-yard TD in the first half, and finished with nine catches for 162 yards in the Texas victory. |
The junior quarterback threw for two touchdowns and ran for
another Saturday in the Longhorns' 48-14 victory over
Baylor. His 297 yards on 18-of-42 passing allowed him to surpass
James Brown (1994-97) as the Longhorns' career yardage leader.
At a school known more for great running backs such as Earl
Campbell and Ricky Williams, Applewhite has 7,810 passing yards.
"I've had a lot of great receivers and a lot of great backs
like Ricky Williams since I've been here," Applewhite said. "I'll
appreciate it more after my career is over."
Applewhite took over the starter's role as a freshman early in
the 1998 season. Since then, he's stayed in the lineup despite torn
knee ligaments at the end of 1999 and a strong challenge from
sophomore Chris Simms this year.
"Major plays with a lot of confidence and a lot of toughness,"
Texas coach Mack Brown said. "That's what this program needed."
The Longhorns (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) routed Baylor 62-0 last season
but found themselves down 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Baylor (2-6, 0-5), which hadn't scored in three straight losses,
shocked Texas with Martin Dossett's 18-yard scoring pass from Guy
Tomcheck on the Bears' first possession.
Baylor's defense set up the score when Applewhite was sacked and
fumbled at the Texas 35.
The touchdown was just the third given up at home this season by
the Longhorns defense. Angered at losing their second shutout of
the season, the Longhorns held the Bears to 1 yard of total offense
the rest of the first half and just 134 for the game.
Baylor used three quarterbacks as Texas forced five turnovers.
"We've got a lot of monkeys on our back," Baylor coach Kevin
Steele said. "(Scoring) was just a little baby monkey. That's not
our biggest monkey by far."
Applewhite struggled early with several bad throws and dropped
balls by his receivers but finally got untracked in the second
quarter.
After Kris Stockton kicked three of his four field goals for a
9-7 lead, Applewhite hit Montrell Flowers for a 5-yard TD strike in
the second quarter.
"I was real disappointed in our slow start. Our play was very
sloppy," Applewhite said.
Greg Brown's interception two series later gave Texas the ball
on the Baylor 17. After a completion to B.J. Johnson to the goal
line, Applewhite ran over the left side for his first rushing
touchdown of the season.
A 14-yard scoring pass to Johnson made it 31-7 at halftime. The
freshman receiver finished with nine catches for 162 yards.
Applewhite holds 41 school records. Besides breaking the yardage
record Saturday, he also set the school career completions mark. He
has 564 completions, three more than the previous mark held by
Peter Gardere (1989-92).
"It's exciting to know I get to play with a quarterback as good
as Major for another year. He's incredible," Johnson said.
Applewhite was relieved by Simms early in the fourth quarter.
Simms' second pass went straight into the arms of Baylor cornerback
Eric Giddens, who went 72 yards for a touchdown to make it 34-14.
It was the third time this season that Simms has had an
interception returned for a TD. He recovered from the mistake to
drive Texas to two late touchdowns.
Texas, which has won three straight since a 63-14 loss to
Oklahoma, is eligible to play in a bowl.
