Austin, TX (Best E Casino) - Colt McCoy threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores, as the top-ranked Texas Longhorns bested the 11th- ranked Missouri Tigers, 56-31.
McCoy was efficient under center, completing a mind-boggling 29-of-32 passes for 337 yards for Texas (7-0, 3-0 Big 12), which defeated then-No. 1 Oklahoma last Saturday. Jordan Shipley led all Longhorns receivers with 89 yards on eight receptions and one score, while Chris Ogbonnaya scored two rushing touchdowns.
Chase Daniel connected on 31-of-41 passes for 318 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for the Tigers (5-2, 1-2), who were beaten by Oklahoma State at home last week. Daniel also ran for a touchdown, while Chase Coffman hauled in a game-high 12 balls for 140 yards and one score.
"Obviously, I'm very disappointed in how we played," said Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel. "First, I'd like to give credit to Texas. They were playing outstanding. Colt McCoy, his execution was as good to me as I've ever seen. It starts there with their great execution and what a great football team they are. I didn't think we played our best game, by far, nowhere close to it. To have a chance against a team like this, you've got to play well, and we didn't do that."
The first half was all Longhorns, who dominated on both sides of the ball. After Missouri went three-and-out on the opening series of the contest, the Longhorns were pinned deep in their zone following a 51-yard punt by Jeff Wolfert.
Starting at their own six, McCoy directed a 12-play scoring drive capped by his quarterback sneak from six yards out, his fifth rushing touchdown of the season.
Texas struck again with 1:35 remaining in the first quarter. Brandon Collins hauled in a 38-yard pass to help the Longhorns convert a critical 3rd-and-6 early on in the drive, and Ogbonnaya's nine-yard run gave the Longhorns a 14-0 lead.
Missouri failed to register a first down on its next possession, and Texas got the ball back at the Tigers 43. A 32-yard TD pass from McCoy to Malcolm Williams widened the margin to 21 points 4:02 into the second quarter. After another quick Missouri series, Ogbonnaya's 10-yard TD run capped a three-play, 41-yard drive.
The Tigers offense finally started to click, moving the ball to the Texas eight, where they opted to go for the end zone on fourth-and-five. Daniel hooked up with Danario Alexander for what looked to be a touchdown. However, the call was reversed following a video review that showed Alexander's foot landed out of bounds, and Missouri continued to sport a goose egg.
McCoy padded the score with a 13-yard strike to Shipley, then Wolfert put the Tigers on the board by drilling a 33-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
"It was a fun night, the crowd was great and I thought it was probably as good of a first half that I've been involved with as a football coach," said Texas head coach Mack Brown. "The guys played hard and they played well. The defense set the tempo with the three-and-outs and then the offense scored every time in the first half. They also were seven-for-seven on third downs at halftime. We didn't play as well in the second half, and sometimes it's hard to do that."
Texas went three-and-out to start the third quarter, and Derrick Washington's two-yard TD run trimmed the deficit to 35-10 with 8:54 remaining. The Longhorns then countered on the ensuing series, as McCoy scampered into the end zone for a two-yard score.
Daniel then found Coffman for a 13-yard TD with 1:49 left in the stanza, and after Ryan Palmer picked off the Missouri signal-caller, Cody Johnson powered his way in from a yard out 4:08 into the fourth quarter.
After Daniel threw an 18-yard TD pass to Jared Perry, John Chiles hooked up with Dan Buckner for a 51-yard score, giving Texas a 56-24 lead with 5:03 to go in regulation.
Daniel's one-yard scoring plunge capped the scoring with 4:18 to play.
Game Notes
Texas scored on each of its first five possessions...McCoy completed a school- record 17 passes in a row...Texas is 21-4 in its last 25 games versus Top 25 opponents...Texas has won the last five meetings against Missouri.
