David Ash and the Longhorns had plenty of reasons to celebrate in the win over New Mexico. (Brendan Maloney-US PRESSWIRE)
AUSTIN, Texas — Beginning with quarterback David Ash’s performance and a shutout pitched by his defense, Texas coach Mack Brown had little to criticize following a 45-0 victory over New Mexico.
Ash, given the keys to the offense after a close summer battle with Case McCoy, managed the game with precision, passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns in roughly three quarters.
“The best part of tonight is that it was a fun game for the whole team,” Brown said. “Players are happy, fans are happy, mamas are happy. You’re better when you get to play with more depth and it was good to see the third-team defense keep (New Mexico) out of the end zone (in the fourth quarter).”
Texas scored on seven of its nine offensive possessions before a crowd of 100,990 at Royal-Memorial Stadium. By contrast, New Mexico never got inside the UT 20-yard line.
“Keeping them out of the end zone, that was our goal all along,” Longhorn defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat said.
Texas (2-0) limited the Lobos to 72 yards in the second half. New Mexico, however, played without its starting quarterback, B.R. Holbrook, for most of the game. He was sidelined with an apparent head injury after absorbing a hard hit in the second quarter and did not return.
Ash provided the game’s longest offensive play, a 49-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to give the Horns a 7-0 lead. Six different Longhorns scored touchdowns and freshman kicker Nick Jordan converted on a 38-yard field goal to close the scoring.
New Mexico (1-1) gave Texas fits with its triple-option offense in the first half, but the Lobos could not overcome two turnovers and a blocked punt. The Lobos possessed the football for 20 minutes of the first half — compared to UT’s 10 — but could not sustain drives.
“When Holbrook was in the game there was no question there were things we could do,” New Mexico coach Bob Davie said. “We moved the ball well in the first half, but when you play a team this good, you have to sustain it.”
Davie said his offense “got exposed” when Holbrook left the game. He was replaced by true freshman Cole Gautsche, who rushed for 34 yards and 0-for-4 passing with one interception. Quinton McCown also played, completing 1 of 4 passes for 3 yards
“We had some self-inflected mistakes,” Gautsche said. “I feel beat up but it was a good experience.”
NOTES: This marked the first shout for Texas since a 43-0 victory over Kansas last season. … Sophomore Joe Bergeron led a balanced running attack with 49 yards for Texas. … New Mexico gained 206 yards on the ground despite being shutout. … In three career matchups, Texas has beaten New Mexico 47-0 (in 1948), 47-0 (1988) and 45-0 (Saturday). … Texas continues its non-conference schedule next Saturday at Ole Miss. UNM travels to Texas Tech.
