AUSTIN, Texas (9-1-2007) ? The fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns spoiled Arkansas State's hopes for a season-opening upset Saturday night, holding off the Indians for a 21-13 victory before 84,440 fans at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
Arkansas State pulled within a touchdown and two-point conversion at 21-13 on a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Reggie Arnold with 56 seconds remaining, then recovered the ensuing onsides kick, but game officials ruled that ASU did not have the required four players on each side of the ball on the kickoff. After the five-yard penalty was assessed, Texas recovered ASU's second attempt at an onsides kick, and ran out the clock to secure the win.
Arkansas State gave Texas all it could handle in the game, rolling up 397 yards to the Longhorns' 340, as sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard passed for a career-high 259 yards on the night. Leonard completed 16 passes in the effort, also a career high, while senior safety Tyrell Johnson led the Indian defense with 14 tackles and an interception.
“I am extremely proud of our effort, and proud of the character of our young men,” said ASU head coach Steve Roberts. “Not only for tonight, but for the work that went in to start the 2007 season, and all that they have done to put themselves in position to be competitive in this game. There was just a lack of focus at times that kept us from winning this game.”
Texas used a 35-yard touchdown pass from Colt McCoy to Limas Sweed to crack the scoreboard on its first possession. McCoy's touchdown pass completed a 56-yard drive, and placekicker Ryan Bailey added the extra point to give the ?Horns a 7-0 lead with 12:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Arkansas State answered with points on its first possession as well, getting a 45-yard field goal from Josh Arauco to cut the Longhorn lead to 7-3. Arauco's field goal was a career long for the Indian sophomore, and completed a 47-yard drive that put the Tribe on the board with 8:12 to play in the opening quarter.
Texas stretched its lead to 14-3 later in the quarter on McCoy's second touchdown pass of the day. McCoy hooked up with tailback Antwan Cobb on a 16-yard lob into the end zone, the only play of the Texas drive. The Longhorn possession was set up by a 30 yard punt return by Quan Cosby that put Texas deep into Indian territory to start the drive.
The Indians missed on three opportunities narrow the gap in the second quarter when Arauco missed from 46 and 37 yards out, and Leonard was intercepted by Texas' Eddie Jones in the end zone with less than a minute to play, and Texas went into the break holding the 14-3 advantage.
After the Indian offense stalled on the first possession of the second half, the ASU defense came up big on Texas' first possession, stopping Longhorn tailback Jamaal Charles on four straight downs inside the Arkansas State three. Indian linebacker Koby McKinnon, who finished with 11 tackles to tie his career high, stopped Charles short of the goal line on first and second down, then teamed with Johnson on third down to stop Charles for no gain from the one. Senior defensive tackle Curtis Bonds stuffed Charles on the fourth down try, giving the Tribe possession at its own one.
The Indians moved out of the shadow of its goal line, driving 23 yards before a Brett Shrable gave Texas the ball at the Longhorn 42. Nine plays later, Charles found the end zone from 10 yards out to extend the Texas lead to 21-3 with 3:09 to play in the third.
The Indians drove to the Longhorn 18 on their next possession before turning the ball over on downs, then moved deep into Texas territory again to set up a 28 yard field goal from Arauco to trim the Longhorn lead to 21-6 with 9:29 to play.
ASU forced Texas to punt with 4:03 remaining, then drove 97 yards in 13 plays for Arnold's touchdown that pulled the Tribe within eight points.
The Indians return to Jonesboro for next week's home opener against the University of Memphis. Kickoff for the game is set for 6:00 p.m. at Indian Stadium.
