Texas holds off Iowa State in Big 12 opener

[September 29, 2017]  Shane Buechele passed for 171 yards and a score and DeShon Elliott intercepted two passes for the second straight game to help Texas to a mistake-filled 17-7 win over Iowa State on Thursday at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

The Longhorns' defense was outstanding, holding an Iowa State offense that had scored at least 41 points in each of its first three games to one touchdown and just 10 yards rushing in 15 carries.

Texas (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) ran off the final 7:35 of the clock with 13 runs, never giving Iowa State any chance to make a comeback. The Longhorns finished with a 312-256 advantage in total offense.

Iowa State quarterback Jacob Park completed 24 of 48 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions.

Chris Warren III (44 yards on 16 carries) ran 11 yards for a touchdown on the Longhorns' opening possession, which was extended by a personal-foul penalty on Iowa State after the Cyclones had stopped Texas short on third down deep in its own territory.

Buechele stood tall in the pocket despite pressure from the Iowa State defense and passed 22 yards for a touchdown to freshman running back Toneil Carter midway through the second quarter to expand the Longhorns' lead to 14-0.

Texas outgained Iowa State 186-127 in the first half, with a 78-24 edge in rushing. Two Cyclones drives were squashed by interceptions of poorly thrown passes from Park by the Longhorns' Elliott and Kris Boyd, respectively.

 

Texas Longhorns quarterback Shane Buechele (7) spins out of a tackle by Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Kamari Cotton-Moya (5) during the second quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

The Cyclones (2-2, 0-1 in Big 12 play) got back in the game on a Park pass to Matthew Eaton for an 11-yard touchdown with 2:05 to play in the third quarter that cut the Texas lead to 14-7.

The Longhorns then got the benefit of two calls on potential turnovers that overturned a fumbled kickoff and a pass that was originally ruled a lateral.

Joshua Rowland line-drived a 49-yard field goal with 13:25 to play that pushed the Texas lead to 17-7 and gave the Longhorns a little breathing room.

The Longhorns return home to play Kansas State on Oct. 7 while Iowa State travels to Oklahoma, also on Oct. 7.

[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.