Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
Texas
Kansas State Falls to 14th Ranked Texas
Oct 04, 2003 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Kansas State rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit to take the lead; however, a late touchdown by Texas proved to be the game-winner as the Wildcats fell to the Longhorns 24-20 in Big 12 Conference action.
Freshman Vince Young came off the bench to throw a 52-yard pass to Tony Jeffery and then scored on a one-yard run with 5:19 left as 13th-ranked Texas escaped with a 24-20 win over No. 14 Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.
Jeffrey also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for Texas (4-1, 1-0 Big 12), which lost to Arkansas last month but can move back into the national title picture if it can defeat top-ranked Oklahoma next week in Dallas. Oklahoma has won the last three meetings with Texas.
Kansas State had rallied from a 17-3 deficit to take a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ell Roberson.
The Wildcats (4-2, 0-1 Big 12) appeared to be in control when Nathan Vasher of the Longhorns fumbled a punt. But Roberson fumbled the ball back two plays later and the Longhorns took full advantage.
Jeffery outleaped cornerback Cedrick Williams to catch a long pass from Young and give the Longhorns a first down at the Kansas State 13. Young later dove over on 4th-and-inches, putting the Longhorns ahead to stay.
Young replaced an ineffective Chance Mock and shook off an ankle injury near the end of the third quarter to rush 17 times for 80 yards. He completed three-of-six passes for 69 yards.
Brown had said before the game that he was interested in using two quarterbacks, but the big effort by Young indicates he will have the primary role in the Red River Shooutout.
Roberson, who had not played since breaking a bone in his right hand on September 6 against McNeese State, completed just 5-of-18 passes for 89 yards and was intercepted twice.
Roberson carried 17 times for 87 yards and two scores, including a dazzling 27-yard TD run in the third quarter.
The Longhorns took a 7-0 lead when Michael Huff blocked a punt by Jared Brite that was recovered in the end zone by Jeffery.
