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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The quarterback controversy at Texas hasn't
subsided.
|  | | Texas wide receiver Brandon Healey hauls in one of Major Applewhite's four TD passes Saturday in the Longhorns' 52-10 win over the Ragin' Cajuns. |
Major Applewhite came off the bench in the first quarter to
rally the Longhorns (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) from a first-quarter deficit to a 52-10
season-opening victory Saturday over Louisiana-Lafayette.
The 1999 Big 12 offensive player of the year had lost the
much-publicized battle with sophomore Chris Simms for the starting
role.
But Simms' first two possessions ended in a missed field goal
and an interception return for a touchdown that gave the Ragin'
Cajuns a 10-0 lead. Applewhite took over and led the Longhorns to
31 points before halftime.
He made a strong statement to be the starter with 315 yards
passing and four touchdowns in a little more than two quarters of
play. Texas rolled up 490 yards of total offense against the
overmatched Ragin' Cajuns (0-2).
Even so, Applewhite and the Texas coaches wouldn't say who
should start next week at Stanford.
"You might as well not ask," coach Mack Brown said. "I'm not
going to say anything about next week."
Applewhite's play might have said it all.
On his first possession, Applewhite shook off a badly
underthrown ball and a near-interception to drive Texas 54 yards
for Hodges Mitchell's 4-yard scoring run.
On Texas' next drive, Applewhite went 3-of-3 for 79 yards before
Victor Ike gave Texas a 14-10 lead with a 1-yard TD run. The drive
went 80 yards in 38 seconds.
After a punt pinned Texas at the 2, Applewhite connected again
on three straight passes to move inside the Louisiana-Lafayette 20.
Two plays later Applewhite found Brandon Healy from 18 yards out
for a 21-10 lead.
After Kris Stockton kicked a 39-yard field goal, Applewhite
stuck again with 2-yard TD pass to Artie Ellis.
He finally gave way to Simms in the third quarter with Texas
leading 45-10.
Applewhite tried to downplay the significance of his performance
and whether he'll start next week.
"It doesn't matter to me. Let's put that question to rest,
OK?" Applewhite said. "It was exciting to be back out there, to
be able to show spark, passion and to be able to take care of
business."
Applewhite looked fully recovered from the torn left knee
ligament sustained in last season's Cotton Bowl loss to Arkansas.
The injury opened the door for Simms to challenge for the starting
role as Applewhite sat out all of spring drills.
Brown had refused to say publicly, or even tell the team, who
would start before the game. He had said both would play.
The crowd of 80,017 cheered when Simms took the field for the
first time. The noise faded quickly.
Simms was 1-of-3 for 12 yards on Texas' first possession before
Stockton missed a 52-yard field-goal attempt.
It got even worse from there for Simms.
On a third-and-7 from the Texas 36, the left-hander rolled to
his right and fired a pass toward the sideline. Cornerback Terrence
Hunter stepped in front of the receiver for the pickoff and
scampered untouched 43 yards for the touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
Simms laid on his stomach on the ground and watched Hunter's run to
the end zone.
Enter Applewhite.
"The momentum changed when Major came in," Brown said. "But
we also changed the offense going to four wideouts.
"Chris had bad luck in the beginning, Major had good luck and
then Chris came in and had good luck also," Brown said. "So we're
back to where we have two starting quarterbacks again."
When Simms finally returned after Applewhite's fourth TD pass,
he completed three straight passes, including a scrambling 13-yard
scoring toss to Mitchell.
Simms finished 7-of-14 for 88 yards.
"I just got off to a bad start," Simms said. "I would love to
have been in there, but I made a few mistakes early and (the
coaches) made the right call. After the interception I didn't feel
that bad, I just made a bad throw.
"I thought he (Major) played great," Simms said.
Louisiana-Lafayette led 3-0 on Brent Bergeron's 21-yard field
goal. The Ragin' Cajuns started the game with a 15-play, 77 yard
drive that stopped just short of a touchdown when Derek Dyer's pass
into the end zone was incomplete.
"We got a little rattled out there," Louisiana-Lafayette coach
Jerry Baldwin said. "Just playing good during the first quarter
and getting the lead is not what this game is all about."
Dyer completed 11 of 22 passes for 121 yards and a team-high 30
yards rushing for Louisiana-Lafayette.
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ALSO SEE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Scoreboard
Louisiana Lafayette Clubhouse
Texas Clubhouse
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