Second-ranked Longhorns get elusive victory over Sooners

Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns are headed home from the State Fair with the prize that has eluded them for five years: a victory over Oklahoma.

Showing the poise and leadership he has developed since a miserable performance against the Sooners last year, Young threw for three touchdowns in guiding No. 2 Texas to a 45-12 victory Saturday in Dallas.

The Longhorns (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) convincingly ended one of the most dominant runs in the 100-game series between the Red River rivals and salvaged the reputation of coach Mack Brown.

The Sooners (2-3, 1-1) came in not only riding their longest series winning streak since the 1950s, but they also outscored the Longhorns 189-54 along the way, leaving the impression that Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops was outcoaching Brown. Even with victories over Michigan in the Rose Bowl and at Ohio State earlier this season, Brown still had something to prove in this game.

The proof came right away.

Young led an 82-yard touchdown drive on the opening series that put Texas ahead for good. Although Oklahoma got within 7-6, freshman Jamaal Charles answered with an 80-yard touchdown run on the Longhorns’ next snap, and the rout was on.

(3) Virginia Tech 41, Marshall 14

Branden Ore rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown and the Hokies (6-0) overcame a flat first half to beat the Thundering Herd (2-3) in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies led 14-7 at the break, but got a 19-yard field goal from Brandon Pace, a 15-yard fumble return by Vince Hall and a 48-yard scoring pass from Marcus Vick to David Clowney in a span of 3:29 of the third quarter to lead 31-7.

(4) Florida State 41, Wake Forest 24

Drew Weatherford threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns as the Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) blew open a close game with three quick scores in the final quarter to defeat the Demon Deacons (2-4, 1-2) in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State rolled up 585 yards and 27 first downs, but its nationally ranked defense struggled all day against the pesky Demon Deacons.

(5) Georgia 27, (8) Tennessee 14

D.J. Shockley connected on 16 of 27 passes for 207 yards and ran 11 times for 51 yards as the Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) won for the third straight time in Knoxville, Tenn., beating the Volunteers (3-2, 2-2).

An erratic season continued for the Volunteers and their offense showed problems with two costly fumbles.

(9) Miami 52, Duke 7

Kyle Wright threw for three touchdowns in a 5-minute span of the second quarter, helping the Hurricanes (4-1, 2-1 ACC) shake off a slow start and overwhelm the Blue Devils (1-5, 0-3) in Miami.

Tyrone Moss ran for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Miami, which established season highs for points and yards.

(11) LSU 34, Vanderbilt 6

JaMarcus Russell threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns and Joseph Addai ran for 102 yards and a TD, and the Tigers (3-1, 2-1 SEC) beat Vanderbilt (4-2, 2-1) in Nashville, Tenn., keeping the Commodores from their best start since 1950.

The Tigers limited the conference’s second-best offense to 138 yards, sacked Jay Cutler four times and intercepted him twice.

(13) Florida 35, Mississippi State 9

Dallas Baker had a career-high 123 yards receiving and a touchdown, and the Gators (5-1, 3-1 SEC) rebounded from their first loss of the season with a lackluster win over the Bulldogs (2-4, 0-4) in Gainesville, Fla.

Florida’s defense finished with six sacks, three turnovers and two safeties.

Northwestern 51, (14) Wisconsin 48

Freshman Tyrell Sutton ran for 244 yards and three touchdowns, and Reggie McPherson’s interception sealed an upset victory for the Wildcats (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) over the Badgers (5-1, 2-1) in Evanston, Ill.

Northwestern scored on seven straight possessions and finished with 674 yards of total offense against a Wisconsin defense that had allowed an average of 336.8.

(15) Texas Tech 34, Nebraska 31

Cody Hodges tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Joel Filani with 12 seconds left, lifting the Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) over the Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-1) in Lincoln, Neb.

The Red Raiders squandered a three-touchdown lead and then had to rely on good fortune to have a chance to score the winning touchdown.

Le Kevin Smith intercepted Hodges near the goal line with 1:11 left, but fumbled on the return. Danny Amendola recovered for Tech, setting up the Raiders at the Nebraska 18.

(18) Boston College 28, Virginia 17

Quinton Porter threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and linebacker Brian Toal scored on a pair of 1-yard dives to give the Eagles (5-1, 2-1 ACC) a win over the Cavaliers (3-2, 1-2) in Boston.

Porter, who missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle, finished 25 of 37. Toal, who plays fullback on short-yardage situations, has five touchdown runs this season.

Minnesota 23, (21) Michigan 20

Jason Giannini kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1 second left, lifting the Golden Gophers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) to a win over the Wolverines (3-3, 1-2) in Ann Arbor, Mich., snapping a 16-game losing streak to Michigan.

Michigan is off to its worst start since also having a 3-3 record in 1990.

(23) Louisville 69, North Carolina 14

Brian Brohm threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Cardinals (4-1) over the Tar Heels (2-3) in Louisville, Ky.

It was the most points allowed by North Carolina, surpassing a 66-0 loss to Virginia in 1912. Louisville’s nine TDs were also a record allowed for North Carolina, stretching back to 1888.