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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
WACO, Texas (AP) -- The lone grass stain on Texas quarterback
Major Applewhite's knee said it all.
A week after struggling to score touchdowns in an 18-13 victory
over Rice, Texas (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) handed overmatched Baylor a 62-0 whipping in the Longhorns' Big 12 opener.
Never pressured in the pocket, Applewhite coolly passed for 333
yards and three touchdowns for Texas (4-1, 1-0) before leaving the
game in the third quarter. Texas scored touchdowns all eight times
it got within the Baylor 20.
|  | | Baylor wide receiver Randy Davis makes a catch in front of Texas defender Ahmad Brooks. |
"This week we promised each other in the huddle we were going
to get it into the end zone," Applewhite said.
"I had one little grass on my knee and that came from taking a
knee to watch."
Hodges Mitchell added 131 yards rushing and scored three
touchdowns and Chris Robertson ran for two TDs as Texas rolled up
586 yards of offense.
Texas' defense was just as dominating in its first shutout since
1991, holding Baylor to 159 yards.
Baylor had more kickoff return yardage (167) than from the line
of scrimmage. The Bears suffered their worst loss since a 77-0
Texas blowout in 1913.
Baylor (0-4, 0-2) has lost 10 straight and is off to its worst
start since 1978 under first-year coach Kevin Steele.
When Texas last came to Waco two years ago, fans rushed the
field and tore down the goal posts after a 23-21 Baylor victory.
Baylor students have kept those posts on campus as a reminder of
the upset.
Baylor fans were more likely to rush out of Floyd Casey Stadium
in frustration this time. The Longhorns built a 42-0 halftime lead,
scoring six touchdowns on their first nine possessions.
Texas led 14-0 in the first quarter after Robertson capped the
Longhorns' opening drive with a 1-yard run and Mitchell ended the
quarter with a 3-yard scoring run.
Mitchell scored his second touchdown less than a minute later,
running in from 13 yards one play after Texas linebacker De'Andre
Lewis intercepted a pass from Baylor quarterback Odell James.
James had just been put in the game to jump-start a Baylor
offense which gained just 11 yards on its first three possessions
behind starter Jermaine Alfred.
Alfred came back in on Baylor's next possession and finished
10-of-22 passing for 107 yards.
"We jumped on them early and killed their spirit. We heard
about how bad Texas always plays at Baylor, that there's a hex,"
Mitchell said.
"We don't believe in things like that."
Robertson scored on a 1-yard run after Baylor lost a fumble on
its 17. Applewhite connected with tight end Chris Smith from 14
yards and wideout Ryan Nunez from 8 yards before halftime.
Applewhite, who was 26-of-37, connected with Mitchell for a
10-yard score in the third quarter before leaving with Texas up
52-0.
Texas, which has outscored its opponents 150-25 in the first
half this season, can expect much tougher competition over the next
month. The Longhorns play their next three games against No. 15
Kansas State, Oklahoma and No. 6 Nebraska, all of whom are
undefeated.
"We feel when we play our best we can beat anyone in the
country," Mitchell said.
Baylor, meanwhile, keeps taking steps backward under Steele, who
was hired to revive the moribund Bears after consecutive 2-9
seasons under former coach Dave Roberts.
After losing its first two games to Boston College in overtime
and Nevada-Las Vegas on a fluke 100-yard fumble return as time ran
out, Baylor has been outscored 103-10 in losses to Oklahoma and
Texas.
"Some players are still thinking about Boston College," said
Baylor defensive back Daniel Wilturner. "We have to put this
behind us. We have to."
Steele remains optimistic that a victory is within reach for the
struggling Bears.
"We're going to get it done. We can get it done," Steele said.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Texas Clubhouse
Baylor Clubhouse
Top 25 overview
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