Texas Powers Past Wyoming Cowboys, 37-17 [PHOTOS]

The Wyoming Cowboys inability to stop the run proved too much to overcome, as UW lost their 2012 season opener to the 15th-ranked Texas Longhorns 37-17 Saturday night at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns rolled up 280 yards rushing on 47 carries and had two running backs top the century mark in the victory.

Texas (1-0) scored 24 straight points in the second and third quarters to take control of the game. Joe Bergeron ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns, while teammate Malcolm Brown added 105 rushing yards and one score.

Wyoming (0-1) held leads of 3-0 and 9-7 in the first quarter. The big play was an 82-yard touchdown pass from Brett Smith to Robert Herron.

Then the Longhorns took advantage of two interceptions and took the lead for good in the second quarter. A David Ash to Jaxon Shipley touchdown pass of 16 yards, and a 7-yard run by D.J. Monroe put Texas ahead 21-9. They tacked on a field goal late in the first half for a 24-9 lead at halftime.

Texas scored on their opening drive of the second half, marching 77 yards on 17 plays. Brown punched it in from1-yard and put the Longhorns up 31-9.

The Pokes rallied behind another Smith to Herron t-d pass, this time from 22 yards out, on the first play of the fourth quarter. It pulled them with 31-17. The next offensive play for Texas was a fumble recovered by Wyoming’s Miraldo Michel at the Longhorn 30. The Cowboys drove to the Texas 9-yard line, but failed to convert on 4th down and 2. The Longhorns scored six plays later for the final 37-17 margin.

Texas out-gained UW 436 to 345 in total offense and had 17 more offensive plays. The Longhorns also controlled the clock with 11 more minutes in time of possession. The Cowboys also couldn’t sustain drives, as they were only 1-of-11 on third down.

Brett Smith went 16-of-28 for 276 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Robert Herron enjoyed a career day with five receptions for 173 yards and the two scores. Korey Jones led the Cowboy defense with 13 tackles.

Wyoming returns to action Saturday, September 8th, when they host the Toledo Rockets in the Cowboys home opener at War Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is set for 2 pm, Mountain time. You can listen to Cowboy football on KOWB (AM 1290), with coverage starting at 11 am with the Pokes Pre-game Show.