UCLA Blows Out Texas (Again)

While it wasn't quite a repeat of "Rout 66," UCLA was good enough to beat Texas convincingly again on Saturday.

Cade McNown passed for 339 yards and three touchdowns as the sixth-ranked Bruins scored TDs on five of their six first-half possessions in rolling to a 49-31 season-opening victory over the No. 23 Longhorns.

The victory was UCLA's 11th consecutive -- a school record. The streak began last Sept. 13, when the Bruins stunned Texas 66-3, handing the Longhorns their most one-sided setback in 93 years and their worst home-field loss ever.

UCLA benefited from eight turnovers that led to six touchdowns in what was quickly dubbed "Rout 66."

In this game, played before a crowd of 73,070 at the Rose Bowl, UCLA didn't need the assistance, as the Longhorns turned the ball over just once. But it didn't matter. The Texas defense couldn't stop the Bruins, especially in the first half when UCLA took a 35-3 lead.

McNown, who led the country in passing efficiency last year, completed 20 of 30 passes with one interception and no sacks.

He was 13-of-17 for 222 yards and two scores in the first half, making it 16 consecutive games in which he has passed for over 200 yards.

Ricky Williams, who led the nation in rushing last year, became the leading rusher in Texas history by gaining 160 yards on 29 carries, giving him a career total of 4,530 yards.

The old record of 4,443 yards was set by Earl Campbell, the 1977 Heisman Trophy winner.

Williams, who ran for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make the final score respectable, had one of the least productive games of his career when the teams met last year, gaining 36 yards on 13 carries.

He surpassed that total in the first quarter of this game, picking up 45 yards, and passed Campbell on his first carry of the third quarter.

Williams, who finished fifth, and McNown, who was eighth, are the two leading returnees from last year's Heisman Trophy balloting.

Texas quarterback Richard Walton completed 14 of 22 passes for 196 ards without being intercepted.

Jermaine Lewis, who scored two touchdowns, led UCLA in rushing with 113 yards on 22 carries.

Freshman flanker Freddie Mitchell threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brian Poli-Dixon for the game's first touchdown, and caught a 79-yard TD pass from McNown on a third-and-9 play with 7:39 remaining for UCLA's final points.

Mitchell had four catches for 108 yards, and Danny Farmer had four receptions for 81 yards.

UCLA had scoring drives of 80, 67 and 61 yards in the first quarter. Lewis scored his team's second and third touchdowns -- on runs of 3 and 7 yards.

Kris Stockton kicked a 39-yard field goal for Texas (1-1) in the opening period.

Mcnown threw touchdown passes of 25 yards to Farmer and 20 yards to Poli-Dixon late in the second quarter, making it 35-3. The Bruins led Texas 38-0 midway through last year's game.

Ricky Brown's 17-yard run early in the third quarter cut UCLA's lead to 35-10. Brendon Ayanbadejo recovered a fumble by Brown at the Bruins' 38-yard line a couple minutes later, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by freshman DeShaun Foster.

Williams scored on a 2-yard run with 12:49 remaining, a 7-yarder with 8:38 left, and a 6-yarder with 5:07 to go.

UCLA, which gained 584 yards in total offense to 388 yards for Texas, ran out the clock after Williams' final touchdown.

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