Game rewind: 2011 Texas Longhorns-UCLA Bruins showdown
Texas had revenge on its mind following a blowout loss to UCLA in 2010
The 2011 Texas Longhorns were looking to exercise more than just one demon that season. First, there was the bitter taste of finishing 5-7. The team that had one year earlier played for the National Championship stumbled through a dismal season where both sides of the ball underachieved.
The second demon was the 34-12 rout at the hands of the UCLA Bruins in DKR. Texas was thoroughly beaten on both sides of the ball that day.
Texas had gotten off to an important 2-0 start in 2011 with wins over Rice and BYU. Garrett Gilbert began the season as the starter, but he gave way to Case McCoy for the UCLA game.
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After a four-and-out by the offense on the first series of the game, Carrington Byndom intercepted Kevin Prince to give Texas the ball in Bruins territory. Two plays later McCoy found DJ Grant for a 45-yard touchdown strike to give Texas the early 7-0 lead.
Texas struck again in the first quarter by driving the ball 71 yards on 11 plays following another Prince interception. The drive consumed nearly five minutes before Fozzy Whitaker took it in from eight yards out to build the lead to 14-0. A third Prince interception gave the ball back to Texas to start the second quarter. The Longhorns took advantage of the momentum to go 43 yards for a score. Malcolm Brown, then a freshman, rumbled in from 16 yards to increase the lead to 21-0.
Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden?USA TODAY Sports
UCLA finally found its stride on offense in the second quarter. Richard Brehaut replaced Prince and moved the Bruins down the field. Derrick Coleman punched it in from the one to cut Texas’ lead to 21-7. The teams would trade possessions before a combination of McCoy and David Ash at quarterback moved the Longhorns down to the UCLA two-yard line. Here McCoy found Grant for his second touchdown catch of the game. UCLA was able to add a late field goal, and Texas took a 28-10 lead into the half.
The Bruins opened the second half scoring with a Jeff Locke field goal. It didn’t take long for Texas to extend its lead, however. On first and goal from the five, Jaxon Shipley took a pitch from McCoy and tossed it to a wide open Grant for this third touchdown of the game. The drive was punctuated by a 45-yard pitch and catch from McCoy to Mike Davis.
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UCLA closed the gap to 35-20 on a second Coleman touchdown run. Texas responded with a quick drive, highlighted by a 36-yard touchdown run by Whitaker. Texas took a 42-20 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Longhorns put an end to the scoring with a 7-yard run by Cody Johnson following an 11-play, 50-yard drive.
Texas rolled up 488 yards of offense that night, including 284 on the ground. Brown had 110 yards rushing while Whitaker added 63. McCoy was 12-15 for 168 yards and two touchdowns. The Texas defense created four turnovers, turning those miscues into 21 points.
That was a good night for Texas as a whole. Hopefully this year’s team can conjure up some of that 2011 magic this Saturday.