Southwest Roundup : When It Counts, SMU Comes Through With a 44-14 Win Over Texas

Not only will Southern Methodist’s 44-14 strapping of the Texas Longhorns at Irving, Tex., Saturday count in the Southwest Conference standings, it will be a historic flogging they should never forget.

“Who would have thought it would come out like this?” SMU Coach Bobby Collins asked after the Mustangs’ biggest victory over the Longhorns in the history of the series.

“I’d say we are mighty pleased,” Collins said. “We got some turnovers coming our way and cashed in on them.”

Texas Coach Fred Akers raised the Mustangs’ hackles by saying SMU’s games shouldn’t count in the SWC standings.

“Sure our games should count,” Collins said. “The league already decided that. We have to play everybody, you know. We are just as proud as we can be.”

Akers said the loss “was really disappointing. We had seven turnovers. We kept giving it to them enough that they finally realized they could win.

“We had a day like this in 1981 when Arkansas beat us, 42-11. We just can’t afford to get down.”

Reggie Dupard, who gained 117 yards in 25 carries, tied a school record with four touchdowns, and linebacker Kit Case intercepted two passes in the rout.

It was Texas’ worst loss to SMU in the 69-year history of the series and was the Mustangs’ first victory against the Longhorns in Texas Stadium. Texas’ previous worst loss to SMU was 20-0 in 1935, and no Longhorn team had ever yielded so many points to the Mustangs. SMU, which is on probation and not eligible to win the SWC title, is 4-2 overall and 3-1 in conference games.

Texas dropped to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in SWC play.

Arkansas 57, Houston 27--At Little Rock, quarterback Greg Thomas went down with a hyperextended knee on the second play, but 14th-ranked Arkansas never missed a beat. The credit goes to backup Mark Calcagni.

“He’s been ready to play and we didn’t have to change our game plan at all,” said Arkansas Coach Ken Hatfield. “We take what the defense gives. The passing game was open. About everything we tried worked.”

Calcagni completed 5 of his first 8 passes for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns in guiding the Razorbacks to five straight scores.

Calcagni wound up 6 of 11 for 167 yards and had 13 carries for 95 yards. Houston’s Gerald Landry finished 23 of 43 for 388 yards passing and added 46 yards rushing.

Baylor 45, Texas Christian 0--The No. 13 Bears ripped TCU for six touchdowns in its shutout at Waco, Tex.

The victory boosted Baylor to 5-0 in Southwest Conference games, but Coach Grant Teaff said he didn’t think Bear homecoming fans are thinking of a SWC title and a host spot in the Cotton Bowl just yet.

In mentioning upcoming road games with Arkansas and Texas, Teaff said: “The fans are pretty realistic, but at least we have a chance to control our own destiny. If we’re good enough, we’ll find out.”

Three Baylor players--flankers Horace Ates and Darnell Chase and running back Charles Perry--scored their first touchdowns of the season and 15 different Bears have scored this year.

The touchdowns by Chase and Perry were the first of their careers.

“I could say I have never been associated with any tougher loss,” said TCU Coach Jim Wacker.

Baylor, a loser only to Georgia, 17-14, is 7-1 for the season. Texas Christian fell to 3-4 and 0-4 in the SWC.

Texas A&M; 43, Rice 28--At Houston, Texas A&M; safety Domingo Bryant caught as many Rice passes as the Owls’ leading receiver to help the Aggies overcome an error-filled afternoon.

Bryant intercepted three passes, and his 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter helped the Aggies overcome four lost fumbles and one interception.

“I had the choice of hitting him or going for the ball, and I made a good choice,” Bryant said of his touchdown return. “They played great up front. They had the quarterback scrambling when I got those interceptions. We always seemed to be in the right coverage.”

Anthony Toney and Roger Vick each contributed two touchdowns to the Aggie victory.

Toney, the game’s leading rusher with 116 yards in 25 carries, had touchdown runs of 5 and 2 yards, Vick scored on runs of 1 and 40 yards.

The Aggies, 5-2 for the season and 3-1 in the SWC games, ended Rice’s winning streak at two games. The Owls dropped to 3-4 for the season and 2-2 in the SWC.

Rice receiver Darrell Goolsby caught three passes for 78 yards to lead Owl receivers.