COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Southwest Roundup : Texas Catches Arkansas by Surprise

Eric Metcalf got the ball on 60% of Texas’ running plays and was responsible for half of the team’s pass receptions, so it figured that the Longhorns, needing a touchdown, would go to him on the game’s final play from scrimmage.

Wrong.

Instead, 5-foot 7-inch Tony Jones slipped between two Arkansas defenders and caught an 18-yard pass from Bret Stafford that gave Texas a 16-14 Southwest Conference upset victory over the 15th-ranked Razorbacks at Little Rock, Ark.

“On that last play, Tony Jones was the primary receiver,” Texas Coach David McWilliams said. “We felt like they would be looking for Eric, so we went looking for the seam.”

With more than six minutes left in the game and Texas down 14-10, McWilliams spurned a field goal attempt from the Arkansas 15, and then lost the ball on downs.

“Arkansas does such a great job of holding onto the football that I was afraid we might not see it again,” McWilliams said. “My players also wanted to go for it, but until the last play of the game, I wasn’t so sure it was a good decision.”

After forcing Arkansas to punt, Texas began the final drive with 1:48 left in the game. Stafford completed 6 passes in the 56-yard drive, including a 19-yarder to Metcalf on fourth and 10 from the Arkansas 32. Stafford threw the ball out of bounds with four seconds remaining and then the Longhorns were penalized five yards for illegal procedure before the ball was snapped for the final play.

Texas is 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the SWC. Arkansas is 4-2 and 2-1.

Texas A&M; 34, Baylor 10--Freshman Bucky Richardson, listed as the third-string quarterback, was given his first collegiate start and directed an almost error-free attack as the Aggies won in Waco, Tex., for the first time in 10 years.

The Aggies gained 310 yards on the ground, allowed Baylor just 33 rushing yards and Texas A&M; had the ball for 40 minutes. Halfback Darren Lewis scored twice, both on eight-yard runs, and Richardson contributed the first touchdown pass of his college career.

Texas A&M; is 4-2 and 2-1, Baylor 5-2 and 3-1.

Texas Tech 59, Rice 7--Tailback James Gray rushed for a career-high 173 yards, added 26 more on 4 pass receptions and scored 4 touchdowns as the Red Raiders romped to victory over the Owls at Lubbock, Tex.

The 5-10, 200-pound sophomore scored three rushing touchdowns and caught a pass for another as Tech rolled up a series-high 503 yards and 59 points.

Gray ran 40 and 4 yards for touchdowns and racked up 140 yards on the ground as the Raiders mounted a 31-7 halftime lead. Later, he scored on a 19-yard run.

TCU 19, North Texas St. 10--Tony Jeffery raced 52 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter en route to setting a school rushing record and sealing the Horned Frogs’ victory at Fort Worth.

TCU (3-3) needed a 47-yard field goal by Lee Newman and Jeffery’s touchdown run in the fourth quarter to thwart the upset bid by North Texas, ranked No. 2 in the nation in Division I-AA.

Jeffery rushed for 142 yards in 22 carries to give him 3,130 career yards, breaking the TCU mark of 2,994 set by Kenneth Davis, now with the Green Bay Packers.

The Horned Frogs, who trailed 10-3 at halftime, limited the Eagles (5-2) to 1 first down and 27 yards over the second half.