Bluebonnet Bowl : Texas Passing Attack Is Upsetting to Pitt

Pittsburgh had allowed only 10 points a game this season, but explosive Texas surpassed that in the first 2 1/2 minutes Thursday night on the way to a 32-27 upset of the 19th-ranked Panthers in the Bluebonnet Bowl.

Quarterback Bret Stafford and wide receiver Tony Jones, who each set records in the game, combined on scoring plays of 77 and 60 yards to give Texas a lead it wouldn’t surrender while breaking a four-bowl losing streak. The Longhorns finished 7-5, Pitt 8-4.

Trying to use a man-to-man defense was Pittsburgh’s undoing, Jones said. “That was the key. It just froze the defender,” Jones said of his game-opening, 77-yard score. “Most people play zone with us and never bump-and-run. I guess that’s what they play against everybody.”

Jones set Bluebonnet records for longest touchdown pass and most receiving yards (242 in 8 catches) in earning outstanding offensive player honors. Stafford threw for 3 touchdowns in completing 20 of 34 passes for 368 yards, 65 more than Purdue’s Mark Herrmann in 1979.

Texas led, 17-7, at halftime and, getting a second-half lift from Eric Matcalf’s 24-yard touchdown run, held off a three-touchdown rally engineered by Pittsburgh freshman quarterback Larry Wanke.

“We knew we had a great amount of team speed and we wanted to get deep and use it against them,” Metcalf said. “I owe it all to Bret and T.J. (Jones) for opening up things for me.”

Pittsburgh’s Craig (Ironhead) Heyward, the nation’s No. 2 rusher, wasn’t really a factor despite rushing for 136 yards in 30 carries. It was his 12th consecutive 100-yard performance of the season.

“Once we got ahead, it was hard for them to use Heyward because he’s not a receiver,” Metcalf said. “In effect, we kept the ball out of his hands.”

Pittsburgh linebacker Zeke Gadson was named the outstanding defensive player with 13 tackles.

Jones needed only three catches to eclipse the receiving record of 163 yards set by James Ingram of Baylor in 1963 and tied by Gerald McNeil of Baylor in 1983. Jones’ other catch was a 36-yarder with 8:05 left in the first quarter.