Oct. 28, 2000
Box Score
By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Texas -- It wasn't his best passing day ever, but Major Applewhite was good enough to become the greatest passer Texas has ever had.
The junior quarterback threw for two touchdowns and ran for another Saturday in the No. 22 Longhorns' 48-14 victory over Baylor. His 297 yards on 18-of-42 passing allowed him to surpass James Brown (1994-97) as the Longhorns' career yardage leader.
At a school known more for great running backs such as Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, Applewhite has 7,810 passing yards.
"I've had a lot of great receivers and a lot of great backs like Ricky Williams since I've been here," Applewhite said. "I'll appreciate it more after my career is over."
Applewhite took over the starter's role as a freshman early in the 1998 season. Since then, he's stayed in the lineup despite torn knee ligaments at the end of 1999 and a strong challenge from sophomore Chris Simms this year.
"Major plays with a lot of confidence and a lot of toughness," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "That's what this program needed."
The Longhorns (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) routed Baylor 62-0 last season but found themselves down 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Baylor (2-6, 0-5), which hadn't scored in three straight losses, shocked Texas with Martin Dossett's 18-yard scoring pass from Guy Tomcheck on the Bears' first possession.
Baylor's defense set up the score when Applewhite was sacked and fumbled at the Texas 35.
The touchdown was just the third given up at home this season by the Longhorns defense. Angered at losing their second shutout of the season, the Longhorns held the Bears to 1 yard of total offense the rest of the first half and just 134 for the game.
Baylor used three quarterbacks as Texas forced five turnovers.
"We've got a lot of monkeys on our back," Baylor coach Kevin Steele said. (Scoring) was just a little baby monkey. That's not our biggest monkey by far."
Applewhite struggled early with several bad throws and dropped balls by his receivers but finally got untracked in the second quarter.
After Kris Stockton kicked three of his four field goals for a 9-7 lead, Applewhite hit Montrell Flowers for a 5-yard TD strike in the second quarter.
"I was real disappointed in our slow start. Our play was very sloppy," Applewhite said.
Greg Brown's interception two series later gave Texas the ball on the Baylor 17. After a completion to B.J. Johnson to the goal line, Applewhite ran over the left side for his first rushing touchdown of the season.
A 14-yard scoring pass to Johnson made it 31-7 at halftime. The freshman receiver finished with nine catches for 162 yards.
Applewhite holds 41 school records. Besides breaking the yardage record Saturday, he also set the school career completions mark. He has 564 completions, three more than the previous mark held by Peter Gardere (1989-92).
"It's exciting to know I get to play with a quarterback as good as Major for another year. He's incredible," Johnson said.
Applewhite was relieved by Simms early in the fourth quarter. Simms' second pass went straight into the arms of Baylor cornerback Eric Giddens, who went 72 yards for a touchdown to make it 34-14.
It was the third time this season that Simms has had an interception returned for a TD. He recovered from the mistake to drive Texas to two late touchdowns.
Texas, which has won three straight since a 63-14 loss to Oklahoma, is eligible to play in a bowl.
