College/Pro Sports
Lawrence, defense lift Texas past Cornhuskers, 13-12
DALLAS — The “Eyes of Texas” will be staring at Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game.
Barely.
Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence booted a 46-yard field goal as time expired to give the Longhorns a 13-12 Big 12 Championship Game victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Texas Stadium Saturday night.
Texas (13-0) was able to move 31 yards on the last series to set up the game-winner.
Texas’ defense stole the show, limiting Nebraska to just 106 total yards.
The Cornhuskers limited Texas to just 202 yards.
After the Cornhuskers (9-4) picked off Texas quarterback Colt McCoy for the third time in the game Nebraska marched down and got in field goal range and kicker Alex Henery booted a 42-yard field goal to grab a 12-10 lead with 1:48 remaining.
McCoy finished just 20-of-36 for 186 yards and three interceptions.
The Longhorns went up by four points at 10-6 with 1:45 left in the third period went kicker Hunter Lawrence booted a 39-yard field goal.
Nebraska return man Niles Hall brought back a punt 43 yards all the way to the Texas 9 early in the fourth period. However, the Longhorn defense rose up yet again as Henery booted his third field goal, this one from 28 yards with 11:43 remaining in the game.
There was no doubt about it, both defenses controlled the action in the entire first half with the Longhorns leading 7-6 at intermission.
The Longhorns limited the Cornhuskers to just 32 yards of total offense and two first downs including minus one yard in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Nebraska held Texas to just 121.
Both teams picked off a pair of passes as well.
The Cornhuskers came away with just six first-half points despite starting in Longhorn territory three times.
After McCoy was picked off by by Eric Hagg at the Texas 41 on the first series of the game, the Cornhuskers picked up one first down and settled for a 45-yard Alex Henery field goal with 11:04 left in the first period.
After Prince Amukamara picked off another McCoy pass at the Texas 44, Nebraska moved the ball just nine yards and Henery came through again, this time booming a 52-yard field goal to make it 6-0 with 6:32 still in the first period.
Nebraska failed to capitalize on a blocked punt when they took over at the Longhorn 37 after the first play of the second period when quarterback Zac Lee was picked off by Texas’ Aaron Williams in the end zone.
Texas finally found some offense late in the half, as McCoy led a hard-earned nine-play, 42-yard scoring march. He hit receiver Malcolm Williams on a big 16-yard pass play and after a pass interference call on the Cornhuskers, McCoy scored from two yards out on second down. Lawrence made the extra-point to give the Longhorns a 7-6 edge with 2:18 left in the half.
McCoy was just 11-of-19 for 97 yards in the half. Tre Newton had 10 carries for 28 yards to lead the ground game.
Meanwhile, Lee was just 2-of-10 for eight yards and tailback Roy Helu had just 17 yards on six totes.
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