 "Photo: John Lucas")
 "Photo: Callie Richmond")
Texas finally got what it wanted Saturday.
After two close calls against Arkansas State and Central Florida, the No. 7 Longhorns (4-0, 0-0) desired a blow-out win - a win that might be able to get some critics off their back.
Rice (0-4) just happened to be the victim.
The Longhorns trampled the Owls 58-14 in front of 84,571 fans at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium during a game in which Texas was able to do whatever it wanted.
Colt McCoy was effective in the passing game completing 20-of-29 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns. Limas Sweed had a career-best 139 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jamaal Charles bounced back after fumbling on Texas' first drive rushing for 72 yards and three touchdowns.
Charles could have easily broken the century mark in rushing yards had he played more series in the second half. But that's not all Texas is worried about in a game like this.
"That was all my decision," Texas head coach Mack Brown said. "We're not worried about stats."
As for the defense. It's been the best all season, according to Brown.
"I felt like it was a good win for us, and it's in the fashion that we need to win" Brown said. "We haven't really had a complete game as a team yet this year, and we need that going into next week."
The Longhorns were taking on large amounts of criticism in the past few weeks after three less-than-impressive victories. Many said they were the least deserving team to be considered one of the top 10 teams in the country.
While a huge win over the Owls won't get many critics off of their backs, it will provide a bit of a boost heading into Big 12 conference play next week against Kansas State.
"I don't think we needed this, but it's definitely something we wanted, and it gets us excited for conference play," said defensive tackle Derek Lokey. "It'll be good to celebrate that tonight."
Finally, the Longhorns were able to do what everyone thought they were capable of all season.
"In a few of our earlier victories, we didn't do what everyone expected us to do," Lokey said. "Tonight, I think we did."
One of the things they did do on Saturday was score early and score often.
On the Longhorns' second offensive drive of the game, McCoy hit tight end Jermichael Finley twice to help move the chains. After driving down to the Rice 17-yardline, McCoy found receiver Quan Cosby in the end zone for the first score of the game.
Ryan Bailey added a 43-yard fieldgoal later in the quarter to put Texas up 10-0.
But it wasn't until the second quarter when Texas began to pull away from the Owls. By the end of the half, the game was already out of reach for Rice.
McCoy connected deep with Sweed three times in the quarter with two of those ending in touchdowns. The pair hooked up on the deep pass more times in this game than they had all season long.
Sweed scored on passes of 52 yards and 24 yards, and helped set up a Charles two-yard touchdown run after Sweed turned a slant route into a 48-yard scamper down the sidelines.
"We played to a standard tonight and executed really well," Sweed said.
After heading into halftime up 41-7, the Longhorns were able to play many of their reserves, including the highly-touted quarterback John Chiles. Chiles entered the game with 7 minutes 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter and immediately showed his skills of escaping the pocket and creating plays with his feet.
Chiles and freshman running back Vondrell McGee accounted for all of Texas' offense on the Longhorns' second drive of the third quarter, which ended with a nine-yard touchdown run from McGee to put Texas up 55-7.
"He's a heck of an athlete, and I don't think there's any question of that," said offensive coordinator Greg Davis of Chiles.
With a win like this, Brown feels his team now realizes what it takes to be competitive in Big 12 conference play.
"This team has to play as a team, and it has to play good to win," Brown said. "Some teams in the past could play okay and win. This team can't."
And it finally seems like the Longhorns understand that.
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