Central Florida throws a scare into Virginia Tech.
By The Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Bryan Randall gave Marcus Vick a tension-free stage for his Virginia Tech debut, but the No. 9 Hokies had plenty to worry about before they got it together and beat Central Florida 49-28 Sunday.

Randall directed three touchdown drives in as many tries before yielding for a second-quarter series to Michael Vick’s younger brother. When Vick led the team 80 yards, it was 28-0 and looking really easy.

But then the Golden Knights (0-1), using an effective mix of Ryan Schneider’s passing, Alex Haynes’ running and a 56-yard trick play, closed within 28-21 before two Hokies touchdowns 39 seconds apart put it away.

The clinching score came with 11:32 left when Schneider threw to avoid a blitzing Vegas Robinson, and defensive tackle Jason Lallis picked it off over the middle. He then rambled 45 yards to give the Hokies a 42-21 lead.

No. 5 Texas 66, New Mexico St. 7

AUSTIN, Texas – Selvin Young returned two kicks for touchdowns and Derrick Johnson and Michael Huff returned interceptions for two more Sunday night as No. 5 Texas overwhelmed New Mexico State 66-7 in the opener for both teams.

Chance Mock passed for two touchdowns in his first career start. Both went to Roy Williams, who extended his school record with his sixth straight 100-yard receiving game.

Mock’s backup, Vince Young, got into the act too, adding a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Selvin Young’s return in the second wiped out a 7-0 New Mexico State lead and started the rout. He also had a 39-yard punt return for a TD in the fourth.

Sparked by Young’s kickoff return, Texas exploded for 31 points by halftime to get its 20th straight win at Royal-Memorial Stadium, a streak that dates to 1999.

Johnson returned his fifth career interception for his first touchdown and Mock hit Williams with a 15-yard scoring toss in the second quarter.

The win wasn’t without its warts for the Longhorns. The first quarter was downright ugly.

Mock was sacked on his first pass attempt, tailback Cedric Benson had a rare fumble and Selvin Young fell down behind the line of scrimmage on his first carry. The running game that was supposed to be revamped and more intimidating than last year slugged out a meager 35 yards in the first half.

Chalk it up to first-game jitters. None of it mattered when once Texas’ big playmakers took over.

New Mexico State scored when Paul Dombrowski turned the corner on the option and went 18 yards for the Aggies’ first TD of the season in the second quarter.

The lead lasted all of 14 seconds.

On the ensuing kickoff, Young caught the ball at the 3 and went straight up the middle before breaking toward the left sideline near midfield. He shook a tackle, danced two steps near the chalk and cut up field with a burst of speed to the end zone.

After Benson’s 2-yard TD run made it 14-7, New Mexico State quarterback Buck Pierce dropped back for a pass but had to throw off his back foot as rushers closed in. The ball floated to Johnson, who grabbed it, spun around and dashed up the right sideline before breaking a tackle inside the 5 to fall in for a 21-7 lead.

Texas jumped on another turnover when Dombrowski, rotating at QB with Pierce, fumbled the snap at the Aggies’ 15. Mock hit Williams in the left corner of the end zone on the next play.

Mock and Williams hooked up again in the third, this time on a 53-yard TD on the fourth play of the second half. Williams finished with four catches for 104 yards.

Huff then picked off another bad pass from Pierce, taking the Longhorns’ third interception of the game 55 yards for another score. His third career interception return for a touchdown tied the Texas school record.

Mock finished with 156 yards on 7-of-15 passing. Vince Young led the Longhorns with 61 yards on five carries.

AP-ES-08-31-03 2237EDT