SAN DIEGO — Now this was a Holiday Bowl to remember.
Texas coach Mack Brown’s stepson sure won’t forget it, after he reached out to touch a live ball and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that took away a big turnover.
Colt McCoy won’t either, because how often does a quarterback fumble four times and lead his team to a win?
McCoy led the way Thursday night as the No. 17 Longhorns beat the mistake-prone and 12th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils 52-34 in the first game between the schools and their successful coaches.
McCoy threw for a touchdown, ran for another and fumbled into the end zone at the end of a 30-yard run, with tight end Jermichael Finley recovering for a touchdown. The Longhorns recovered two other fumbles by McCoy, with ASU getting one. Jamaal Charles carried 27 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns for the Longhorns, who finished 10-3.
The 86 total points were the fourth-most in the Holiday Bowl’s 30-year history.
The wackiest play, though, in a bowl that’s had plenty of crazy ones over the years, belonged to Texas’ Chris Jessie, a member of his stepfather’s football operations staff.
With the Longhorns leading 21-0 and the Sun Devils (10-3) driving early in the second quarter, ASU’s Rudy Carpenter was sacked by linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy and the ball went squirting toward the Longhorns’ sideline.
Jessie stepped about a yard onto the field and was motioning toward a player when he reached down and appeared to touch the ball with his left thumb. Texas defensive tackle Roy Miller slapped the ball away from the sideline and defensive end Aaron Lewis recovered and returned it to about the ASU 44.
After review, officials reversed the call, ruling that Jessie touched the ball, which is an unsportsmanlike act. Texas was penalized half the distance to the goal, giving the Sun Devils a fourth-and-3 play at the 7-yard line. Carpenter then threw a touchdown pass to Chris McGaha.
“I saw the ball coming. I thought it was a forward pass,” Jessie said. “It was just natural instinct.”
The gaffe didn’t end up costing Texas.
“I didn’t touch it, I didn’t touch it,” Jessie said. “The focus shouldn’t be on me. That was a great game.”
No. 12 Arizona State (10-2) vs. No. 17 Texas (9-3)
Time: 6 p.m.at San Diego. TV: ESPN
Line: Texas by 2 1/2
Series: First meeting
Facts and figures: The Sun Devils are in a bowl game for the fourth straight year and will play in the Holiday Bowl for the third time. Arizona State last played in the Holiday Bowl in 2002, a 34-17 loss to Kansas State. The Sun Devils are 12-9-1 in bowl games. The Longhorns are making their fourth Holiday Bowl appearance and first since 2003, when they lost to Washington State 28-20. Texas is making its 47th bowl appearance, second all time to Alabama (54). The Longhorns have won three straight bowl games. … Texas tailback Jamaal Charles led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,458 yards.
