Final Score: (2) Texas 59, Louisiana-Monroe 20

Austin, TX (Sports Network) - Cody Johnson ran for three touchdowns and Colt McCoy threw for a pair of scores as second-ranked Texas opened its 2009 season with a 59-20 rout of Louisiana-Monroe at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

McCoy went 21-for-29 with 317 yards and an interception for the Longhorns (1-0), who finished last season with a 12-1 record and closed out the campaign with a win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Vondrell McGee had 15 carries for 70 yards and a score while Jordan Shipley had eight catches for 180 yards and a score.

"We are super excited, but it is just like I told everyone in the locker room - we have to watch the film, make some adjustments, figure out what we did wrong, clear up some mistakes, and move on," said McCoy. "You are always going to have things you can improve on after your first game. The second half as an offense we played really well, and a win is a win. We are very happy."

Trey Revell went 14-for-30 with 197 yards, one score and one interception while Luther Ambrose had two catches for 77 yards and a score for the Warhawks (0-1), who finished last season with a 4-8 record.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Texas is the No. 1 team in the country," said ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie. "They're a great football team, have great talent, and of course with Colt McCoy running the show out there, he's an excellent quarterback. It seems like he?s slippery, gets out of trouble and makes things happen."

Texas struck quick as fumble recovery deep in Warhawks territory was followed four plays later by a one-yard touchdown run from Johnson for a 7-0 lead just over two minutes in.

A bit over four minutes later, the Longhorns made it a 14-0 game on another one-yard touchdown run from Johnson.

UL-Monroe got a 24-yard field goal from Radi Jabour with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the first to cut the deficit to 14-3.

A nine-play, 67-yard drive that started at the beginning of the second quarter was capped on Johnson's third one-yard touchdown run of the game for a 21-3 lead.

The Warhawks responded less than a minute later as Revell connected with Ambrose on a 75-yard score to make it a 21-10 game, but that was as close as the team got.

D.J. Monroe returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a score and later in the quarter McCoy and Shipley connected on a 78-yard score for a 35-10 lead.

Hunter Lawrence's 32-yard field goal as time expired helped Texas take a 38-10 lead into the locker room.

UL-Monroe started the second half with the ball, but Revell fumbled the ball and Texas recovered. On the next play, McCoy connected with John Chile on a 14-yard score and a 45-10 lead.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, McGee punched the ball in from four yards out for a 52-10 lead.

Jabour booted a 21-yard field goal later in the fourth, but Garrett Gilbert's 12-yard touchdown run gave Texas a 46-point lead.

Frank Goodin's 13-yard touchdown run with just under three minutes to play capped the scoring.

Game Notes

This was the first meeting between these two schools...Johnson finished the game with 11 carries for 27 yards...Goodin had 15 carries for 60 yards...Texas outgained Louisiana-Monroe, 562-298.

09/06 02:35:21 ET