SAN DIEGO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Major Applewhite, having been bypassed during his senior year, led Texas to a remarkable comeback with 473 passing yards Friday night and Ivan Williams scored the winning touchdown with 38 seconds left to give the Longhorns a 47-43 decision over Washington in the Holiday Bowl.
Ninth-ranked Texas scored 27 points in the fourth quarter in a game that had five lead changes and produced more than 1,000 yards of offense.
The Longhorns faced a 36-17 deficit late in the third quarter, but ran off 23 straight points and took a 40-36 lead with less than four minutes to play on Applewhite's fourth touchdown pass of the night -- a four-yarder to Bo Scaife.
Washington, however, covered 80 yards in seven plays with Willie Hurst scoring on a 34-yard run that put the Huskies back in front with 91 seconds to play.
Applewhite, who completed 37 of 55 passes, then drove Texas 80 yards to the winning touchdown, coming on Williams' three-yard run. Applewhite was replaced at quarterback this season by Chris Simms, who had a chance to put the Longhorns in the national championship game before faltering in the Big 12 title contest against Colorado.
Applewhite was finally given a start in the bowl game, his final collegiate contest, and he also had problems early against Washington. He threw three interceptions, but persistently dug the Longhorns out of an early hole to give them an 11-2 record and a top 10 finish.
Washington, which went into the game ranked No. 20, wound up 8-4.
One of the Huskies' interceptions was returned by Terry Johnson 38 yards for a score that gave Washington a 13-0 lead.
Applewhite threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to B.J. Johnson in the second quarter and a 25-yarder to Roy Williams less than four minutes later.
Nevertheless, Washington had a 23-14 halftime lead and increased it in the third period. Applewhite's third touchdown pass, a two-yarder to Matt Trissel, brought Texas within 36-26 and a one-yard run by Williams with 8:01 to play moved the Longhorns to within three.
Williams caught 10 passes for 122 yards and Johnson had six receptions for 157 yards.
"Our defense started off rough and I started off rough," Applewhite said. "But we didn't quit. I'm sad it is over, but it was a great Holiday Bowl."
