| Longhorns Survive Red Raider Aerial Onslaught, Win 35-31 |
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Monday, 30 October 2006
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 The Texas Longhorns (8-1, 5-0) eventually did show up to play the Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-4, 2-3) on Saturday at Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. However they waited until the Red Raiders had built up a 21-0 lead before they did.
For the most part, the game was a tale of two halves. The first half dominated by the Red Raiders, putting up 31 first half points to 21 for Texas. Then the second half where the Horn’s defense decided to show up and hold the Red Raiders scoreless while posting a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters each to pull out a 35-31 win.
“I thought the defensive staff did better than I did,” Texas head coach Mack Brown said after the game. “ I don't remember one (Texas Tech pass) being incomplete in the first half; I don't think we batted one down. But to their [defensive coaches] credit, they ignored me and stayed really positive. I went back in there and got the kids stirred up and said, `Hey, we're okay.' We all talked about it, he [Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell] was just really hot. When a quarterback gets hot in this offense, you've got some trouble. If he's bad, they're in trouble. If he gets like he was tonight, you better grab and hang on and we did.” Bet on College Football at BetRoyal Get the latest college football lines here.
Tech had chances in the final 6:14. Twice the Red Raiders failed on fourth downs inside Texas 35. Both plays - a completion to Joel Filani and a quarterback sneak by Harrell came up just short and were reviewed but the officials' spots were upheld.
The second opportunity came after Jamaal Charles fumbled for a second time, this one coming at his own 24, and Tech's Jake Ratliff recovered. But Tech failed to take advantage of the turnover when Harrell's sneak came up short.
Harrell completed 42-of-62 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns. He threw one interception, his first since throwing five in games against Missouri and Colorado.
Texas put more pressure on Harrell in the second half, enabling the Longhorns to hold the Red Raiders scoreless. Harrell had been nearly perfect in the first half. He got the Red Raiders inside the Texas' 20-yard line only twice in the second half.
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns helping Texas to erase the three-touchdown deficit in beating Texas Tech. The Longhorns won their 20th straight conference game and 17th consecutive road game.
Texas Tech came into the game a double-digit (10-point) home underdog and covered against the spread (ATS) pleasing Red Raider backers. The game total of 54 easily went over achieving 66 points scored in the game.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 30 October 2006 ) | |||||||