November 30, 1991 –The 4-6 Houston Cougars of coach John Jenkins had their 2nd shot at The Belt this season as they met the 5-5 Texas Tech Red Raiders of coach Spike Dykes. The Cougars lost to Baylor earlier in the year. Texas Tech’s QB Robert Hall threw touchdown passes of 95 & 80 yards to All-SWC WR Rodney Blackshear to highlight the highest scoring game in Belt history; a 52-46 Red Raider victory. After a Houston punt pinned the Red Raiders at their own 1-yard line, Hall & Blackshear connected on the third play from scrimmage for the 95-yard touchdown pass the put Texas Tech ahead just 2:27 into the game. Houston tied the game midway through the quarter when QB David Klingler threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to WR Freddie Gilbert. A 6-play, 76-yard drive from Texas Tech saw Hall throw a 34-yard touchdown pass to WR Lloyd Hill that gave the Red Raiders a 14-7 lead entering the 2nd quarter. On the first play of the quarter, the Cougars finished a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Klingler to Gilbert that tied the game at 14-14. Texas Tech’s RB Louis Sheffield gave the Red Raiders another lead with his 1-yard touchdown run that capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive. Houston used another long drive, 12 plays & 81 yards, to score what seemed to be the tying score with just 0:58 left in the half. After Klinger & Gilbert connected for a their third touchdown in the half, this one an 11-yard pass, All-SWC PK Roman Anderson’s extra-point attempt was blocked. Following the downed kickoff, Hall & Blackshear hooked up on their 80-yard scoring pass that put the Red Raiders in front 28-20 at the half. Texas Tech’s RB Byron Morris took over in the 3rd quarter scoring on two 6-yard touchdown runs that put the Red Raiders ahead 42-20. The Cougars managed a 35-yard touchdown pass from Klinger to WR John Brown & with the successful 2-point conversion, Houston was back within two touchdowns at 42-28 but with the Cougars’ high-powered, run & shoot offense the deficit was not insurmountable. It took Texas Tech six plays to re-establish the three touchdown lead as Hall carried in from 35 yards for the touchdown. Houston finished the high scoring quarter with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Klinger to All-SWC WR Marcus Grant & a 2-point conversion run by RB TiAndre Sanders but the Cougars still trailed 49-36 as the 4th quarter started. The teams exchanged field goals, Anderson hitting from 34 yards while Texas Tech’s PK Lin Elliot hit from 20 yards, but it was the defenses that finally made an appearance for both teams. Houston finished the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Klinger to WR Verlond Brown but with just 0:43 left in the game, Texas Tech recovered the onside kick to secure the win. This marked the 2nd time in Belt history that there would be no Belt defense in a bowl game. Hall finished with 388 yards passing with 3 touchdowns as well as 93 yards rushing with a touchdown while Blackshear had 5 catches for 251 yards with 2 touchdowns. Klinger completed 41 of 70 pass attempts for 533 yards with 6 touchdowns but 2 interceptions while 3 different receivers accounted for more than 100 yards each & Sanders added 160 yards rushing. Texas Tech finished the season 6-5 while the Cougars finished 4-7. Houston has not played for The Belt again.
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