November 1, 2008
Texas at Texas Tech
The top-ranked, 8-0 Texas Longhorns with coach Mack Brown traveled to Lubbock to meet the 6th ranked, 8-0 Texas Tech Red Raiders of coach Mike Leach. The Longhorns rallied, after trailing the entire game, behind QB Colt McCoy to take a lead late in the final quarter. Texas Tech’s QB Graham Harrell brought then Red Raiders back with a 28-yard touchdown pass to All-Big XII WR Michael Crabtree with just 0:01 remaining as Texas Tech claimed their second Belt reign with a 39-33 upset of Texas. The Red Raiders dominated from the outset. After their opening drive ending with a punt that pinned the Longhorns at their own 2-yard line, Texas Tech’s DT Colby Whitlock tackled Texas’ RB Chris Ogbonnaya in the end zone for a safety. The Red Raiders then turned the Longhorns’ free-kick into a 29-yard field goal by PK Matt Williams for a 5-0 Texas Tech lead. Harrell’s short passing attack led to the Red Raiders their first touchdown of the game; a 3-yard touchdown run by RB Baron Batch as time expired in the opening quarter. Texas Tech’s defense kept McCoy off balance throughout the 1st half. The Texas’ quarterback entered the game completing over 80% of his pass attempts but he was able to complete only 7 of his 16 pass attempts in the opening half. Harrell led the Red Raiders’ opening drive of the 2nd quarter that covered 83 yards in 8 plays connecting with WR Eric Morris on an 18-yard touchdown pass giving Texas Tech a 19-0 lead with 9:39 left in the half. Texas’ CB Aaron Williams recovered a fumble by Crabtree that set-up the Longhorns first score; a 43-yard field goal by PK Hunter Lawrence. The teams ended the 1st half trading field goals with Williams connecting from 31 yards for the Red Raiders & Lawerence kicking a 25-yard field goal as time expired in the half giving Texas Tech a 22-6 lead. The 2nd half appeared as if it would be a repeat of the opening half when McCoy was unable to move the Longhorns on their opening drive. The punt was downed at the Red Raiders’ 1-yard line & after 3 short runs Texas Tech set for a punt of their own. Earlier in the season, Texas’ WR Jordan Shipley ignited the Longhorns against Oklahoma with a kick-off return for a score when Texas trailed by 10 points, this time it was a punt return that got the Longhorns in the game. Jordan returned the punt 45 yards for a touchdown & in spite of being dominated on the offensive & defensive sides, Texas trailed just 22-13 with 10:26 left in the 3rd quarter. The Longhorns stopped another Red Raiders’ drive & had the ball at their own 19-yard line. After a 2 penalties pushed the ball back to the 7-yard line, McCoy made a critical mistake as Texas Tech’s S Dan Charbonnet intercepted the Texas quarterback & returned it 19 yards for a touchdown giving the Red Raiders a 29-13 edge. As the 3rd quarter ended, McCoy threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to WR Malcolm Williams leaving the Longhorns trailing by 10 points at 29-19. Opening the 4th quarter, Texas Tech drove into field goal position but Williams’ 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Texas’ All-Big XII LB Sergio Kindle. A penalty for the Longhorns put the ball at the Texas 9-yard line when McCoy dropped to pass. His pump fake caught Red Raiders’ CB Brent Nickerson as Williams raced past. Williams made the catch at his 47-yard line & ran untouched for a 91-yard touchdown reception leaving the Longhorns trailing just 29-26 with 11:00 to play. Texas Tech’s PK Donnie Carona kicked a 42-yard field goal to push the lead to 32-26 with 5:45 left leaving McCoy plenty of time to lead a comeback. The 80-yard drive took 11 plays & 4:16 off the clock with RB Vondrell McGee scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 4-yard run but with 1:29 to play from their own 38-yard line, Harrell still had a chance to get the Red Raiders The Belt. Four completions had the ball at the Texas 28-yard line with Texas Tech needing just a field goal for the win but Harrell tried for the touchdown as he fired a pass to Crabtree. The receiver found a way to make the catch between 2 defenders at the 5-yard line, & amazingly stayed in bounds as he spun towards the end zone. The home crowd erupted as Crabtree crossed the goal-line giving the Red Raiders the upset of the Longhorns. Harrell finished with 474 yards passing with 2 touchdowns, WR Edward Britton had 7 catches for 139 yards while Crabtree added 10 catches for 127 yards to his touchdown. McCoy threw for 294 yards with 2 touchdowns as well as a critical interception while Williams had 4 catches for 182 yards with 2 touchdowns. Texas Tech finished the season 11-2, ranked 12th nationally while the Longhorns finished 12-1, ranked 4th nationally. Texas would play for The Belt again in 2009.
Leave a Reply