OU defense holds Tech to season lows
By Adam Zuvanich | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
NORMAN, Okla. – Texas Tech would have needed its best offensive performance of the season to outscore Oklahoma.
But the Red Raiders had their worst offensive performance of the year, by nearly as wide of a margin as the final score.
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No. 2 Tech entered Saturday’s showdown with No. 5 Oklahoma averaging almost 48 points and more than 565 total yards per game, leading the nation in total offense. But its attack was anemic against a swarming Sooners’ defense, which held the Red Raiders to season lows for points and yards in a 65-21 rout at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell tries to escape under pressure from Oklahoma's Travis Lewis during their game Saturday in Norman, Okla. Oklahoma won, 65-21.
Jonathan LaCour punted four times – matching his season high – and Tech had as many turnovers on downs as touchdowns. The Raiders also matched their season high with three turnovers, and they were just 1 of 13 on third down.
“Going in, I thought they were really good,” Tech coach Mike Leach said of OU’s defense, which had allowed at least 28 points in each of the previous five games. “I never bought this notion that they were off or any of that stuff. The other thing is, when you have a defense as talented as Oklahoma, and they’re in a situation where they really get challenged, they’re really good in addition.”
Tech’s running game, which produced at least 103 yards and a touchdown in each of the first 10 games, was especially ineffective. Oklahoma limited the Raiders to only 45 yards on 22 carries and no scores on the ground, putting all the pressure on Graham Harrell and the Tech passing game.
The Raiders weren’t much better through the air, though. Harrell threw for 361 yards and three scores, but he was sacked a season-high four times while completing just 33 of 55 passes.
Mike Crabtree, who leads the nation with 18 TD receptions, was held without one for the first time in 14 games. No Tech receiver had more than six catches or more than 71 yards.
Tech’s first three possessions ended in punts, and the next two drives stalled on downs in OU territory. The Red Raiders were held scoreless in the first quarter for the first time since last year, finishing the opening period with minus-4 rushing yards and just 50 total yards on 17 plays.
Tech’s offense finally got in gear midway through the second quarter, when Harrell capped a four-play drive with a 25-yard scoring strike to Oklahoma City native Tramain Swindall, cutting its deficit to 28-7. But it wasn’t a sign of things to come.
The Sooners extended their lead with a run-heavy march that left only 1:04 on the first-half clock, and then Harrell made a costly mistake that essentially iced the game. His errant pass was picked off near midfield by Travis Lewis, who ran the ball all the way to the Tech 2-yard line. DeMarco Murray punched it in on the next play, giving OU a 42-7 lead at halftime.
“First half, I thought (Harrell) tried to make too much happen,” said Leach, who added that the rest of his players also had trouble staying within themselves and executing the game plan.
The second half started much the same way, after OU extended its lead with a Jimmy Stevens field goal. Shannon Woods fumbled near midfield on Tech’s first drive of the third quarter, and Keenan Clayton set up another Oklahoma TD by returning it 53 yards to the Tech 3.
Harrell led another scoring drive immediately thereafter, hooking up with Eric Morris for an 11-yard TD with 5:39 left in the third, and he found Detron Lewis for a 27-yard score during the final minute of the game.
But by that point, it was too little and much too late for the Red Raiders.
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adam.zuvanich@lubbockonline.com 766-8733
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I wish we could have stretched the feild early on and threw the ball long, and deep out side sholder a few times to see if that would have loosend them up, they were jumping the patterns and running down hill on us. I wish a lot of things!. I watched to the end. I am proud of this team and know that they will wake up today and put it in perspective. In the end some kind of playoffs needs to be enacted, who knows TT and OU again on a nutral site, I’d like to think would yield a different outcome. Guns are still Loaded, Get um UP#27
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Hey Mr Britton.
Don’t you think that we should give Carter a tryout at defensive line? haha
Next year, we should assume that this loss carries over so that we start 0-1 before our first game. That way, maybe we can play with something to prove and vengeance to work for until the OU game in 2009.
Hopefully Leach will also develop a temper. At halftime, my old coaches would have chewed the team so much that they would hate him and take it out on the other team in the second half.
Our biggest failure, maybe the only true failure, was on defense. Noone tackled properly until midway through the third quarter.
I was most disappointed by the D.
Otherwise, our team did not suck. OU just took Stoops’ leadership and ran with their momentum fed by the crowd. Penalties, mostly OU’s personal fouls, also fueled fire that kept us out of sync.
All in all, Tech has a great team. Last night had no illustration of any of our talent, but it exists just the same
Keep your guns up. At least two games to go. Baylor and Bowl.
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Believe me Benny and Ruff, got in there faces. You can not do that with GH. Any great team has to learn to adjust, and we did not do it soon enough or consistently. I had hoped GH would throw to the open field and let his WR adjust to the ball. #27 quickness and Lewis as well as Crab, IMO were trying to get GH to release quicker. Carter was a monster! If there is a subplot, it will reveal itself this week, or in the big12 game. as for myself, the game of football is to be played on the field not in the press box, where our fate lays in the hand of the K. Herbstriets, and others. One loss is one loss. Points and stats play out in the game, College Football has evolved, and the playoff should as well. Guns UP#27
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I bet Ruff McNeil did his share of hollering.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
The thing is, we hadn’t lost in over a year. By halftime, I can sense that those boys didn’t know how to feel. They were understandably more shocked than anyone else in the country.
I appreciated Herbstriet more than the other reporters this month.
The Fox netwk really reaks of bad reporting. Those guys are idiots.
And you are right, its only one loss. But the emotional damage is devastating.
We can show more of our grit and class by shaking it off next week and doing the same thing (10-0) next year and going out for revenge vs OU in 09.
Tell your boy we still believe in him and the whole team. GUNS UP
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We need OSU to Win and were in.
Tech is always near the goal but can’t punch it in.
1997 enter the game 3-0 in the south all we have to do is beat Texas we lose 38-32
1998 enter the 4-0 in the south all we have to do is beat OU we lose 32-21
2002 enter the game 4-0 in the south all we have to do is beat OU we lose 65-15
2008 enter the game 3-0 in the south all we have to do is beat OU we lose 65-21
The above games give us the South Championship if we win. The First two are Spike Dyke teams. The next two are MIke Leach teams. We ha ve a history of losing the big game to win the south.
Go Raiders Beat Baylor
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Guys n’ gals…the best team in the conference won last night. They beat us without their starting defensive ends and starting middle linebacker. They beat us with a defense that had only two starters from last year’s team. OU is loaded. Period.
Tech just ran into a superior team.
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You’re right PJ…. OU just beat us.
However, I also watched to the bitter end, and I am SO PROUD of our Raiders this year. They are fighters, and I feel sorry for Baylor.
12-1 after the bowl game…. I’ll take that!
GO RAIDERS!!!
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i was at the game and the OU fans definitely showed up but so did the RR fans. Everyone was on fire and on the edge of their seats. It had a sad ending but for one week only! I will NOT give up on my boys. It is unfortunate that only one team can play in the NC. Still could be TTU!!! Never give up! Hardcore Raider Fan til the end…………..
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The fans were, maybe, a small factor. I feel, no matter where they would have played last night, OU was simply the better team!!! The “cream always rised to the top”!! The crimson and cream rose up, and set things back in order.
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I think that the Owen Field crowd (record setting by the way) played a major role.
Prior to the game, all the reporters were picking OU by 7 due to home field advantage. I mocked them and challenged OU by countering with the passed six year record in big games.
Well, I was dead wrong. OU had alot things going for it.
But the home field advantage had more to do with it than I thought it would. However, that could backfire if they lose to OSU in Stillwater. Then pollsters have reason to believe that OU can’t win big unless they are at home. Then UT has a better shot. Still Tech isn’t out, though I don’t know how close we are.
Wait til its over, pick up the peices. Bowl games or championships will be determined in a week.
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OU Fan to TT Fans
You TT fans are great. I saw many TT fans stay to the end which I admire. I think your coach is great and laid the foundation for OU’s 2000 NC. I hope TT can keep him. I think TT and the rest of the nation found out the OU defense is not as bad as it has been made out to be. The OU defense is very talented but also very young especially at LB and CB. This youth has lead to being in bad position at times leading to big plays for the opponet. However, the defense has improved each game during the season and finally played its best game of the year against TT. Good luck in your bowl game and represent the Big 12 with a win. Hopefully we will do the same.
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