Living the dream

By a stroke of coincidence, Texas Tech punter Ryan Erxleben got his first career game action in Royal-Memorial Stadium, the venue where his father, Russell, was an All-American for the University of Texas three decades ago.

After Donnie Carona booted a low line drive that Jordan Shipley returned for a touchdown after Tech’s second series, special teams coach Eric Russell switched to Erxleben and got positive results.

Erxleben punted four times for so-so yardage – 40, 33, 35 and 45 – but he took the game-breaking Shipley out of the equation. On those four punts, Shipley had two fair catches, a return for minus-2 yards and didn’t field the other punt that slipped into the end zone. The last effort could have been downed inside the 5, but Tech’s Nathan Stone let it go through his hands.

Erxleben is a freshman walk-on who averaged 44 yards a punt last season at Austin Lake Travis.

Emergency ends

With only one scholarship player available to play defensive end, Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill turned to defensive tackle Richard Jones and strong-side linebacker Bront Bird to play the position. It was hard to tell that neither has played the position for Tech before Saturday.

Bird was credited with eight tackles, including three tackles for loss, and Jones blew past Texas left tackle Adam Ulatoski for a sack in the first quarter. Jones finished with five tackles.

Defensive end Brandon Sharpe, who missed the game for what Tech officials termed an “internal issue,’’ is expected back in the lineup next week.

Part of a record

Attendance was 101,297, making it the largest crowd ever to see a football game in the state of Texas, according to UT officials. The previous mark was 101,096, which the crowd for the Longhorns’ season opener against Louisiana-Monroe.

Bleachers were added to the south end of Royal-Memorial Stadium after last season, boosting listed capacity to 100,119.

Line shuffles

Tech sophomore Lonnie Edwards got his second career start, opening at left guard. Edwards had some trouble early with two false-start penalties. Moore pulled him for the next series, inserting Mickey Okafor into the lineup, apparently to give Edwards a chance to relax and clear his head.

He was back in on the next series.

As he did last week, Moore had Brandon Carter at right guard when Edwards was in on the left side and flip-flopped Carter to left guard when Okafor came in at right guard.

Okafor and Edwards continued to get chances on different series, and Tech continued to have trouble with the noise from the record crowd. On one third-quarter series, Okafor and Carter picked up false-start penalties two plays apart.

“One of those young guards is going to have to step up,’’ Tech coach Mike Leach said. “It’s not physical. Physically, they’re fine. I thought Carter did fine. He was probably one of the most solid guys on our team.’’

Got his number

Tech running back Baron Batch isn’t known for fumbling problems, but he had them in the second quarter, thanks to Texas outside linebacker Emmanuel Acho. Twice Acho diagnosed screen passes and pulled the ball out as Batch ran by.

Acho recovered the first fumble, and Tech guard Mickey Okafor retrieved the other. The lost fumble wound up not costing the Raiders, because Tech cornerback LaRon Moore intercepted a Colt McCoy pass four plays later.

In brief

Tech sophomore Brett Dewhurst made his first career start at safety in place of the injured Franklin Mitchem. He finished with a career-high five tackles, one behind the line of scrimmage. CB Brent Nickerson also played a few plays at S. … WLB Marlon Williams and MLB Brian Duncan made 10 tackles, tying for the team lead, and S Cody Davis was credited with nine. … Tech’s defense hasn’t given up a first-half touchdown this season. Though down 10-3 at the break, the touchdown allowed was on a punt return. … The Red Raiders were irritated with the way the first half ended. QB Taylor Potts faked a kneel-down and officials blew the play dead, though a television replay showed Potts’ knee never touched the ground. … Tech freshman Eric Stephens continued to impress in the return game. Stephens returned seven kickoffs and gave the team field position at the 29-yard line or better five times. … Country recording artist Larry Gatlin performed the national anthem.

Compiled by Don Williams