Howard sits

Texas Tech defensive end Daniel Howard averaged one sack a game through the first five games, but Howard sat out Saturday’s 66-14 win over Kansas State. Howard, who came out of the last two games with apparent stingers, was a game-time scratch Saturday. He was in pads and did some pre-game warm-ups, but never went in.

Richard Jones got his second start of the season at defensive end, but the Red Raiders mostly went with Ra’Jon Henley and Brandon Sharpe at the position, and it paid off. Sharpe logged his third and fourth sacks of the season, and Henley got his second.

Raiders lose Moore

Tech starting cornerback LaRon Moore suffered an apparent injury on the first defensive series and did not return to the game. After going in for medical attention, Moore did return to the sideline.

Moore’s absence meant more playing time for freshman D.J. Johnson and sophomore Taylor Charbonnet. In reality, Johnson wound up having to play two positions. He was at cornerback in the base defense, but when game situations called for a six-defensive back package, Charbonnet went in at cornerback and Johnson moved underneath to cover the slot.
Johnson was credited with five tackles, tied for team high, and forced a fumble.

Another new look

The Tech offensive line fielded its fifth different starting lineup in six games, this time with Chris Olson and Shawn Byrnes not starting for the first time all season.

For most of the game, line coach Matt Moore went with tackle Terry McDaniel and guard Lonnie Edwards on the left side, Justin Keown in place of the injured Byrnes at center and guard Brandon Carter and tackle Marlon Winn on the right side.

Olson didn’t play until the fourth quarter when he went in at center.

Tigers connect

Frenship High School coaches might have felt a burst of pride in the fourth quarter: Frenship exes Seth Doege and Brik Brinker connected on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 4:09 left in the game.

It was the first career touchdown for Doege, a redshirt freshman, and Brinker, a graduate student who is a junior in terms of football eligibility.

In brief

Tech coach Mike Leach got his 80th career victory at Tech. He’s two from tying and three from breaking Spike Dykes’ school record for coaching wins.

… Attendance was announced at 47,382, but with a game-time temperature of 47 degrees and the score 38-0 at halftime, the crowd thinned out in a hurry. … Tech tied the longest home win streak in school history at 12, a mark set from 1939-41.