Tulsa World: Cowboys raided

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Cowboys raided

OSU's Kendall Hunter is upended by Texas Tech's L.A. Reed in the second quarter Saturday in Lubbock, Texas. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/9/2008 2:11 AM
Last Modified: 11/9/2008 3:22 AM

Slideshow: Check out photos from Saturday’s game between OSU and Texas Tech.

Harrell, Texas Tech flatten Oklahoma State

LUBBOCK, Texas — Expected to be a Saturday night shootout, Oklahoma State-Texas Tech instead was a blowout.

The Cowboy defense was riddled by the Texas Tech passing attack, and the second-ranked Red Raiders rolled to a 56-20 victory before a Jones AT&T Stadium crowd of 55,663 the third-largest crowd in Tech football history.

"We never could slow them down and we couldn't get them out of their rhythm," OSU coach Mike Gundy said.

The eighth-ranked Cowboys dropped to 8-2 overall, 4-2 in the Big 12. The Red Raiders (10-0, 6-0) do not play again until Nov. 22, when they challenge sixth-ranked Oklahoma in Norman.

For the third time in five games, OSU was matched with a quarterback who was considered a Heisman Trophy frontrunner. This time, it was Texas Tech senior Graham Harrell, who completed 40-of-50 passes for 456 yards and six touchdowns. He connected with wide receiver Michael Crabtree for three TDs.

Cowboy safety Ricky Price said Harrell was "on fire the whole game. He's up for the Heisman and he's a great player."

Harrell's backup, sophomore Taylor Potts, was perfect in a fourth-quarter relief appearance. Potts was 5-of-5 for 60 yards.

The Red Raiders have recorded 12 consecutive victories the nation's longest win streak.

"It's a long win streak. I'm proud of that," Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. "I'm proud of the collective effort."

The Cowboy defense had been mostly effective in Big 12 play, but it had no answers for Harrell and his receivers. The Red Raiders had seven consecutive touchdown drives and never punted.

"We wanted to continue to score," said Harrell, who has passed for 4,077 yards this season. "That's what it's all about. That's what we tried to do all night."

Texas Tech finished with 629 total yards. The Red Raiders had 80 offensive plays and went to third down only nine times. Red Raider running back Shannon Woods also scored three touchdowns (two on fourth-quarter receptions and one on a 3-yard run just before halftime).

OSU committed two turnovers while mustering only 368 total yards.

Cowboy sophomore Kendall Hunter, the Big 12 rushing leader, ran for 112 yards and scored two touchdowns. OSU's Dez Bryant typically is a big-play wide receiver, but against Texas Tech he was mostly neutralized. Bryant had four catches for 86 yards. He entered as the national scoring leader with 17 touchdowns, but failed to find the end zone on Saturday.

OSU QB Zac Robinson passed for 182 yards. He netted only 16 rushing yards.

Referring to Hunter, Bryant and OSU tight end Brandon Pettigrew (seven catches for 72 yards), Red Raider defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said, "This is the best combination of skill people that we've faced. Coming back from a big game last week (a victory over then-No. 1 Texas), and to maintain our intensity, I'm very happy."

Texas Tech's first possession ended when Harrell mishandled a shotgun snap, and OSU linebacker Patrick Lavine recovered the ball at the Red Raider 31. Two plays later, Hunter's 2-yard run gave OSU a 7-0 advantage.

From that point, Harrell was nearly flawless. Texas Tech scored on its next four first-half possessions, with Harrell getting TDs on passes to Edward Britton (16 yards), Eric Morris (4 yards) and Crabtree (9 yards). As Woods scored on his 3-yard run with 47 seconds left in the half, the Red Raiders took a 28-14 lead. The 14-point deficit matched OSU's largest of the season.

If the Cowboys had any chance at a comeback, it crumbled when Pettigrew lost a fumble on the fourth play of the third period. Tech capitalized with Harrell's 8-yard TD pass to Crabtree, and the Tech lead had grown to 35-14.

"The good news — (the Texas Tech game) only counts as one loss," Gundy said. "You can't get too high on a win or too low on a loss."

On Saturday, the Cowboys play at Colorado. On Nov. 29, OSU concludes the regular season when OU visits Stillwater for Bedlam.

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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	Report Comment Kryptonite, Lowcash Oklahoma (11/9/2008 12:44:37 PM) The reality for Pokes fans always seems to come the 1st of November.
	Report Comment 63Tackles, (11/9/2008 8:58:42 PM) Let's see if the Sooners do any better than the Cowboys. Bedlam this year may be for 3rd place in the Big XII South.

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