Game at a Glance: TTU 63, KU 21
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"All of the games leading up to this game were big games.
You just have to do the same stuff. We will start preparing on Sunday. We will
prepare well and see where it takes us. We just have to worry about ourselves
and what we can do to get better. We have to keep our eye on the task at hand."
- Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach
Pundits across the country called Texas Tech "overrated," a product of a weak
schedule. Mike Leach and his team would have to play "somebody" before they
could be considered a true national title contender. Well, Tech played a ranked
"somebody" on Saturday, and dismantled the No. 18 Kansas Jayhawks by a score of
63-21.
"Here's the reality of it: we got a good old fashioned butt-whooping today,"
summarized Kansas head coach Mark Mangino.
"We have never been beat that bad," added Jayhawk quarterback Todd Reesing.
The Red Raiders rolled up 556 yards on 77 plays, led by Graham Harrell's 386
yards and five touchdowns.
"It's all about having fun. When we have fun, we're at our best,"
explained Harrell. "We went out and tried to have a good time. That's what we
did and we played really well."
In addition to the success in the air, Tech also excelled on the ground. For the
eighth consecutive game, the Tech running back tandem of Baron Batch and
Shannon Woods churned out over 100 yards rushing.
"God is good. He helped us win this game and I praise Him for every yard that I
got," said Batch. "We did a good job executing and it paid off."
While everyone expected Harrell and company to have a big day, no one expected
the defense to rise up like they did.
The Jayhawks offense managed only 315 yards on 59 plays, and senior safety
Darcel McBath grabbed three interceptions in the third quarter.
"I thought they were really good," explained head coach Mike Leach.
"They got better and better as the game went on.
"Their first touchdown came too easy but we got tighter after that. We were
close to getting some turnovers and then we did get some turnovers and that
helped too."
"If [Tech's defense] plays like that, we're tough to beat. They did a great job
today," added Harrell. "They continue to get better and that's what it's all
about. We just need to keep getting better everyday in practice and every week.
If we do that, I think we can be really special and compete with anyone we play
against."
KEY PERFORMERS
Senior QB Graham Harrell certainly turned in a Heisman Trophy type day as he
helped lead the Red Raiders to a 63-21 win that snapped a 13-game home win
streak by the Jayhawks and pushed Texas Tech's record to 8-0. ... Harrell moved
into fourth-place on the NCAA's career passing yards list on his first pass of
the game when he found Edward Britton for a 55-yard touchdown pass. He surpassed
former N.C. State quarterback Phillip Rivers who threw for 13,484 yards between
2000-03. ... Senior RB Shannon Woods scored two touchdowns on the ground for the
Red Raiders today and that moved up him on a couple of records list at Texas
Tech. He is now tied for sixth place all-time at Tech with 31 career rushing
touchdowns. He also moved into eighth place on the Tech career scoring list with
36 touchdowns and 216 points.
NOTES
Texas Tech's win over Kansas marks the Red Raiders' first win over a ranked
opponent on the road since a 48-47 overtime win over No. 23 Texas A&M at Kyle
Field in 2002. ... Texas Tech now has a 10-game win streak (Big 12 best) dating
back to the 2007 season and a five-straight on the road. ... Texas Tech
completed its sweep of the Big 12 North Division today with its win over Kansas.
The 3-0 sweep of Big 12 North teams is the first for the Red Raiders since 2005
when Tech swept the same three teams (Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska). ...
Darcel McBath's three interceptions tied the single-game school record set
earlier this season by Daniel Charbonnet against SMU. McBath has 10 picks in his
career and is tied with Kevin Curtis on the Tech career list. ... The Texas Tech
defense took the saying "rise to the occasion" to another level Saturday. The
Red Raiders held Kansas to 315 yards of total offense and forced three Jayhawk
interceptions. The unit stifled the KU offense, holding them 12 points below
their season average of 33.0 points entering the game, and limiting KU to 19
first downs. ... Sophomore RB Baron Batch hauled in a 42-yard reception that
helped set up Tech's second touchdown of the game on its second offensive
possession of the game. The 42-yard catch marked a career-long for the Midland
product. ... Junior DE McKinner Dixon added to his sack total when he recorded
his seventh with 11:47 remaining in the second quarter. The sack was key for the
Red Raiders because it came on third down and gave Tech its second defensive
stop of the game. ... Junior DE Brandon Williams recorded a sack and a forced
fumble late in the second quarter to give the Red Raiders the ball on their own
38-yard line. The sack was the eighth of the year and his third forced fumble.
... Sophomore QB Taylor Potts and redshirt freshman WR Adam James each recorded
their first career touchdowns when Potts hit James on a 10-yard scoring strike
in the fourth quarter. ... Texas Tech's 63 points are the most in a game this
season and the most for the Red Raiders since putting up 80 on the scoreboard
against Sam Houston State in 2005.
NEXT UP
Nov. 1: Texas Tech vs. Texas, 7:00 p.m. on ABC
Oct. 25: Kansas vs. Kansas State, 11:30 a.m. on FSN
* Key Performers, Notes and Stats courtesy of Texas Tech Media Relations.