Texas Tech Athletics
Baylor
Raiders Romp Baylor, 35-7
October 23, 1999 | Football
Oct. 23, 1999
By MIKE FINGER
Associated Press Writer
WACO, Texas - After a month of losing to underdogs and slaying giants, Texas Tech finally won a game according to form.
Sammy Morris rushed for 98 yards and John Norman returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown as the Red Raiders beat Baylor 35-7 on Saturday.
Tech (4-3, 3-1 Big 12) overcame an inconsistent offensive effort with big plays by its defense and special teams, including a 47-yard interception return by Kevin Curtis, a blocked punt by Dorian Pitts and Norman's big punt return.
The Raiders, who in the previous four games had lost to North Texas and Oklahoma State and beaten Texas A&M and Colorado, didn't win without a scare from lowly Baylor (1-6, 0-4)
The Bears briefly stole the momentum when they returned the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Andra Fuller caught the kick and handed the ball to Randy Davis, who streaked down the right sideline the final 87 yards to cut the Tech lead to 14-7.
But Baylor failed to capitalize on a long drive into Tech territory, as freshman Chandrick Ricks was stopped on fourth-and-2 at the Raiders 24 with 7:48 left in the third quarter. Five minutes later, Norman scored on the punt return and the rout was on.
Pitts blocked Kyle Atteberry's punt on the first play of the fourth quarter to set up the Raiders' fourth touchdown, which came on a 1-yard run by Morris. Tech iced the victory with a 13-play drive that took 6:04, the score coming on an 11-yard pass from Rob Peters to Darrell Jones.
Shaud Williams rushed for 40 yards and Peters passed for 117 for Tech. Darrell Bush had 91 rushing yards to lead Baylor.
The Raiders led 6-0 on two field goals by Chris Birkholz and increased the advantage after Curtis intercepted an ill-advised pass by Baylor's Jermaine Alfred and returned it to the Baylor 1 early in the second quarter. Peters scored on a sneak one play later and Tech converted the 2-point try to lead by 14.
Baylor, last in the Big 12 in scoring and offense, showed even more offensive ineptitude in the first half. The Bears failed to get a first down until Jermaine Alfred completed an 11-yard pass to Mark Cogdill with just over 13 minutes left in the second quarter.
