Texas Tech Athletics
Louisiana at Lafayette
Red Raiders Ground Attack Steps Up
September 11, 1999 | Football
Sept. 11, 1999
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - James Easterling shored up Texas Tech's hobbled rushing attack, running for 114 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night in the Red Raiders' 38-17 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.
Easterling, playing in place of the injured Ricky Williams and Sammy Morris, had touchdown runs of 5 and 3 yards. Rob Peters also threw touchdown passes of 55 yards to Tim Baker and 11 to Derek Dorris for Texas Tech (1-1).
The Red Raiders' defense held Louisiana-Lafayette (0-2), formerly Southwestern Louisiana, to just 54 yards rushing and 94 yards passing.
The Ragin' Cajuns got out to a 7-0 lead, but Texas Tech stormed back in the first quarter on Easterling's 5-yard touchdown run and a 6-yard scoring run by Shaud Williams to take a 14-10 lead. It was a lead the Red Raiders would not relinquish.
Texas Tech took a 28-17 lead into halftime following Peters' two touchdown passes sandwiched around a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown by Louisiana-Lafayette's Travis Schwartz.
Easterling's second touchdown run in the third quarter, followed by Chris Birkholz's 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring.
Easterling carried 25 times as the workhorse of Tech's offense, while Peters was 11-of-21 for 245 yards and two interceptions.
