Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
2-0
North Texas
0-3
Red Raiders Roll Over North Texas, 42-14
September 22, 2001 | Football
Sept 22, 2001
By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer
IRVING, Texas - Paul McClendon returned a fumble and an interception for touchdowns, sparking Texas Tech to a 42-14 victory over North Texas 42-14 on Saturday night at Texas Stadium.
Ricky Williams had 94 yards rushing, including touchdown runs of 9 and 2 yards, and caught 13 passes for 101 yards as the Red Raiders (2-0) had 407 total yards to 285 for North Texas.
McClendon intercepted Richard Bridges' pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown that increased the Red Raiders' lead to 28-0 in the third quarter. North Texas (0-3) had just picked up first downs on three consecutive plays, matching the Mean Green's first-half total.
In the first quarter, McClendon had grabbed Kevin Galbreath's fumble and run 6 yards for a touchdown. That came just two plays after Tech's opening 19-play drive stalled when Williams was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 3.
McClendon has three touchdowns already this season. He returned a fumble 54 yards for a touchdown in Tech's season-opening 42-30 victory over New Mexico two weeks ago.
On his 9-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Williams got behind his blockers and with a stutter step, strode into the end zone. He scored from 2 yards out near the end of the game.
Tech led 21-0 at halftime. Anthony Terrel ended the second quarter with an interception. Bridges was held to 5-for-11 for 46 yards.
The Mean Green didn't score until Scott Hall - the normal starter who's been hampered by a calf injury - replaced Bridges in the third quarter.
Hall threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to George Marshall to cap a 15-play, 74-yard drive. The sophomore quarterback scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 35-14.
Williams ended the scoring with a 2-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
Team Stats
TT 7, NT 0
TT - McClendon, P. 6 yd fumble recovery (Treece, R. kick)
TT 14, NT 0
TT - Roberts, C. 4 yd pass from Kingsbury, K. (Treece, R. kick) 10 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:54
TT 21, NT 0
TT - Williams, R. 9 yd run (Treece, R. kick), 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 0:00
TT 28, NT 0
TT - McClendon, P. 50 yd interception (Treece, R. kick)
TT 28, NT 7
NT - MARSHALL,George 10 yd pass from HALL, Scott (BALL, Jason kick) 15 plays, 74 yards, TOP 6:50
TT 35, NT 7
TT - Peters, M. 5 yd pass from Kingsbury, K. (Treece, R. kick) 10 plays, 79 yards, TOP 3:24
TT 35, NT 14
NT - HALL, Scott 2 yd run (BALL, Jason kick), 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:37
TT 42, NT 14
TT - Williams, R. 2 yd run (Treece, R. kick), 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 4:02