Texas Tech University Athletics
Wallace, Kingsbury Set For Big 12 Shootout
October 09, 2002 | Football
By JIM SCOTT
AP MegaSports Writer
Two of the most prolific passers in the country will air it out on Saturday as Kliff Kingsbury leads Texas Tech against No. 11 Iowa State's Seneca Wallace in Ames.
The Cyclones (5-1, 2-0 Big 12) and the Red Raiders (4-2, 1-0) are the Big 12's top-two offensive teams, averaging nearly 909 total yards per game combined behind the strong play of their star quarterbacks.
Iowa State's 41.3 points per game this season ranks them sixth nationally, while Texas Tech's 38.7 points are good for 14th in the country.
Kingsbury leads the nation with 2,134 yards passing, 22 touchdowns and is averaging more than 33 completions per game. The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in total yards (467) and passing yards (370) per game.
Wallace has lifted the Cyclones into the national spotlight, helping them equal their highest-ever standing in the AP Top-25 poll.
The senior quarterback ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as Iowa State signaled a shift of power in the conference by dominating then No. 20 Nebraska 36-14 on Sept. 28.
The win was the Cyclones' first over a ranked team since 1993. The 22-point margin of victory was Iowa State's largest against Nebraska since a 34-0 win in 1899.
Wallace has put himself into the running for the Heisman Trophy by completing 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,653 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's also run for five scores to tie him for the team lead.
"I have always had a lot of respect for him," Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said of the Iowa State signal caller. "There has been a lot of talk about quarterbacks in this conference and he has been one of my favorites. He is a great player."
Leach has to be feeling good about his team's chances this weekend considering how well Kingsbury has been playing.
Kingsbury threw his fifth touchdown pass in overtime last Saturday, lifting Texas Tech to a 48-47 victory over Texas A&M.
"I think this was my best game ever," Kingsbury admitted. "To win in one of the toughest atmospheres boosts our confidence even more."
The Big 12 opener for both teams turned into a quarterback duel as Kingsbury completed 49 of 59 passes for 474 yards.
Dustin Long completed 21 of 37 passes for 367 yards to lead the Aggies. His seven TD passes broke the conference mark of six, which Kingsbury set the previous week in a 49-0 victory over New Mexico.
Despite his recent success, Kingsbury knows the rest of the Red Raiders' Big 12 schedule will feature one tough game after another.
"You can be high one week and get knocked down the next in this league," said Kingsbury. "Iowa State has done a great job so far. There is no rest for the weary in the Big 12 and you have to bring the A game every week."
Texas Tech holds a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series against Iowa State. Cyclones coach Dan McCarney is 0-2 against the Red Raiders, losing to Texas Tech in 1998 and '99.
