Harrell and New Targets Propel Football Past SMU, 49-9

Monday, September 3

Dallas, TX

3:00 PM

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Texas Tech

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Graham Harrell combined for five touchdowns

Harrell and New Targets Propel Football Past SMU, 49-9

September 03, 2007 | Football

Box Score

Sept. 3, 2007

Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery | Photo Gallery 2

DALLAS (AP) -- Even with a whole new set of starting receivers and a practically new offensive line, Texas Tech still has the same old prolific offense.

Redshirt freshman Michael Crabtree had touchdown catches of 42, 2 and 1 yards, and Danny Amendola went 49 yards for another score, leading the Red Raiders past SMU 49-9 Monday.

Quarterback Graham Harrell kept his new targets busy by going 44-of-59 for 419 yards and four TDs. His completions were a career best -- and he had that mark during the third quarter. He also scored on a 1-yard dive.

Harrell, a junior, is Tech's first incumbent quarterback since Kliff Kingsbury was in charge from 2000-02. His poise helped with the seamless transition for his four new blockers and the receivers who are replacing a trio that caught 504 passes for 7,014 yards in their careers.

Harrell went 6-for-6 on the opening drive, then capped it with his TD plunge. His next two TD drives went 95 and 88 yards, and he converted on six of his first eight third-down tries.

Harrell frustrated the Mustangs no matter what they did, beating blitzes by hitting his safety valve -- like Amendola on his touchdown -- and patiently finding his third, fourth or fifth passing option when the defense drifted back into coverage.

Crabtree caught 12 passes for 106 yards, and Amendola had 149 yards on 10 receptions. Eric Morris had seven catches for 70 yards. Shannon Woods ran for 45 yards and Tech's last two touchdowns.

Crabtree redshirted last year because the Red Raiders were set at receiver. His first game, and first start, came in his hometown of Dallas and he made it memorable with plenty of highlights: a 1-yard touchdown pass with 2 seconds left in the first half, dazzling open-field running and a nifty move to kick the pylon as he crossed the goal line on his long TD, and the 2-yarder to redeem himself one snap after a lob was knocked from his hands in the back of the end zone.

Crabtree initially was ruled out of bounds inside the 1-yard line on his long touchdown, but it was fixed by a replay. During the review, the Tech fans who made up the vast majority of the crowd of 26,969 whiled away the time with the call-and-response chant "Raider! Power!" as if they were back in Lubbock. It was just another example of how Tech dominated in every facet for a 12th straight win over SMU.

The Mustangs, who have high hopes on building off last year's 6-6 season, actually held in pretty well early. But after Crabtree's touchdown forced them to take a 21-3 deficit into halftime, they hardly did anything right -- like gaining only 37 yards in the third quarter and offseting it with 39 yards in penalties, including a false start while a coach was giving an audible.

SMU wound up punting on its first three drives of the second half, then had two turnovers. The Mustangs broke the skid with a 37-yard field goal from Thomas Morstead, who also made kicks of 35 and 36.

Justin Willis, the Conference USA freshman of the year last season, was 15-of-33 for 138 yards with two interceptions. He also was the leading rusher with 40 yards.