Texas Tech University Athletics
Postgame Notes
September 12, 2009 | Football
Sept. 12, 2009
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TEXAS TECH POSTGAME NOTES
GETTING STARTED
- Weather conditions at kickoff: Mostly cloudy skies; 70 degrees, winds from ENE at 17 mph.
- Tonight's game against Rice was the first match-up between the two teams at Jones AT&T Stadium since the 1995 season (a 31-26 Tech win).
- Rice won the opening coin toss and elected to defer until the second half. Texas Tech is now 1-1 on the season in the opening coin toss.
- Two Red Raiders made their first career starts on offense tonight against Rice: Tramain Swindall (H), Lonnie Edwards (LG)
- Texas Tech wore its second different uniform combination of the season tonight against Rice as the team went with red jerseys on red pants. Last week against North Dakota, Tech wore black jerseys on white pants.
- Tonight's attendance was 48,124
Starters - (Offense) - (LT) Chris Olson, (LG) Lonnie Edwards, (C) Shawn Byrnes, (RT) Marlon Winn, (RG) Brandon Carter, (QB) Taylor Potts, (F) Baron Batch (Y) Detron Lewis (Z) Alex Torres, (H) Tramain Swindall (X) Edward Britton (Defense) - (LE) Ra'Jon Henley, (NT) Colby Whitlock, (DT) Richard Jones, (RE) Daniel Howard, (SAM) Bront Bird, (MIKE) Brian Duncan, (WILL) Marlon Williams, (LC) Jamar Wall, (SS) Franklin Mitchem, (FS) Cody Davis, (RC) LaRon Moore.
TECH'S WIN. . .
- Gives Mike Leach a career record of 78-39. He is now just five wins away from becoming the school's all-time wins leader. Spike Dykes currently holds the record with 82.
- Gives Mike Leach a career record of 8-1 against Conference USA. His only loss was to East Carolina in the 2000 galleryfurniture.com Bowl (his first season as head coach).
- Gives Texas Tech a 21-1 non-conference record at home under Mike Leach.
- Gives Texas Tech a nine-game home win streak. Tech's last loss at home was to Colorado in 2007.
- Gives Texas Tech a 27-20-1 record against Rice.
- Gives Texas Tech a three-game win streak against Rice and six-straight wins against the Owls at Jones AT&T Stadium.
- Gives Texas Tech a 32-6 record in home night games and 11-straight wins.
ON THIS DATE IN TECH FOOTBALL HISTORY
1998: Texas Tech defeated North Texas 30-0 at Texas Stadium in Irving
1992: Texas Tech defeated Wyoming 49-32 in Lubbock. Robert Hall passed for 349 yards, the second-highest total in school history at the time. Lloyd Hill totaled 222 receiving yards, the third-highest in school history at the time; Robert King booted a 75-yard punt, which is tied for 10th longest in school history.
1987: Texas Tech defeated Colorado State, 33-24, in Lubbock
1981: Texas Tech lost at Colorado, 45-27, to open the season
1970: Texas Tech defeated Tulane, 21-14, in Lubbock
POTTS LUCKY SEVEN
Taylor Potts made his second career start a memorable one as he threw for a career-high seven touchdowns. He became the first Tech quarterback to throw for at least seven TD's in a game since B.J. Symons threw eight against Texas A&M on Oct. 4th, 2003. The junior from Abilene spread the ball around as five different players caught a TD. Potts finished the night 36-57 for 456 yards, all new career highs.
LEONG HAULS IN THREE
For Lyle Leong, the touchdown seems to come in bunches. The junior from Abilene caught three touchdown passes tonight in Tech's win over the Owls. The three TD receptions mark just the fourth, fifth and sixth of his career and are the first since last season's game at Kansas State. Against the Wildcats, Leong hauled in three touchdown catches and coming into tonight, those were the only touchdowns of his Texas Tech career. He finished the night with nine catches for 117 yards.
DEFENSE COMES UP BIG IN THE SECOND HALF
Ruffin McNeil's halftime adjustments showed in the second half as the Red Raider defense came to life. The defense recorded three sacks and limited the Owls to 154 yards in the second half. Brandon Sharpe recorded his first fumble of his career and the defense snagged an interception (Marlon Williams). The Red Raiders also collected seven tackles for loss in the second half.
NOTING THE RED RAIDERS
- Texas Tech got on the scoreboard with 7:47 remaining in the second quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Potts to Edward Britton. The TD reception was his first of the season and the 12th of his career. The scoring drive covered 52 yards on six plays and lasted exactly two minutes.
- Senior linebacker Marlon Williams put an end to the Owl's second offensive series with a seven-yard on a 3rd and 9 situation. The sack was his first of the year and just the third of his career. His two previous career sacks came in 2008 - his junior season.
- Taylor Potts turned in a solid first half as he went 18-for-32 with 233 yards and two touchdown passes.
- Redshirt freshman Austin Zouzalik hauled in his first career touchdown reception (11 yards) with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter to give Texas Tech a 27-3 lead.
- True freshman running back Eric Stephens scored his first career touchdown with 14:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. The TD (a 34-yard screen pass from Potts) gave Tech a 41-3 lead.
- The extra point attempt by Matt Williams following the Eric Stephens touchdown was blocked and that snapped his streak of 38 consecutive extra points made.
- Tramain Swindall recorded career highs in both yards and touchdowns in his first game. The sophomore finished the night with six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
