LUBBOCK, Texas — Tommy Tuberville made good on his promise to keep Texas Tech’s passing offense intact.
He still saw difficulties, though, even with Taylor Potts throwing for 359 yards and four touchdowns Sunday as the Red Raiders defeated SMU 35-27 to give Tuberville a victory in his first game as Texas Tech’s coach.
“We showed it’s going to be some ups and downs this year,” said Tuberville, a Camden native who took over after the popular and successful Mike Leach was fired in December amid allegations he mistreated an injured player. “We’re going to have a lot of growing pains, but when you win with growing pains, that means you’re doing something right.”
Potts was 34 for 53 with no interceptions and connected with Lyle Leong for three scores and Detron Lewis forthe other.
The pace of the offense is much quicker - lots of no huddles - this season, and Potts likes it.
“There’s no lolly gagging around and playing backyard football out there,” he said. “Everything’s got a purpose, everything’s detailed.”
Texas Tech ran its winning streak against SMU to 14 games, dating to 1989.
Eric Stephens rushed for a 3-yard touchdown to put Texas Tech ahead 35-14 midway through the third quarter.
The Mustangs had a chance late and were driving when they failed to convert a fourth-and-21 situation from the 50 on their final drive.
Texas Tech intercepted SMU quarterback Kyle Padron three times. He threw for 218 yards.
“You can’t turn the ball over,” SMU Coach June Jones said. “He’s got to play through those things.”
The Mustangs rallied behind their special teams. Darryl Fields returned a kickoff 92 yards to set up a 24-yard field to pull SMU to 35-17. Early in the fourth, Matt Szymanski kicked a 61-yard field goal, his longest ever.
The Mustangs also blocked two field goals.
SMU pulled to 35-27 midway through the fourth quarter after taking over on downs on the Texas Tech 32.
On fourth-and-6 from the 13, Padron threw into the end zone and it looked like safety Cody Davis had broken it up. But the ball stayed up in the air and Cole Beasley caught it for a score.
CONFERENCE USA
Last play lifts ECU
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Dominique Davis heaved a 33-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Justin Jones as time expired to give East Carolina a 51-49 victory against Tulsa in Coach Ruffin McNeill’s debut with the Pirates.
Davis was 27 of 46 for 383 yards with 5 touchdown passes - 2 to Lance Lewis and 2 to Dwayne Harris - and 1 rushing touchdown in his first start for East Carolina (1-0, 1-0 Conference USA).
G.J. Kinne finished 28 of 43 for 399 yards for Tulsa (0-1, 0-1). His fifth touchdown pass - a 3-yard toss to Charles Clay (Little Rock Central) with 1:22 left - appeared to have been enough for the Golden Hurricane.
But Davis whisked the Pirates downfield in nine plays. On the final snap, he launched the ball high toward a handful of players in the end zone. Jones out jumped everyone for it, setting off a massive celebration.
A brief review upheld the call and the Pirates, who were flagged for an excessive celebration, skipped the extra point and instead took a knee.
The teams combined for 1,117 total yards and the lead changed hands 12 times during a wacky, back-and-forth shootout in which defense seemed optional. Harris caught seven passes for 121 yards, while Lewis finished with six grabs for 105 yards.
Sports, Pages 22 on 09/06/2010