Texas Tech had less time than usual this season to get ready for the Big 12 Conference opener, not to mention more talent gaps to plug in the process.
At least the Red Raiders will go into Saturday’s game against No. 2 Texas coming off their best half of football since last season.
In Saturday’s 55-10 blowout of Rice, Tech scored touchdowns on all six of its full possessions in the second half. Except when they took over with 39 seconds left and ran out the clock, the Red Raiders stuck it in the end zone all their other series in the second half as Taylor Potts came within one of the school record for single-game touchdown passes.
“We just need to take that second half and build on it. That’s the biggest thing,’’ said Tech coach Mike Leach, whose team faces Texas at 7 p.m. Saturday in Austin. “I mean, just keep improving all phases.’’
Tech played a so-so first half against Rice, leading 14-3 at the break but having come away empty a couple of times on drives to the Owls’ 1- and 21-yard lines.
The second half was a different story as the Raiders came out in two-minute offense mode and executed crisply, drive after drive.
Potts threw for 456 yards and seven touchdowns, throwing five of the scoring passes in the third and fourth quarters.
“The biggest thing (with) the second half, despite the fact there were some glaring mistakes, everybody played the next play,’’ Leach said. “Nobody focused on (the mistakes) or worried about them. Let our intensity and momentum take care of the mishaps, which it will if you have the ability to move on quickly. I was proud that they did.’’
Tech remained just outside the Top 25 when the major polls were released Sunday: third among others receiving votes in the USA Today coaches poll, and fourth among others receiving votes in The Associated Press media survey.
Since Leach took over as head coach in 2000, Tech is 0-4 in Austin and has had little success slowing the Longhorns. UT has scored 42, 43, 52 and 59 points in those games.
The Tech defense swarmed Rice. The Raiders sacked Owls quarterbacks six times, recorded eight other tackles for losses and broke up 12 passes. They gave up 257 yards and didn’t allow a touchdown until the game was well in hand in the fourth quarter.
They’re under no illusions, though, knowing the quality of competition will ratchet up in a hurry.
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Story courtesy of www.redraiders.com
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Oh, we are ready. I have confidence that Leach will have his troops ready to go and prepared to the best of their abilities. Maybe we can get a little luck thrown in as well!
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