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Morris, Texas Tech too strong for Nevada

Sep 7, 2008 - 6:15 AM RENO, Nevada (Ticker) -- Eric Morris used his impressive speed to lift 13th-ranked Texas Tech to victory on Saturday.

Morris had an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter and added a 13-yard score from scrimmage in the third to lift the Red Raiders to a 35-19 triumph over Nevada.

Shannon Woods added touchdown runs of 1 and 21 yards and Graham Harrell found All-American Michael Crabtree for an 82-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter for Texas Tech (2-0). The nation's leading receiver in 2007 as a freshman, Crabtree reeled in seven catches for 158 yards.

With Saturday's offensive display, the Red Raiders have scored 30 or more points for the 18th time in their last 20 games.

After passing for 536 yards in Texas Tech's season-opening 49-24 victory over Eastern Washington last week, Harrell completed just 19 of 46 passes for 295 yards and two interceptions.

"They are a great team and they deserve their ranking," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "They have a great offense, and a lot of people underestimate their defense."

It was that defense which produced a pivotal play.

Nevada appeared to take a 15-14 lead in the third quarter on quarterback Colin Kaepernick's three-yard score. After the officials originally signaled a touchdown, they overturned the decision after a review and ruled that he fumbled before crossing the goal line.

"That was a big, big play. We really dodged a bullet there," said Texas Tech defensive end Brandon Williams, who had two sacks and deflected a ball which resulted in an interception.

"The day was carried by our defense," Red Raiders coach Mike Leach said. "We had some tough periods out there, we had some tough everything. But to win this game the way we did, I'm proud of our guys."

Kaepernick completed 22 of 33 passes for 261 yards and a score - a 47-yard touchdown pass to Marko Mitchell that cut Nevada's deficit to nine at 28-19 with 10:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Kaepernick also ran for another 92 yards on 13 carries.

"We let one get away from us, (our) offense got in the red zone too many times unsuccessfully but our defense stepped up and did great," Kaepernick said. "As a team we still lost. We are not happy."

Brett Jaekle kicked field goals of 27, 26 and 43 yards for the Wolf Pack (1-1), who rolled up 629 yards, including more than 400 on the ground, in a 49-13 season-opening win over Grambling State, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision.

"It was just like what happened in Boise, I made four field goals but we still lost," Jaekle said.