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Harrell sets passing record as Texas Tech remains undefeated

Oct 5, 2008 - 1:12 AM MANHATTAN, Kansas (Ticker) -- Another day, another half-dozen touchdowns for Graham Harrell - and a blowout victory for unbeaten Texas Tech.

On a record-setting Saturday afternoon, Harrell threw for 454 yards and tied a career high with six touchdown passes as the eighth-ranked Red Raiders ran away with an easy 58-28 victory over Kansas State in the teams' Big 12 Conference opener.

The performance certainly wasn't out of the ordinary for Harrell or the Red Raiders. It was his third 400-yard game of this season alone, and 16th of his career.

It also was the third career six-TD outing for Harrell, who has quarterbacked the Red Raiders to at least 58 points on four separate occasions since his arrival in Lubbock in 2005.

But en route to his seventh victory in a row on Saturday, Harrell made school history. With a 15-yard completion to Adam James at the 9:06 mark of the second quarter, the senior quarterback became Texas Tech's all-time leading passer, surpassing Kliff Kingsbury. He now has 12,709 career passing yards.

"It is a huge honor with all the great quarterbacks that have come through here," Harrell said. "It comes with a lot of help. I've had great receivers here and the offensive line has been great to me."

Harrell wasted no time taking control in this one, hitting Eric Morris for a 44-yard gain to the 1-yard line before tossing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Lyle Leong two plays later. The Red Raiders (5-0, 1-0 Big 12 South) have scored on their opening drive in four of five games this season, and have 78 first-quarter points.

But Texas Tech still had to weather an early fight from the Wildcats, who tied the game at 14-14 early in the second.

"We came out and did exactly what we were planning on doing," Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman said. "We knew there were going to be some holes in the defense and we exploited them early on with good play calling."

But Harrell took over. He manufactured four straight scoring drives, throwing touchdowns to Leong, Ryan Hale and Michael Crabtree as Texas Tech took a 38-14 lead into halftime.

"We really played well as a team," Harrell said. "The offensive line did a great job. I felt like I had all day back there.

"It starts with the offensive line and when they play well I play well. The receivers did a great job as well. As an offense, I think this is the best we have played all year."

Leong, a seldom-used sophomore, was on the receiving end of three of Harrell's touchdowns - his only three catches of the afternoon. Crabtree, an All-American and the nation's reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, added two scores and 107 receiving yards on nine receptions.

Harrell previously threw six TDs in a September 15, 2007 victory over Rice and an October 21, 2006 win over Iowa State. This time, however, he still managed to outdo himself, adding a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

The 6-3, 205-pound Harrell led a Red Raider attack that piled up 627 yards of total offense, as he completed 38-of-51 passes and hit 12 different receivers. He has 18 touchdowns and three interceptions in five games this season.

"I wouldn't say that he was the best quarterback I've ever coached, but I would say he is the best in the nation this year," Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach said. "If you lead the nation in passing, I would think you deserve some attention.

"It's not like he just does it once in a while. If it was so easy, then everybody would do it, but everybody doesn't do it - he does it."

Kansas State (3-2, 0-1 Big 12 South) was led by Freeman, who accounted for three touchdowns of his own. He managed just 14 yards on seven carries, but scored twice and completed 13-of-28 passes for 170 yards and another score. However, the Wildcats managed just 295 yards of total offense and turned the ball over twice.

"I am embarrassed," Freeman said. "As a quarterback and leader of the offense, it is unacceptable to play the way we played. We can learn from this and we have to put it behind us. Tomorrow is another day and they are going to make us play another game in seven days."