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Texas Tech survives scare by Baylor

Nov 30, 2008 - 2:01 AM LUBBOCK, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas Tech shook off its post-Oklahoma hangover just in time to avoid a stunning defeat that would have bailed out the Big 12 Conference.

Graham Harrell tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Detron Lewis with just over six minutes remaining as the eighth-ranked Red Raiders survived a major scare by rallying for a 35-28 victory over Baylor on Saturday.

Coming off a humbling 65-21 loss at Oklahoma last week, Texas Tech sleep-walked through this contest for 2 1/2 quarters and fell behind, 28-14, four minutes into the third quarter.

The Red Raiders also played the second half without star receiver Michael Crabtree, who suffered a right ankle injury on a 6-yard completion with eight minutes left in the second quarter.

"It always hurts (losing a player) but that second half we played really well without Crabtree," said Harrell, who finished 41-of-50 for 309 yards. "Everybody else just stepped up."

Still, Texas Tech (11-1, 7-1 Big 12 South) appeared in serious trouble after Baylor (4-8, 2-6) scored on its first possession of the second half to increase its 21-14 halftime lead.

"The first half was kind of a disaster, and it's one we are all embarrassed by," Red Raiders coach Mike Leach said.

But Harrell rallied the Red Raiders as he has done so often, engineering touchdown drives on the next three possessions.

"Baylor outplayed us (in the first half) and luckily we were able to overcome that in the second half," Harrell said. "They're going to be a team to watch out for in the future."

Lewis also picked up the slack in Crabtree's absence with nine receptions for 68 yards, including the go-ahead score.

Crabtree caught nine passes for 63 yards before being forced out of the game. He watched the second half in street clothes.

Texas Tech reached 11 wins for only the third time in school history and kept alive its Big 12 Conference title hopes.

If Oklahoma State upsets Oklahoma on Saturday night, the Red Raiders will win the Big 12 South - despite their embarrassing defeat last week.

However, an Oklahoma victory will create a three-way tie between the Sooners, Red Raiders and Texas. In that case, the team with the highest BCS ranking would be declared the division winner.

At worst, the Red Raiders earned a share of the Big South title.

"Coach handed us the trophy and it felt good," Texas Tech safety Darcel McBath said. "We have seen it in a lot of locker rooms, and it feels good to see it in ours."

Early on, however, it appeared that Baylor would spare the Big 12 of that potentially nightmarish scenario.

Baylor's 18-year-old freshman quarterback, Robert Griffin, caused huge problems for the Red Raiders, rushing for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

"(Griffin) is a good athlete, an Olympic runner, and he's got Olympic speed," Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. "I told our guys that we don't have any Olympic trials guys on defense, so they did a good job."

Griffin's 1-yard TD pass to Ernest Smith with one second left in the first half - and subsequent two-point conversion pass to Kendall Wright - gave the Bears their 21-14 halftime lead.

"I've never seen a guy that fast, period," Texas Tech defensive lineman McKinner Dixon said of Griffin. "That dude has some crazy speed. He's a great player."

Baylor continued to push around Texas Tech's defense, taking the second-half kickoff and marching 78 yards on nine plays to extend its lead on Jacoby Jones' 1-yard TD run.

At that point, the Bears had out-rushed the Red Raiders by a margin of 212 to minus three.

"I'm glad we shook of Oklahoma," McNeill added. "We were able to show our character in the second half."

Texas Tech's defense finally stiffened, and the Red Raiders pulled even on Baron Batch's 3-yard TD run with 12:20 remaining.

"You can't continually stop them," Baylor coach Art Briles said. "There is a reason they are 11-1."

On Baylor's next possession, Texas Tech linebacker Brian Duncan intercepted a deflected pass at the Bears' 38-yard line, setting up Lewis' score.