Banged up Buffs bounce back
Colorado hands Texas Tech first loss of season
Posted: Sunday October 18, 1998 09:00 AM
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Texas Tech failed to recover an onside kick attempt after QB Rob Peters scored a late touchdown AP |
BOULDER, Colorado (AP) -- Backed up and banged up, 19th-ranked
Colorado came up with a clock-eating drive that gutted Texas Tech.
Jeremy Aldrich's fourth field goal of the game capped an
18-play, 91-yard drive in the fourth quarter as injury riddled
Colorado used a strong defensive effort to beat No. 22 Texas Tech
19-17 Saturday.
"It seems like when our backs are against the wall, we dig deep
down and find the plays to win," said Colorado quarterback Mike
Moschetti, who had a crucial 13-yard scramble to keep the
game-turning drive alive.
The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) made the game close on Rob
Peters' 1-yard keep with 26 seconds remaining, but Darrin
Chiaverini preserved the victory by recovering an onside kick that
was nearly tipped by Texas Tech's Keith Cockrum.
"We were either going to be contenders or pretenders today, so
I guess we were pretenders," Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes said.
"We certainly have a hickey by our name now."
Colorado (6-1, 3-1) persevered despite losing two more starters
offensive guard Victor Rogers and linebacker Albus Brooks to
injuries. In the first six games, 13 first- or second-team players
had missed games due to injuries.
"We're down to the bare bones of what we have left on the
shelf," Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel said. "When you don't have
many players left, you want to shorten the game, and we did that
very well."
Ricky Williams, who entered the game averaging 171 yards
rushing, had 94 by halftime and finished with 142 for the Red
Raiders, who were held 13 points under their scoring average.
"The flight home's going to be a long one," Tech receiver
Donnie Hart said. "We outplayed them most of the game, but shot
ourselves in the foot."
Aldrich's 29-yard field goal gave the Buffaloes a 16-10 lead 54
seconds into the fourth quarter. Colorado then held Texas Tech to
set up the pivotal drive that included three third-down
conversions, the last coming on a pass-interference call in the end
zone.
Moschetti set the tone for the 8-minute, 37-second drive when he
eluded Cody Patton and scrambled for a first down on third-and-10
from Colorado 8.
"It took us out of the game, really," said Dykes, whose 75
victories remain one shy of Pete Cawthon for the most in Texas Tech
history. "It was real huge."
Javon Green chipped in with a leaping catch on another
third-and-long, and Marcus Stiggers nearly scored on a reverse down
the left sideline, but was tripped after a 35-yard gain to the Tech
7.
The drive ended five plays later when Texas Tech stopped Dwayne
Cherrington at the goal line, and Aldrich made a 17-yard field goal
with 2:50 remaining.
"We never like to give up a long drive, that's the only bad
thing about it," defensive end Montae Reagor said. "We're
disappointed in that effort to let them eat up so much clock, and
not give our offense much time to work with the ball."
With Colorado protecting a 13-10 lead, both offenses bogged down
in the third quarter, combining for 118 yards, four punts and a
missed field goal.
Colorado managed just four yards on its first three possessions
but forced consecutive Tech turnovers that set up a first-quarter
field goal and a 4-yard TD run by Damion Barton early in the
second.
Texas Tech cut the lead to 10-7 on Darrell Jones' 25-yard TD
catch, his first career reception.
Roman Hollowell returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards to the
Tech 9. Oscar Solis ran him down to save a TD and then intercepted
Moschetti's pass in the end zone two plays later.
The teams traded field goals in the final seven minutes of the
half to give Colorado a 13-10 lead at the break.
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