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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, November 21, 2009

CFB: Texas Tech routs Oklahoma 41-13


BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech's 41-13 win over Oklahoma on Saturday gave the Red Raiders a bright spot in a rough season. For the Sooners, it was a new low in their own disappointing run.

The teams met last year in a game with national championship implications. Oklahoma beat the undefeated Red Raiders 65-21 and went on to play for the BCS title. Texas Tech earned a measure of revenge Saturday with its most lopsided win ever over the Sooners.

"I am really at a loss for words," OU receiver Ryan Broyles said. "We really just got outplayed more than anything. It's been a long season."

Oklahoma (6-5, 4-3 Big 12) has its most losses since going 7-5 in 1999.

For Texas Tech (7-4, 4-3), the win means a 16th straight bowl, a record among Big 12 schools. But it hasn't been easy. The Red Raiders lost 52-30 to Texas A&M and had back-to-back losses to Texas and Houston in September.

There's also been controversy at quarterback. Coach Mike Leach has shuffled between his starter, Taylor Potts, and backup Steven Sheffield. Each has been hurt — Potts a concussion and Sheffield an injured left foot.

On Saturday, Potts played the entire game. He threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns.

"He's just really settled in and took the thing by the horns," Leach said. "I think he had a great week of preparation. Plus he had 'Nick' on his jersey."

The quarterback didn't have "Potts" on the back of his uniform. Instead, the name was a tribute to a former Kansas star linebacker admired by Leach, Nick Reid.

Leach claimed it was Potts' idea, a notion that surprised the quarterback.

"That didn't change anything," Potts said. "It was just a name on the back of the jersey."

The victory was No. 83 for Leach, surpassing predecessor Spike Dykes as the winningest coach at Texas Tech. He didn't see any revenge in the win, but defensive back Jamar Wall did.

"It was just sweet revenge, man," he said. "You couldn't ask for anything better."

Baron Batch ran for 136 yards and two scores for the Red Raiders.

It was just the fifth victory in 17 meetings for Texas Tech against the Sooners, and the Red Raiders had never won by more than 10 points in the series. Oklahoma hadn't lost this badly since falling to Texas 45-12 in 2005.

Texas Tech's Alex Torres had his best game of the season with 11 catches for 163 yards.

The Sooners' pass defense came in at No. 18 in the nation (178 yards per game) but couldn't hold back Texas Tech's passing offense, ranked second in the country.

"They just can't allow them to run the football the way they did and outside of that we never could get the stops," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "They executed and we didn't."

Brandon Sharpe helped keep the Oklahoma offense out of rhythm. He entered the game second in the nation in sacks and added 2 1/2 more Saturday.

Landry Jones was 18 of 35 for 262 yards for the Sooners.

With Texas Tech comfortably ahead at the start of the fourth quarter, Red Raiders fans and players began to hop up and down to House of Pain's "Jump Around," reciprocating what Sooners fans did at Memorial Stadium during last November's rout of the Red Raiders.

"It felt good to give them a little taste of what they did to us last year," cornerback LaRon Moore said.

The Sooners lost another lineman in the defeat. Oklahoma said center Ben Habern broke his left leg in the second quarter.