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Colorado Edges No. 22 Texas Tech


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.

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  • "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 keeper 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."

    Spike Dykes Spike Dykes remains one win short of tying Pete Cawthon as the winningest coach in Texas Tech history. (AP)


    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.

    © 1998 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved

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