Texas Tech Takes Battle Of Texas

Texas Tech's Ricky Williams was better than Texas' Ricky Williams for at least one night.

Tech's

"People have made a big deal because we share the same name," Tech's Williams said after outgaining his counterpart 148-141. "Of course, I get a big charge out of out-rushing him."

Texas' Williams, however, became the second player in Division I-A history to break the 6,000-yard mark for his career. He's 63 yards shy of breaking Tony Dorsett's rushing record with one game left.

The victory was especially sweet for Texas Tech, which had lost three straight games against Top 25 teams by a total of 11 points, and all in the final two minutes. Peters led Tech (7-3, 4-3 Big 12) to three fourth-quarter touchdowns Saturday, throwing for 150 of his career-best 322 yards in the final quarter.

"That is why you never quit," said Tech coach Spike Dykes, who earned his 76th career victory to tie Pete Cawthon for the school record. "After losing those three that we felt like we had a chance to win, this would have been a knockout punch ... But, it was a win."

Tech's three-game slide included losses to then-No. 19 Colorado (19-17), then-No. 18 Texas A&M (17-10) and then-No. 18 Missouri (28-26).

For the Longhorns (7-3, 5-2), the loss ended a six-game winning streak. The loss also clinches the Big 12 South title for No. 6 Texas A&M. Texas plays host to the Aggies the day after Thanksgiving.

Wane McGarrity caught a Texas-record four touchdown receptions from freshman Major Applewhit, who set a school record with his eighth straight 200-yard game.

"It's hard to lose after winning six straight," said Applewhite, who fell to 6-2 as a starter. "We will put this out of our system and be ready for Texas A&M."

Texas went up 28-20 with 12:51 to play on an 11-yard run by Williams. The score came on the first snap after the Longhorns recovered a fumbled punt.

Tech answered with a 14-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Peters to Derek Dorris. Tim Baker caught a two-point conversion to tie the game at 28 with 9:39 left.

"Rob Peters did a great job of holding on as long as he could and he was able to make some good passes," Dorris said. "They were playing me loose and I don't know why. I guess it is because of Ricky and his threat."

The Red Raiders went up 35-28 with 5:02 to play when Williams froze the defense by faking a reverse and ran in from 12 yards.

The Longhorns tied the game at 35 with 2:18 left on a 12-yard touchdown reception by McGarity, who had six catches for 174 yards. His other touchdowns went for 67, 47 and 31 yards.

Texas' Williams was only the second 100-yard rusher allowed by Tech in its last 13 games.

© 1998 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved