Texas survives Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas – Every four years for the past 12, Texas had left Lubbock a loser.

It looked like that trend might continue Saturday night when Texas Tech jumped out to a three-touchdown lead in the first half.

But the No. 5 Longhorns overcame four turnovers and erased the big deficit to beat the Red Raiders 35-31.

“This team doesn’t know how to quit,” said Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns. “We just kept hanging in there. We are determined and we fight to the end.”

The Longhorns (8-1, 5-0 Big 12) won their 20th straight conference game and 17th consecutive road game.

Texas didn’t get its first lead until early in the fourth quarter when McCoy threw a 28-yard touchdown to Quan Cosby to make it 35-31.

Tech (5-4, 2-3) had chances in the final 6:14. Twice the Red Raiders failed on fourth downs inside Texas 35. Both plays – a completion to Joel Filani and a quarterback sneak by Graham Harrell – came up just short and were reviewed by replay, but the officials’ spots were upheld.

The second opportunity came after Jamaal Charles fumbled for a second time, this one coming at his own 24, and Tech’s Jake Ratliff recovered. But Tech failed to take advantage of the turnover.

Though Tech coach Mike Leach didn’t mention specifics, he said there were “some things” that happened in the second that he was “not able to comment on,” possibly referring to the officials’ two spots.

“But I thought they were very detrimental to our effort,” said Leach.

Harrell completed 42 of 62 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns. He threw one interception, his first since throwing five in games against Missouri and Colorado. The most passing yards Texas has ever given up was 533 yards against Houston in 1992.

Texas coach Mack Brown said he was proud of his team’s confidence and perseverance

“That’s the thing that separates teams,” he said. “We played hard; we didn’t play that well. And Texas Tech played as well as I’ve ever seen them play. Harrell was as hot as I’ve ever seen.”

Jarrett Hicks had his best game of the season with nine catches for 156 yards for Texas Tech.

McCoy, who completed 21 of 31 passes and threw one interception, has thrown 24 touchdown passes this season, leaving him two shy of school season record shared by Chris Simms and Vince Young.

Texas had lost in Lubbock in 1994, ‘98 and 2002. Turnovers nearly doomed Texas this time. The Longhorns fumbled five times and lost three.